Short answer: the Buchardt Audio E50. It ranks #16 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.5/5, at $4,600. The Dynaudio Special Forty ranks #148, rated 3.5/5, at $3,600, $1,000 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
Why pick the Dynaudio Special Forty: Premium bookshelf speakers with strong output, wide dispersion and fairly deep bass from a compact rear ported cabinet. The tradeoff: A glaring, sometimes sibilant quality around 3-4kHz was the most noticeable issue in listening, the one thing the reviewer would want notched out with EQ.
The Buchardt Audio E50 is the more accurate, deeper-bass pick. A bookshelf speaker with remarkably deep bass for its size, a very neutral midrange, and low distortion, with no need to sit near a wall. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.84 against 4.73 for the Dynaudio Special Forty. Its bass reaches about 40Hz before falling 3dB, against 54Hz for the Dynaudio Special Forty. The catch: A roughly 3dB dip in the upper midrange/lower treble softens attack and dialogue clarity: the reviewer’s main complaint, and it’s baked into the crossover rather than a directivity artifact, so it’s audible both on and off axis.
Buy the Buchardt Audio E50. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $1,000 you would save on the Dynaudio Special Forty does not close the gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Premium bookshelf speakers with strong output, wide dispersion and fairly deep bass from a compact rear ported cabinet.
A bookshelf speaker with remarkably deep bass for its size, a very neutral midrange, and low distortion, with no need to sit near a wall.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Dynaudio Special Forty | Buchardt Audio E50 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3600 per pair | $4600 per pair |
| Ranked | #148 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #16 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 34Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 54Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 7.7”W x 12.1”D (358.1 x 195.6 x 307.3 mm) | 15.6” x 7.5” x 11.2” (395 x 190 x 284 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.9 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 83.5dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) | 83.1dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 5.9” MSP (Magnesium Silicate Polymer) cone woofer, 1” Esotar soft dome tweeter | 1” Scanspeak dome tweeter with waveguide, 6.5” Purifi extended-stroke woofer, dual 6.5” passive radiators |
| Weight | 17.9 lbs (8.1 kg) each | 19 lbs (8.6 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | Passive radiator loaded |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.73 | 5.84 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.74 | 7.61 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2000Hz |
| Frequency Response | - | 36Hz - 30kHz ±3dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Recommended Power | - | 60W - 200W |
| Country | - | Denmark |
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