Short answer: the ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63, if you are buying new. The Buchardt Audio S400 ranks higher than it (#30 vs #50 of 214 bookshelf speakers, 4.4/5 vs 4.2/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 is still sold new at $499. The Buchardt Audio S400’s replacement, the Buchardt S400 MK3, is rated 4.0/5.
Why pick the ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63: 1” aluminum dome tweeter with a distinctive partial-lens waveguide design paired with a 6.5” third-generation aramid fiber cone woofer, in a robustly built cabinet for the price. The tradeoff: A dip in the lower midrange (300-600Hz, about 1.5dB) reduces vocal warmth and can make voices sound slightly hollow.
The Buchardt Audio S400 is the deeper-bass pick. Compact passive design with a 6-inch aluminum woofer, rear passive radiator and waveguided 0.74-inch tweeter positioned below the woofer. Its bass reaches about 53Hz before falling 3dB, against 76Hz for the ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63. Watch for: The impedance reaches 3.7 ohms (Erin), so a genuinely four-ohm-stable separate amplifier is recommended rather than a basic AVR.
Buy the ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63, since the Buchardt Audio S400 is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 | Buchardt Audio S400 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.00 per pair | €1,800 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #50 of 214 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #30 of 214 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 76Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 13.3”H x 7.7”W x 11.7”D (337.8 x 195.6 x 297.2 mm) | 14.8”H x 7.1”W x 9.6”D (375 x 180 x 245 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.4 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 3.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.2dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | Approximately 86dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 6.5” Aramid Fiber woofer, 1” soft dome tweeter | 0.74” waveguided tweeter; 6” aluminum woofer |
| Weight | 17.2 lbs (7.8 kg) each | 16.1 lbs (7.30 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | sealed with rear passive radiator |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 5.23 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 7.43 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Buchardt Audio S400 compares with other leading options:
- TAD Compact Reference One (CR1TX) vs Buchardt Audio S400
- DIYSG HTM-12 v2 vs Buchardt Audio S400
- Buchardt Audio S400 vs Danley SH50
- ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 vs Revel M106
- ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 vs AsciLab A6B Passive
Prices on this page were last checked October 9, 2026 at 8:01 AM 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
ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63: $499.00 per pair Amazon Crutchfield eBay
Older model: the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 (ranked lower, rated 3.5/5).
Same family: the ELAC Debut 3.0 DB53 (smaller bookshelf, estimated 3.9/5), the ELAC Debut 3.0 DF53 (smaller floorstanding, estimated 4.2/5), the ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63 (larger floorstanding, rated 4.2/5), the ELAC Debut 3.0 DC53 (smaller center, estimated 3.4/5) and the ELAC Debut 3.0 DC63 (larger center, estimated 3.5/5).
Pros: 1” aluminum dome tweeter with a distinctive partial-lens waveguide design paired with a 6.5” third-generation aramid fiber cone woofer, in a robustly built cabinet for the price. Shallow bass rolloff (F3 76Hz, F10 40Hz) allows placement close to a wall without excessive boominess, useful for smaller living rooms. Solid measured performance for the price: on-axis linearity within about 2.5dB, impedance dipping only to about 4.4 ohms (easily AVR-driven), and roughly 20-26dB of usable dynamic range. A clear improvement over its sibling ELAC DB62, which has a sibilance issue tied to the crossover that can’t be fixed with EQ. Wide horizontal radiation of about ±60°, giving a spacious soundstage. Distortion looks good at a moderate 86dB and still reasonable at 96dB. Takes well to EQ correction: the reviewer provides a specific filter set (a low-shelf boost at 650Hz plus peaking cuts/boosts at 550Hz, 660Hz, and 3kHz) that meaningfully smooths out its known deviations. Measured bass extension of 76Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86.2dB.
Cons: A dip in the lower midrange (300-600Hz, about 1.5dB) reduces vocal warmth and can make voices sound slightly hollow. A high-Q resonance around 650-750Hz shows up clearly in measurements, though the reviewer couldn’t reliably hear it in his own A/B testing. A dip around 2-3kHz (roughly 1-2dB) slightly reduces speech intelligibility and attack in the upper midrange. Directivity droops above about 2kHz as the midwoofer narrows toward its beaming frequency while the tweeter’s pattern behaves differently: an inherent trade-off of physically separated drivers that can’t be fully corrected without introducing other issues. Multitone distortion crosses the reviewer’s 3% threshold in the 200Hz-1kHz range, and adding a subwoofer at an 80Hz crossover only modestly reduces it. Toeing the speaker away from the listener loses noticeable top-end air and cymbal energy, giving a softer upper register. Practical loudness ceiling is around 90dB at typical listening distance before midrange distortion and bass attack begin to degrade. Still needs a subwoofer for extension below about 40Hz.
Full ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 76Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 13.3”H x 7.7”W x 11.7”D (337.8 x 195.6 x 297.2 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5” Aramid Fiber woofer, 1” soft dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.4 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.2dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 17.2 lbs (7.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 vs Perlisten A3m
- ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 vs JBL HDI-1600
- ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 vs Aalto Speakers Aalto 3 Passive
- ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 vs Danley SH50
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- ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 vs Arendal Sound 1723 Monitor THX
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Buchardt Audio S400: €1,800 per pair Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Buchardt S400 MK3, ranked lower, estimated 4/5. See every Buchardt S400 generation.
Pros: Compact passive design with a 6-inch aluminum woofer, rear passive radiator and waveguided 0.74-inch tweeter positioned below the woofer. Erin measured F3/F10 at 53Hz/38Hz, approximately 86dB/2.83V/1m sensitivity and smooth, broad horizontal directivity. The waveguide controls crossover handoff effectively, the passive radiator avoids port chuffing, and Erin heard no objectionable narrow-band distortion despite excellent extension for the enclosure volume. Measured bass extension of 53Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86dB.
Cons: The impedance reaches 3.7 ohms (Erin), so a genuinely four-ohm-stable separate amplifier is recommended rather than a basic AVR. Low-frequency distortion naturally rises at high output and the compact woofer cannot supply theater-level deep bass; crossing to a subwoofer protects headroom. Erin measured narrow distortion features above 8-9kHz and vertical lobing outside the intended axis. This is the original S400, distinct from the Buchardt S400 MKII already ranked. Discontinued.
Full Buchardt Audio S400 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 14.8”H x 7.1”W x 9.6”D (375 x 180 x 245 mm) |
| Drivers | 0.74” waveguided tweeter; 6” aluminum woofer |
| Impedance | 3.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 86dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.23 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.43 |
| Weight | 16.1 lbs (7.30 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed with rear passive radiator |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons