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.
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.
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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
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 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.
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:
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
What's in the Box of KEF LS50 Wireless II?
Here are the items that come with the LS50 Wireless II:
2 Wireless powered speakersTwo 6.5-feet AC power cords10-feet Cat-6 interconnect speaker cableRemote control2 AAA batteries Quick Start Guide Important Safety Information Warranty Information
 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 (180x280mm)
vs
644cm2 (200x322mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 XLR Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via XLR input |
 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 |
| 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 |