Short answer: the Buchardt S400 MK3, if you are buying new. The Buchardt S400 MKII ranks higher than the Dynaudio Emit 20 (#111 vs #133 of 222 bookshelf speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the Buchardt S400 MK3, is rated 4.0/5 at $2,300 and is still sold new.
The Buchardt S400 MKII is the more accurate pick. Bookshelf speakers with very flat sound, precise imaging and adjustable bass, now discontinued but worth buying used. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.38 against 4.22 for the Dynaudio Emit 20. The catch: Sounds a bit bright and slightly boosted above about 7-8kHz on-axis, even with 30° of toe-out: benefits from about 1 inch of sidewall absorption at the first reflection points to tame it.
What the Dynaudio Emit 20 does well: Bookshelf speakers with unusually deep, low distortion bass for a two-way design and wide, consistent dispersion. The catch: A resonance around 600-800Hz gives snares and similar percussion a muffled, flat quality lacking impact: confirmed as originating in the woofer itself (isolated via measurements of the raw driver out of the cabinet), and attempts at constrained-layer damping didn’t resolve it.
Buy the Buchardt S400 MK3, the replacement for the discontinued Buchardt S400 MKII; it is rated higher for sound quality than the Dynaudio Emit 20.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Buchardt S400 MKII | Dynaudio Emit 20 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2400 per pair Discontinued | $1,049.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #111 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #133 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 33Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 59Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 54Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 14.4”H x 7”W x 11”D (365.8 x 177.8 x 279.4 mm) | 14.6”H x 8.1”W x 12.3”D (370.0 x 205.0 x 312.0 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms nominal (5.5 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 84.7dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 87dB manufacturer specified) | 83.5dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 6.5” aluminum cone woofer, 1” soft dome tweeter | 7.1” Magnesium Silicate Polymer woofer, 1.1” Cerotar soft dome with Hexis tweeter |
| Weight | 16.5 lbs (7.5 kg) each | 12.8 lbs (5.8 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.38 | 4.22 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.46 | 5.92 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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