In this review, we will be comparing A500 and A10, two Powered Bookshelf speakers by Buchardt. Being Powered speakers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Buchardt A500 and Buchardt A10 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Buchardt A500 | Buchardt A10 |
|---|
| Brand | Buchardt
Denmark · founded 2014 | Buchardt
Denmark · founded 2014 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 450-watt RMS (1320-watt peak) | 200-watt RMS |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.74" aluminum waveguide | 0.74" Dome with waveguide |
|---|
| Midrange | 6" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 6" paper | 6.5" paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 25-40k Hz | 28-40k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 192kHZ | 24-bit / 192kHZ |
|---|
| Bluetooth | No | No |
|---|
| Weight | 9.00kg / 19.8lbs | 6.80kg / 15lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.4" x 7" x 11"
365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm | 14.6" x 7" x 9.65"
370 x 180.0 x 245.0mm |
|---|
A500 and A10 are members of Buchardt's Active series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that A500 is a 3-way design whereas the A10 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Buchardt A500Buchardt A10
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Buchardt A500 |
Buchardt A10 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.74-inch
|
0.74-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
A500 features a 0.74" fine weave soft fabric textile aluminum waveguide Tweeter, a 6" Midrange and 1 x 6" paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 150Hz and 1800Hz. On the other hand, the A10 features a 0.74" Aluminum Dome with waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz.
Frequency Response
A500 has a frequency range of 25-40k Hz whereas A10 has a frequency range of 28-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the A500 can go slightly deeper then the A10's min frequency of 28Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Buchardt A500's and Buchardt A10's external dimensions. Buchardt A500 has external dimensions of 365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm (14.4 x 7 x 11inch) whereas Buchardt A10 has external dimensions of 370 x 180.0 x 245.0mm (14.6 x 7 x 11inch).
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Buchardt A500 needs about 14% more floor or shelf area. Buchardt A500 is 35mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Buchardt A500 is approximately 504.0cm2 / 78.1inch2 and base area of the Buchardt A10 is approximately 441.0cm2 / 68.4inch2. The A500 requires 14% more surface area than the A10 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Buchardt A500 weighs 9.00kg / 19.8lbs and the Buchardt A10 weighs 6.80kg / 15lbs. This makes the A500 32% heavier than the A10.
Here is a comparison of how A500 and A10's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
28 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
365mm
vs
370mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
3850USD
vs
3950USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 USB Port |
Service Only
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 XLR Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via XLR input |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Base Surface Area |
441cm2
vs
504cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
|
USB Port |
Service Only
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
|
XLR Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via XLR input |
| General |
Buchardt A500 |
Buchardt A10 |
| Brand |
Buchardt |
Buchardt |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
25-40k Hz |
28-40k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
450-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
1320-watt RMS |
n/a |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
192kHZ |
192kHZ |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
paper |
paper |
| Tweeter Size |
0.74" |
0.74" |
| Tweeter Type |
aluminum waveguide |
Dome with waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
150Hz and 1800Hz |
2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
100 hours |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
365.0mm (14.4") |
370.0mm (14.6") |
| Width |
180.0mm (7.1") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
280.0mm (11") |
245.0mm (9.6") |
| Weight |
9.00kg (19.8lbs) |
6.80kg (15lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
n/a |
Solid wood |
| Available Colors |
Black, White, Walnut |
Black,White, Walnut, Oak, Ash |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
XLR |
XLR |
| USB Port |
Service Only |
Service Only |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Digital Input |
No |
No |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 years on speakers / 2 years on electronics (4 years if registered) |
10 years on speakers / 2 years on electronics (4 years if registered) |
| Labor Warranty |
10 years on speakers / 2 years on electronics (4 years if registered) |
10 years on speakers / 2 years on electronics (4 years if registered) |
Siblings in Buchardt's Active series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Buchardt A500 digs deeper - 25Hz against 28Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Built-in power | A | Buchardt A500 has the bigger amplifier (450W vs 200W RMS). |
| Connections | evenly matched | The same set of inputs and streaming options. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($3,850 vs $3,950 a pair). |
A Buchardt A500 B Buchardt A10
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Buchardt A500 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.