Short answer: the Buchardt Audio S400. It ranks #24 of 84 bookshelf speakers by sound quality; the Danley SH50 ranks #37.
What the Buchardt Audio S400 offers: Compact passive design with a 6-inch aluminum woofer, rear passive radiator and waveguided 0.74-inch tweeter positioned below the woofer. Watch for: The impedance reaches 3.7 ohms (Erin), so a genuinely four-ohm-stable separate amplifier is recommended rather than a basic AVR.
What the Danley SH50 offers: A true point-source-style professional loudspeaker: two 12-inch woofers, four 5-inch midranges and a compression driver share one Synergy horn, preserving approximately 50° x 50° constant directivity through most of the passband. Watch for: This 133-pound, roughly 28-inch cube is engineered for venues and large rooms, not conventional domestic nearfield listening.
Buy the Buchardt Audio S400 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Danley SH50 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Buchardt Audio S400 | Danley SH50 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €1,800 Discontinued | Contact dealer |
| Ranked | #24 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #37 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | Approximately 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 86dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | Approximately 97dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 3.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | Just under 4 ohms near 100Hz and 1kHz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 0.74" waveguided tweeter; 6" aluminum woofer | Two 12" woofers; four 5" midranges; 1" compression driver in Synergy horn |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed with rear passive radiator | - |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Coverage | - | 50° horizontal x 50° vertical |
| Dimensions | - | 28"H x 28"W x 25.5"D |
| Weight | - | 133 lb each |
| Max SPL | - | 127dB continuous, 133dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Perlisten S4b vs Dynaudio Heritage Special
- Audio First Cadentia 3 vs Dynaudio Heritage Special
- Arendal 1528 Monitor 8 vs Dynaudio Heritage Special
- TAD Compact Reference One (CR1TX) vs Buchardt Audio S400
- DIYSG HTM-12 v2 vs Buchardt Audio S400
The Two Speakers In Full
Buchardt Audio S400: €1,800 Discontinued Buchardt Audio
Pros: Compact passive design with a 6-inch aluminum woofer, rear passive radiator and waveguided 0.74-inch tweeter positioned below the woofer. Erin measured F3/F10 at 53Hz/38Hz, approximately 86dB/2.83V/1m sensitivity and smooth, broad horizontal directivity. The waveguide controls crossover handoff effectively, the passive radiator avoids port chuffing, and Erin heard no objectionable narrow-band distortion despite excellent extension for the enclosure volume.
Cons: The impedance reaches 3.7 ohms (Erin), so a genuinely four-ohm-stable separate amplifier is recommended rather than a basic AVR. Low-frequency distortion naturally rises at high output and the compact woofer cannot supply theater-level deep bass; crossing to a subwoofer protects headroom. Erin measured narrow distortion features above 8-9kHz and vertical lobing outside the intended axis. This is the original S400, distinct from the S400 MKII already ranked. Discontinued.
Full Buchardt Audio S400 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 0.74" waveguided tweeter; 6" aluminum woofer |
| Impedance | 3.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 86dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed with rear passive radiator |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Danley SH50: Contact dealer Danley Dealer Contact
Pros: A true point-source-style professional loudspeaker: two 12-inch woofers, four 5-inch midranges and a compression driver share one Synergy horn, preserving approximately 50° x 50° constant directivity through most of the passband. Erin measured roughly 97dB/2.83V/1m sensitivity, an F3 near 60Hz and extraordinary output. Distortion stayed below 1% above about 60Hz at 86dB, and compression remained negligible above roughly 70Hz even at 102dB. Broad response trends can be corrected with DSP without destroying the controlled radiation pattern.
Cons: This 133-pound, roughly 28-inch cube is engineered for venues and large rooms, not conventional domestic nearfield listening. Its narrow 50° coverage demands precise aiming and provides a small sweet area close up. Erin measured impedance just below 4 ohms near 100Hz and 1kHz; the high sensitivity eases voltage demand, but professional use still warrants a robust dedicated amplifier and DSP. A resonance/second-harmonic distortion feature around 900Hz and smaller nonminimum-phase response features cannot be fully equalized. Subwoofers remain appropriate below the approximately 60Hz measured F3.
Full Danley SH50 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | Approximately 60Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Coverage | 50° horizontal x 50° vertical |
| Dimensions | 28"H x 28"W x 25.5"D |
| Drivers | Two 12" woofers; four 5" midranges; 1" compression driver in Synergy horn |
| Impedance | Just under 4 ohms near 100Hz and 1kHz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Max SPL | 127dB continuous, 133dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 97dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 133 lb each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons