Short answer: the Buchardt S400 MK3, if you are buying new. The Buchardt S400 MKII ranks higher than the KEF Q3 Meta (#111 vs #156 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 4.66 for the KEF Q3 Meta. Watch for: 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.
The KEF Q3 Meta is the deeper-bass option. Coaxial bookshelf speakers with very wide dispersion, punchy kick drums and bass tuning that works close to a wall. Its bass reaches about 52Hz before falling 3dB, against 59Hz for the Buchardt S400 MKII. The catch: Not well suited to high-output use: compression and strain in the 1-2kHz region emerge above about 90dB at 10 feet, so a high-output home theater setup isn’t the best application.
Buy the Buchardt S400 MK3, the replacement for the discontinued Buchardt S400 MKII; it is rated higher for sound quality than the KEF Q3 Meta.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Buchardt S400 MKII | KEF Q3 Meta | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2400 per pair Discontinued | $899.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #111 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #156 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 37Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 59Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 14.4”H x 7”W x 11”D (365.8 x 177.8 x 279.4 mm) | 14.1”H x 8.3”W x 12”D (357.0 x 210.0 x 305.0 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal, 3.7 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 84.7dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 87dB manufacturer specified) | 84.5dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner; 87dB manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 6.5” aluminum cone woofer, 1” soft dome tweeter | 165 mm (6.5 in.) aluminium cone woofer, 25 mm (1 in.) vented aluminium dome with MAT tweeter |
| Weight | 16.5 lbs (7.5 kg) each | 15.9 lbs (7.2 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.38 | 4.66 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.46 | 6.50 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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