Most loudspeaker manufacturers would prefer that you replace an aging model with an entirely new pair. Buchardt Audio is taking a rather different approach.
The Danish direct to consumer speaker manufacturer has earned a strong following for its compact passive and DSP controlled active loudspeakers, which are designed to deliver high end performance without the usual dealer markup. Its new MK2 Upgrade Kits allow owners of select Buchardt active speakers to replace the internal electronics using standard tools, adding the company’s latest amplifier platform, DSP processing, connectivity, and room correction technology. Certain models also receive Buchardt’s newer RFA19 tweeter.
The upgrade is definitely not free, but it runs against an industry increasingly built around planned replacement. Rather than asking existing customers to discard perfectly functional loudspeakers as its technology evolves, Buchardt is offering them a practical way to extend their useful life and bring their performance closer to its newest generation of active speakers.
The MK2 Upgrade Kits
The speakers that are compatible with the upgrade include:
A500, A500SE, and A700 – These speakers qualify for the full upgrade, including the addition of Buchardt’s RFA19 Tweeter.
A700LE and Anniversary 10 – The speakers qualify for all Upgrade Kit elements except for the RFA19 Tweeter, as they already have that tweeter built-in.
RFA19 Tweeter – Designed by Buchardt Audio in cooperation with SB Acoustics
Tweeter Type Resonance-Free Aluminum (RFA) Dome Tweeter Diameter 19 mm / 0.74 inches Waveguide Type Custom-profiled aluminum constant directionality control (CDC) Resonance Peak Pushed up to around 30,000 Hz to eliminate harsh breakup behaviors within the human hearing range 
New Amplifier
At the heart of the MK2 upgrade is a new digital Class D amplifier platform based on technology developed by Dutch company Axign.
The fully digital amplifier uses a MOSFET based output stage rated at 4 x 250 watts RMS, for a total output of 1,000 watts RMS per speaker.
Unlike the amplifier platform used in earlier models, the Axign design integrates digital to analog conversion directly into the amplifier stage rather than relying on separate DAC components. This creates a shorter signal path, reduces system complexity, and allows the amplifier and digital signal processing to operate more efficiently together.
The new amplifier platform also offers improved efficiency, lower heat generation at comparable output levels, and reduced total harmonic distortion.
To support the increased power output and provide greater stability, particularly with demanding loads, each amplifier module is paired with an upgraded 600 watt power supply.
Expanded Wired and Wireless Connectivity
The MK2 Upgrade Kit adds digital coaxial input and output connections, allowing the two speakers to communicate over a wired link. A 6-meter coaxial cable is included with the upgrade kit.
WiSA HT wireless connectivity also remains available for owners using a compatible WiSA transmitter.
Buchardt has also upgraded the XLR analog input with a high-performance ESS analog-to-digital converter. The new ADC is designed to provide more accurate conversion of incoming analog signals before they enter the speaker’s digital signal chain.
More Powerful DSP and App Based Room Correction
The MK2 Upgrade Kit’s DSP platform is one of its most significant improvements. Operating at 96 kHz/32-bit, the upgraded processor gives owners far greater control over speaker performance and room integration, including:
- Room correction using an iPhone or dedicated Zen microphone
- User-adjustable parametric EQ filters
- Adjustable ISO 226:2003 compensation and Low Level Enhancement
- High-pass filtering
- Advanced DSP configuration and additional tuning options
All DSP features are accessible through the Buchardt app using the speakers’ new onboard Bluetooth Low Energy interface, which is reserved for app communication. This allows the speakers to be discovered, configured, and adjusted wirelessly without requiring an external interface.
Buchardt App Video
Wireless Mastertuning Control Through the Buchardt App
With the MK2 upgrade, Buchardt Mastertunings can be loaded, changed, and managed wirelessly through the Buchardt app, eliminating the need to connect the speakers via USB for routine tuning adjustments.
Pro Tip: USB loading remains supported for owners who prefer a wired connection.
The number of predefined Mastertunings may differ from those available with the previous platform. However, the MK2’s expanded DSP capabilities allow owners to recreate, modify, and fine tune a wider range of settings directly within the app.
Improved Sound Quality and Greater Control
The new Mastertunings available for all MK2 Upgrade Kits use Buchardt’s latest DSP filters. Combined with the upgraded amplifier platform and ESS analog-to-digital converter, the company says the new hardware should deliver an overall improvement in sound quality.
The gains are expected to be even more substantial with kits that include Buchardt’s RFA19 tweeter. Previously used in the A10 and A700 LE, the newer tweeter is designed to improve soundstage presentation, treble detail, and midrange clarity while retaining a similar tonal balance without adding harshness.
Ultimately, the MK2 upgrade offers greater flexibility than the previous platform and gives owners considerably more control over how their speakers perform and interact with the room.
New Warranty Coverage for the Upgraded Electronics
Owners concerned about installing the MK2 Upgrade Kit can take some reassurance from the included two-year warranty, which covers the upgraded electronics modules.
Buchardt also emphasizes that the MK2 platform is more than a routine generational update:
“The MK2 upgrade should not be seen simply as the next generation of electronics for our active speakers. Instead, it is a higher-end electronics platform, where we have allowed the cost of individual components to increase significantly in order to achieve a genuinely better-sounding and more flexible product. This naturally makes the MK2 platform more expensive to produce than our current electronics, but it also represents a substantial step up in both performance and functionality.”
The Bottom Line
Most speaker upgrades require selling what you own and starting over. Buchardt Audio’s MK2 Upgrade Kits offer a less common alternative by allowing owners of compatible active speakers to replace the electronics, expand the DSP capabilities, and, with select kits, upgrade the tweeters without replacing the entire speaker.
The kits are aimed at existing Buchardt owners who already like their speakers, are comfortable with a straightforward DIY installation, and want newer technology without spending substantially more on a complete replacement. The real question is whether the audible improvement justifies the cost, but as a practical way to extend the life of an active loudspeaker, Buchardt’s approach is unusually consumer friendly.
Price & Availability
The MK2 Upgrade Kit is available from Buchardt Audio for €1,250 to €1,500 (approximately $1,350 to $1,620 USD), depending on the specific active speaker model at buchardtaudio.com.
Related Reading:
- Buchardt Audio Announces S400 MK3 Bookshelf Speaker With Major Design Upgrades
- Buchardt Audio’s E50 Speakers Offer High-End Danish Design and Performance Below 4000 EUR
- Buchardt Audio Introduces P300 Bookshelf Loudspeaker
- Buchardt’s SUB10 Subwoofer Takes Up Very Little Space
- Buchardt’s A10 Active WiSA Speaker Celebrates 10 Years Of Danish Design
