Gutted – It's what you can now do to your active Buchardt speaker. Their new MkII amplifier module [€1.5K] is user-retrofittable to models dating back nearly a decade to include the A500/SE, A700 and its limited edition plus the Anniversary 10. "One of the biggest criticisms of active speakers has been that you're locked into the tech available on the day you bought them. Streaming standards evolve, processors improve, amplifiers become more efficient, new features emerge. We designed our active speakers to allow their electronics to evolve while the acoustic platform remains in service." The MkII upgrade kit replaces the amplifier, DSP and power supply assembly with an entirely new platform. At its heart is a fully digital amplifier based on Axign's digital class-D controller, eliminating redundant D/A conversion before amplification. The platform delivers 4×250W per channel at higher efficiency, lower thermal output and significantly reduced distortion over the previous generation. This pairs with a new more powerful power supply for increased current reserves and headroom. The DSP now operates at 32-bit 96kHz. It includes room correction via iPhone or dedicated Zen microphone; user-adjustable PEQ filters; adjustable low-level enhancements; high-pass filtering; and over-the-air changes of Buchardt Mastertunings. All functions are accessible through the Buchardt App using the speakers' new onboard Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) interface. The speakers can be discovered and configured wirelessly without the need for an external interface. There are new digital coaxial i/o whilst WiSA Wireless remains in play. For models which don't already have it, the upgrade kit even includes the firm's latest RFA19 tweeter. Otherwise subtract €250. Everything is designed to be installed by the owner with household tools.
