Buchardt Audio E50 Review: A High-End Passive Speaker Compared

Introduction

Buchardt Audio has become one of the more notable success stories in modern hi-fi. In around 12 years, the Danish brand has established itself firmly in the industry with a direct-to-consumer model built on a simple set of values: attractive, easy-to-live-with speakers that sound good and deliver strong value for money.

In recent years the company has concentrated on its active range, so a new passive design is a welcome arrival. The Buchardt Audio E50 is that speaker, and this time the brand has moved into high-end territory.

The E50 sells direct for €3,950 in a black stained solid ash cabinet, rising to €4,100 in oak. Shipping, taxes and import charges are included.

Why the Buchardt Audio E50 Counts as High-End

Price alone does not make a high-end speaker. What usually separates the category is expertise and the freedom to avoid compromises. The E50 follows that thinking: top-quality parts throughout, a solid hardwood cabinet rather than MDF, and a price that sits well below several established high-end entry points.

Solid wood is unusual in speaker construction, and hardwood adds both cost and manufacturing complexity. To keep consistency from sample to sample, the E50 cabinets are hand built at Buchardt’s facility in Denmark. The wood is ethically sourced and FSC certified.

The panels are 19 mm thick, with a 28 mm front baffle, and the finger-jointed construction adds visual interest along with extra rigidity compared with the more common mitre joint. Each cabinet measures 395 x 190 x 284 mm and weighs 8.6 kg. Buyers can choose a natural or smoked finish with straight or rounded edges.

Buchardt Audio E50: Drivers and Crossover

A great deal of attention has landed on the E50’s Purifi woofer, a driver normally found in considerably more expensive speakers. The 165 mm (6.5 in) unit is engineered for long excursion while keeping distortion low, which allows higher playback levels and deeper bass without the usual trade-off. Purifi cites lower harmonic distortion, lower intermodulation distortion and lower mechanical hysteresis distortion, and the design is covered by several patents.

The tweeter is a 25 mm soft dome from Scan-Speak, based on a design first introduced in 1995 as part of the Revelator line. This customised version has been tuned to perform well at low volumes, with the trade-off that it does not extend as low in frequency. In this controlled-directivity design that is a non-issue, because the substantial waveguide also acts as an acoustic amplifier.

The crossover is set at 2,000 Hz and uses Jantzen parts throughout: wire-wound resistors, Z capacitors and air-core inductors, including a large foil inductor that keeps equivalent series resistance low. The rear binding posts use an iron-free design with a silver tube connector and are wired to the crossover with premium cable. Two 150 mm (6 in) SB Acoustics passive radiators handle the low end. They are the only components not sourced from Europe, and they have been customised with the stroke distance needed to support the Purifi woofer.

How the Buchardt Audio E50 Sounds

Tonally the E50 sits close to the original S400: plenty of bass, a full lower mid-range that injects warmth, and a slightly recessed upper mid-range that gives it an easygoing nature. What changes here is resolution. Across the board there is tighter bass, noticeably better mid-range detail, and a tweeter that is the star of the design.

The E50 also plays really well at low volumes, something earlier passive Buchardt speakers were not known for, and it stays clean when the volume goes up. The areas where the design could still go further are bass definition and mid-range transient attack.

Placement and Amplifier Matching

The E50 is relatively easy to place in a room, but it does produce quite a bit of bass, so distance from the walls matters. A minimum of around 75 cm (2.5 ft), measured from the front baffle, is a sensible starting point, and solid stands help keep the low end under control. Angling the speakers in toward the listening position produces a solid central image, while the controlled-directivity design creates a wide sweet spot with excellent soundstaging and imaging.

Buchardt states that the E50 responds well to powerful amplifiers but can also be used with tube amplifiers. With a modest integrated amplifier retailing at around £699, the bass can sound a little woolly and the soundstage truncates, though little else at that price does better. A tube integrated amplifier with upgraded tubes had no trouble driving the E50 and proved a favourite pairing for sensible money, adding energy to the upper mid-range and opening up the soundstage with fine textures and tones.

