Short answer: the Buchardt S400 MK3, if you are buying new. The Buchardt S400 MKII ranks higher than the Philharmonic BMR Monitor (#111 vs #134 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.
What the Buchardt S400 MKII does well: Bookshelf speakers with very flat sound, precise imaging and adjustable bass, now discontinued but worth buying used. 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.
The Philharmonic BMR Monitor is the more accurate, deeper-bass choice. Three-way bookshelf speakers with premium drivers, a well-built cabinet and extremely wide dispersion for a broad soundstage. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.02 against 5.38 for the Buchardt S400 MKII. Its bass reaches about 47Hz before falling 3dB, against 59Hz for the Buchardt S400 MKII. The catch: A 1-2dB bump around 2-3kHz creates a “glare” on vocals, guitars, and strings that the reviewer noticed consistently across many tracks.
Buy the Buchardt S400 MK3, the replacement for the discontinued Buchardt S400 MKII; it is rated higher for sound quality than the Philharmonic BMR Monitor.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Measured Differences
- Bass depth: the Philharmonic BMR Monitor reaches 32 Hz (10 dB down) against 40 Hz for the Buchardt S400 MKII, about half an octave deeper. You hear more of the lowest bass notes and kick drums.
Prices on this page were last checked November 14, 2026 at 6:17 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| Buchardt S400 MKII | Philharmonic BMR Monitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2400 per pair Discontinued | $2200 per pair |
| Ranked | #111 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #134 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 32Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 59Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 47Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 14.4”H x 7”W x 11”D (365.8 x 177.8 x 279.4 mm) | 20”H x 8”W x 12.5”D (508 x 203.2 x 317.5 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal (3 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 84.7dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 87dB manufacturer specified) | 84dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 6.5” aluminum cone woofer, 1” soft dome tweeter | 6” Ceramic woofer, Balanced Mode Radiator 2.5” midrange, RAAL 64-10X OEM tweeter |
| Weight | 16.5 lbs (7.5 kg) each | 32 lbs (14.5 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.38 | 6.02 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.46 | 7.67 (spinorama.org) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Buchardt S400 MKII: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
- Philharmonic BMR Monitor: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Buchardt S400 MKII: