In this review, we will be comparing A500 and Navis ARB-51, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Buchardt and ELAC. 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 ELAC Navis ARB-51 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Buchardt A500 and ELAC Navis ARB-51 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both A500 and Navis ARB-51 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Buchardt A500 |
ELAC Navis ARB-51 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.74-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 5.25-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 Navis ARB-51 features a 1" Fabric Soft-Dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer .
Frequency Response
A500 has a frequency range of 25-40k Hz whereas Navis ARB-51 has a frequency range of 44-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the A500 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Navis ARB-51's min frequency of 44Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 ELAC Navis ARB-51's external dimensions. Buchardt A500 has external dimensions of 365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm ( 14.4 x 7 x 11inch) whereas ELAC Navis ARB-51 has external dimensions of 350.8 x 192.1 x 287.3mm ( 13.8125 x 7.5625 x 11.3125inch) .
Buchardt A500 is 12.1mm narrower and 7.3mm less deeper than ELAC Navis ARB-51 but it is also 14.2mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Buchardt A500 and ELAC Navis ARB-51 in scale.
Comparison image of Buchardt A500 and ELAC Navis ARB-51 Size and External Dimensions
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 ELAC Navis ARB-51 is approximately 551.9cm2 / 85.5inch2. The A500 requires 9% less surface area than the Navis ARB-51 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Buchardt A500 and ELAC Navis ARB-51 on a Media Console
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 ELAC Navis ARB-51 weighs 8.10kg / 17.8lbs. This makes the A500 11% heavier than the Navis ARB-51.
Here is a comparison of how A500 and Navis ARB-51's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of ELAC Navis ARB-51?
Here are the items that come with the Navis ARB-51:
2 Powered bookshelf loudspeakersTwo 8-feet AC power cordsOperating Instructions
 Woofer Size |
6 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
44 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
504cm2 (180x280mm)
vs
551cm2 (192x287mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 USB Port |
Service Only
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 XLR Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via XLR input |
 Subwoofer Output |
vs
No
|
Pair your speakers with external subwoofer |
 Height |
350mm
vs
365mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
1998USD
vs
3850USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
| XLR Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via XLR input |
| General |
Buchardt A500 |
ELAC Navis ARB-51 |
| Brand |
Buchardt |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
25-40k Hz |
44-28k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
450-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
1320-watt RMS |
600-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
n/a |
| Max Sample Rate |
192kHZ |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
paper |
Aluminum |
| Tweeter Size |
0.74" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
aluminum waveguide |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
4" |
| Crossover Frequency |
150Hz and 1800Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
100 hours |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
365.0mm (14.4") |
350.8mm (13.8") |
| Width |
180.0mm (7.1") |
192.1mm (7.6") |
| Depth |
280.0mm (11") |
287.3mm (11.3") |
| Weight |
9.00kg (19.8lbs) |
8.10kg (17.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black, White, Walnut |
n/a |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
XLR |
XLR, RCA |
| USB Port |
Service Only |
No |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
n/a |
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) |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
10 years on speakers / 2 years on electronics (4 years if registered) |
3 Years |