Hegel’s H190, at £3,250, produced very well-controlled bass and a neutral tone, helped by 150 watts per channel and a damping factor of 4,000 that keeps the long-throw Purifi woofer in check. Stepping up to the Hegel H400 at £5,900 would add extra grip and control, and the E50 is capable enough to justify it. An Exposure 2510 at £1,950, with 75 watts per channel and a smaller power supply, gives up some bass control and transient attack but brings more texture and timbre to notes.

How the Quad Revela 1 Compares

At £1,800, the Quad Revela 1 delivers an extraordinary amount of fidelity. Its bass is solid and well controlled, and vocals and instruments in the mid-range are nicely separated and resolved. In the bass and the mids, the E50 is only a tiny bit better, and the margin is small.

Treble is where the Buchardt pulls clearly ahead. It is more refined without any loss of detail or sense of air, and the custom Scan-Speak tweeter’s superior timing translates into a wider and deeper soundstage, with performer placement as good as the finest speakers around.

How the Monitor Audio Gold 100 6G Compares

The Monitor Audio Gold 100 6G, at £3,000, sets a very high bar for bass definition and mid-range transient attack. The E50 cannot match it for clarity in the bass and mids, although the contest is not entirely fair: the Gold 100 6G runs a little lean, and a lighter-footed speaker finds it easier to deliver clean punches.

In the upper registers, the E50’s soft dome tweeter holds its own against the Gold 100 6G’s AMT for soundstaging, imaging, detail and refinement. The decision between them comes down to presentation. The Monitor Audio is much more forward in the mid-range, even touching on bright with certain systems, which will appeal to listeners who want excitement in that region. The Buchardt is far more laidback, which suits all-day listening without any chance of fatigue.

Buying Advice: Which Speaker Suits Which Listener

Each of the three speakers rewards a different priority. If value is the leading concern, the Quad Revela 1 delivers a remarkable amount of fidelity for £1,800. If upper mid-range energy and taut, defined bass are what you want, the Monitor Audio Gold 100 6G at £3,000 is the more forward and exciting option. If the goal is a resolving speaker that stays comfortable over long sessions, the Buchardt Audio E50 at €3,950 is the one to choose.

Room and system matter as much as the speaker itself. The E50 produces plenty of bass, so it benefits from being placed clear of walls and on solid stands. It also responds well to capable amplification: a modest amplifier will get it playing, but more power and better control unlock tighter bass and a larger soundstage.

What to Check Before You Order

Pricing depends on the finish. The E50 costs €3,950 in the black stained solid ash cabinet and €4,100 in oak, and the price includes shipping, taxes and import charges. Cabinets are available in natural or smoked finishes with straight or rounded edges, so the finish decision affects both the look and the total cost.

Returns are handled directly by the manufacturer. Buyers need to notify Buchardt Audio within 45 days of receipt, return shipping is paid for, and a €100 restocking fee is deducted if the speakers come back undamaged in all their original packaging. It is also worth planning for stands and an amplifier before the speakers arrive, since both have a real influence on how the E50 performs.

Conclusion

The Buchardt Audio E50 is the most ambitious passive speaker the brand has produced, and it earns its place in high-end company. The solid hardwood cabinet, the Purifi long-throw woofer and the custom Scan-Speak tweeter all contribute to a controlled-directivity design that is easy to place, easy to listen to and genuinely revealing.

Its character will not suit everyone: the Quad Revela 1 costs far less and stays close in the bass and mids, while the Monitor Audio Gold 100 6G offers more mid-range bite and bass definition. Where the E50 stands apart is refinement, low-volume performance and a wide, precisely imaged soundstage, which makes it a strong choice for listeners who want a fatigue-free speaker that still digs out plenty of detail.