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Buchardt A500 vs KEF LS50 Wireless II Comparison

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Buchardt A500

Powered Bookshelf | 25-40k Hz

Buchardt A500
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KEF LS50 Wireless II

Powered Bookshelf | 45-28k Hz

KEF LS50 Wireless II
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Buchardt A500 Buchardt A500
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KEF LS50 Wireless II KEF LS50 Wireless II
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Buchardt A500
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KEF LS50 Wireless II
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Buchardt A500 vs KEF LS50 Wireless II Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing A500 and LS50 Wireless II, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Buchardt and KEF. 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 KEF LS50 Wireless II first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Buchardt A500 Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 450-watt RMS( 1320-watt Peak) Integrated Amplifier
  • 0.74" aluminum waveguide Tweeter
  • 6" Midrange
  • 6" paper Woofer
  • 25-40k Hz Frequency Response
  • 24-bit Max Depth / 192kHZ Max Sample Rate
  • Weight:9.00kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 365.0" x 7" x 11"( 365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm )

KEF LS50 Wireless II Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 380-watt RMS( 760-watt Peak) Integrated Amplifier
  • 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
  • 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
  • 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
  • 45-28k Hz Frequency Response
  • 32-bit Max Depth / 384 kHz Max Sample Rate
  • App Control Feature
  • Weight:10.00kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 277.8" x 7.875" x 12.6875"( 277.8 x 200.0 x 322.3mm )

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Buchardt A500 and KEF LS50 Wireless II 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

One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that A500 is a 3-way design whereas the LS50 Wireless II 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.

Driver Buchardt A500 KEF LS50 Wireless II
Driver Setup 3-way 2-way
Tweeter 0.74-inch 1-inch
Midrange 1 x 6-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 LS50 Wireless II features a 1" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer .

Frequency Response

A500 has a frequency range of 25-40k Hz whereas LS50 Wireless II has a frequency range of 45-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the A500 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the LS50 Wireless II's min frequency of 45Hz.

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

A500
LS50 Wireless II
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Buchardt A500
KEF LS50 Wireless II
Min
Average
Max

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 KEF LS50 Wireless II's external dimensions. Buchardt A500 has external dimensions of 365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm ( 14.4 x 7 x 11inch) whereas KEF LS50 Wireless II has external dimensions of 277.8 x 200.0 x 322.3mm ( 10.9375 x 7.875 x 12.6875inch) .

Buchardt A500 is 20mm narrower and 42.3mm less deeper than KEF LS50 Wireless II but it is also 87.2mm taller.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Buchardt A500 and KEF LS50 Wireless II in scale.

Buchardt A500 vs KEF LS50 Wireless II Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Buchardt A500 and KEF LS50 Wireless II 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 KEF LS50 Wireless II is approximately 644.6cm2 / 99.9inch2. The A500 requires 22% less surface area than the LS50 Wireless II 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:

Buchardt A500 vs KEF LS50 Wireless II Size Comparison on a Media Console
Size Comparison image of Buchardt A500 and KEF LS50 Wireless II 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 KEF LS50 Wireless II weighs 10.00kg / 22lbs. This makes the LS50 Wireless II 11% heavier than the A500.

Here is a comparison of how A500 and LS50 Wireless II's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Buchardt A500
KEF LS50 Wireless II
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of KEF LS50 Wireless II?

Here are the items that come with the LS50 Wireless II:
  • 2 Wireless powered speakers
  • Two 6.5-feet AC power cords
  • 10-feet Cat-6 interconnect speaker cable
  • Remote control
  • 2 AAA batteries
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Important Safety Information
  • Warranty Information

  • Reasons to choose Buchardt A500 over KEF LS50 Wireless II
    Driver Setup 3-way vs 2-way Have a dedicated mid-range driver
    Woofer Size 6 inches vs 5.25 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 25 Hz vs 45 Hz Generates deeper bass
    High Frequency Response 40k Hz vs 28k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Base Surface Area 504cm2 vs 644cm2 Takes less floor space
    XLR Connection Yes vs No Connection via XLR input

    Reasons to choose KEF LS50 Wireless II over Buchardt A500

    Handheld Remote Yes vs No Control the speaker by the included RC
    App-Based Control Apple iOS, Android vs None Control the speaker via an app
    Height 277mm vs 365mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Price per pair* 2499USD vs 3850USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    Ethernet Connection Yes vs No High quality streaming over Ethernet
    USB Port Service only vs No USB port adds flexibility
    3.5mm Connection Yes vs No Connection via 3.5mm AUX input
    Digital Input Optical, Coax vs No Connect digital inputs directly
    HDMI Input eARC vs No Connect HDMI sources directly
    Buchardt A500 vs KEF LS50 Wireless II Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Buchardt A500 KEF LS50 Wireless II
    Brand Buchardt KEF
    Speaker Type Powered Stereo Speakers Powered Stereo Speakers
    Frequency Response 25-40k Hz 45-28k Hz
    Amplifier
    Watts RMS (Continuous) 450-watt RMS 380-watt RMS
    Watts Peak (Max) 1320-watt RMS 760-watt RMS
    Max Bit Depth 24-bit 32-bit
    Max Sample Rate 192kHZ 384 kHz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 6" 5.25"
    Woofer Composition paper Aluminum
    Woofer Surround Material n/a Rubber
    Tweeter Size 0.74" 1"
    Tweeter Type aluminum waveguide Hard-Dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver 6" No
    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") 277.8mm (10.9")
    Width 180.0mm (7.1") 200.0mm (7.9")
    Depth 280.0mm (11") 322.3mm (12.7")
    Weight 9.00kg (19.8lbs) 10.00kg (22lbs)
    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 3.5mm
    USB Port Service Only Service only
    Phone Input No No
    Subwoofer Output n/a Wired
    Digital Input No Optical, Coax
    HDMI Input No eARC
    Headphone Jack No No
    Ethernet Port No Yes
    Other
    Parts Warranty 10 years on speakers / 2 years on electronics (4 years if registered) 1 Year
    Labor Warranty 10 years on speakers / 2 years on electronics (4 years if registered) 1 Year

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