Short answer: the ELAC DBR62. Both are rated 4.0/5 for sound quality (#61 and #59 of 141 bookshelf speakers), and the ELAC DBR62 costs $678.97 against $2,300 for the Buchardt S400 MK3, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
Why pick the Buchardt S400 MK3: A ground-up redesign of the S400 with an 18 percent larger cabinet and a 7.5” SB Acoustics Satori Papyrus paper cone woofer, which Buchardt says has 65.5 percent more displacement than the MKII’s 6” driver. Watch for: No independent measurements have been published yet.
What the ELAC DBR62 does well: Two-way design with a 6.5” woofer and 1” dome tweeter in a shallow waveguide, with the tweeter positioned close to the woofer for near-point-source coherence: giving more vertical listening leeway than typical two-ways. The tradeoff: A slight recess in the 1-2kHz region reduces vocal presence somewhat compared to other speakers in direct comparison.
Buy the ELAC DBR62. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $1,621.03 less than the Buchardt S400 MK3.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Buchardt S400 MK3 | ELAC DBR62 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,300 per pair | $678.97 per pair |
| Ranked | #59 of 141 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #61 of 141 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.2kHz (first order) | - |
| Dimensions | 15.4”H x 7.8”W x 11”D (392 x 198 x 280 mm) | 14.1”H x 8.2”W x 10.8”D (358.1 x 208.3 x 274.3 mm) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Drivers | 1” aluminum dome tweeter in waveguide, 7.5” Satori Papyrus paper cone woofer | 6.5” Aramid Fiber woofer, 1” soft dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 33Hz - 20kHz (in-room, manufacturer specified) | - |
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 6 ohms nominal, 5.2 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB anechoic, 90dB in-room (manufacturer specified) | 84.3dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 18.7 lbs (8.5 kg) each | 18.1 lbs (8.2 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, front |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 5.07 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 7.27 |
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- Wharfedale Super Linton vs Buchardt S400 MK3
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Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Buchardt S400 MK3: $2,300 per pair Estimated Buchardt Audio eBay
Older models: the Buchardt Audio S400 (ranked higher, rated 4.4/5) and the Buchardt S400 MKII (ranked lower, rated 3.8/5).
Pros: A ground-up redesign of the S400 with an 18 percent larger cabinet and a 7.5” SB Acoustics Satori Papyrus paper cone woofer, which Buchardt says has 65.5 percent more displacement than the MKII’s 6” driver. A custom 1” aluminum dome tweeter sits in a new waveguide, crossed at 2.2kHz with a first order Jantzen crossover. Buchardt rates in-room bass extension to 33Hz and anechoic sensitivity at 87dB, and includes foam port plugs to trim bass near a wall. Sold direct with free worldwide shipping, duties included, and a 10 year warranty for the first owner.
Cons: No independent measurements have been published yet. The S400 MKII measured very well, but the MK3 shares only its binding posts, so that result can’t be carried over and its linearity, directivity and real bass extension are unknown. The 33Hz figure is an in-room number, not an anechoic one. The MKII’s adjustable passive radiator is gone in favor of a rear port that wants at least 5cm from the wall. A 4 ohm load means it needs an amplifier comfortable driving 4 ohms, and it is sold only direct from Buchardt.
Full Buchardt S400 MK3 review and specifications →
| Crossover Frequency | 2.2kHz (first order) |
|---|---|
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 15.4”H x 7.8”W x 11”D (392 x 198 x 280 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” aluminum dome tweeter in waveguide, 7.5” Satori Papyrus paper cone woofer |
| Frequency Response | 33Hz - 20kHz (in-room, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 87dB anechoic, 90dB in-room (manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 18.7 lbs (8.5 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Buchardt S400 MK3 vs Buchardt S400 MKII
- Buchardt S400 MK3 vs ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63
- Buchardt S400 MK3 vs Klipsch RP-600M II
- Buchardt S400 MK3 vs Wharfedale Linton 85
- Buchardt S400 MK3 vs Wharfedale Super Linton
- Buchardt S400 MK3 vs KEF Q3 Meta
- Buchardt S400 MK3 vs KEF R3
- Buchardt S400 MK3 vs KEF Q Concerto Meta
- See all 10 comparisons
ELAC DBR62: $678.97 per pair Amazon Crutchfield eBay
Pros: Two-way design with a 6.5” woofer and 1” dome tweeter in a shallow waveguide, with the tweeter positioned close to the woofer for near-point-source coherence: giving more vertical listening leeway than typical two-ways. Notably forgiving of placement and aiming: sounds good from directly on-axis all the way to 30° of toe-out (parallel with the rear wall), making it more room-independent than many speakers this price. Wide horizontal radiation of about ±70° until the tweeter starts beaming, right in the reviewer’s preferred sweet spot. A mild, wide-Q bass bump centered around 100Hz adds a bit of extra punch that the reviewer personally likes. On-axis linearity within about ±2.5dB, with a strong measured preference score of 5.3. Distortion stays below 3% at both 86dB and 96dB until around 50Hz. Vertical sweet spot of about ±10-20° works well for multi-row home theater seating. The reviewer calls it “the epitome of a good speaker” for its price, with no reservations recommending it. Measured bass extension of 53Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 84.3dB.
Cons: A slight recess in the 1-2kHz region reduces vocal presence somewhat compared to other speakers in direct comparison. A mild hot spot around 4-5kHz can read as slight sibilance when pointed directly on-axis. Low-to-mid sensitivity (about 84.3dB) combined with a current draw that behaves like roughly 2.4 ohms between 100-200Hz means it’s best driven by a dedicated 4-ohm-capable amplifier rather than an AVR. A diffraction dip from the baffle edge is visible in measurements: typical of any standard rectangular-baffle speaker and not correctable without a much more expensive curved-baffle design. Multitone distortion testing suggests some potential midrange distortion could be audible on certain material, though the reviewer didn’t personally notice it. Minor resonances appear around 700Hz and 1-1.5kHz, possibly tied to the enclosure, port, or cone/surround edge termination, though their audible impact appears minimal. F3 of 53Hz means a subwoofer is still needed for real bass extension below about 40Hz.
Full ELAC DBR62 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 8.2”W x 10.8”D (358.1 x 208.3 x 274.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5” Aramid Fiber woofer, 1” soft dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 5.2 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 84.3dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.07 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.27 |
| Weight | 18.1 lbs (8.2 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Top 3 Things You Need to Know About ELAC DBR62 Before You Buy More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website Elac DBR62
- Erin’s Audio Corner: 5 AWESOME SPEAKERS Under $1000 You Won’t Regret
- Erin’s Audio Corner: My Top Picks of 2023: Must-Haves Under $3000
- Audio Science Review Measurements More from Audio Science Review →
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
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