In this review, we will be comparing A500 and Alpha AM3, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Buchardt and PSB. 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 PSB Alpha AM3 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 PSB Alpha AM3 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 Alpha AM3 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 |
PSB Alpha AM3 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
0.74-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 4-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 Alpha AM3 features a 0.75" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Polypropylene Woofer .
Frequency Response
A500 has a frequency range of 25-40k Hz whereas Alpha AM3 has a frequency range of 56-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the A500 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Alpha AM3's min frequency of 56Hz.
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 PSB Alpha AM3's external dimensions. Buchardt A500 has external dimensions of 365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm ( 14.4 x 7 x 11inch) whereas PSB Alpha AM3 has external dimensions of 220.7 x 131.8 x 206.4mm ( 8.6875 x 5.1875 x 8.125inch) .
Buchardt A500 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 48.2mm wider, 144.3mm taller and 73.6mm deeper than PSB Alpha AM3.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Buchardt A500 and PSB Alpha AM3 in scale.
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 PSB Alpha AM3 is approximately 272.0cm2 / 42.2inch2. The A500 requires 85% more surface area than the Alpha AM3 which gives it a small disadvantage 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:
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 PSB Alpha AM3 weighs 4.50kg / 9.9lbs. This makes the A500 100% heavier than the Alpha AM3.
Here is a comparison of how A500 and Alpha AM3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of PSB Alpha AM3?
Here are the items that come with the Alpha AM3:
Powered speaker Passive speaker 2 Grilles AC power adapter (attached 45-inch DC cord) 4-feet AC power cord Remote control (PSR-1) 2 AAA batteries 8-feet Speaker cable 58-inch Stereo minijack cable 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Connection Diagram Warranty Card
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Woofer Size |
6 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
56 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
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 |
Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
Height |
220mm
vs
365mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
272cm2 (131x206mm)
vs
504cm2 (180x280mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
449USD
vs
3850USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
USB Port |
microUSB
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
3.5mm Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via 3.5mm AUX input |
Phono Input |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your turntable directly |
Digital Input |
Optical
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
General |
Buchardt A500 |
PSB Alpha AM3 |
Brand |
Buchardt |
PSB |
Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Frequency Response |
25-40k Hz |
56-20k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
Watts RMS (Continuous) |
450-watt RMS |
70-watt RMS |
Watts Peak (Max) |
1320-watt RMS |
n/a |
Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
Max Sample Rate |
192kHZ |
48 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
6" |
4" |
Woofer Composition |
paper |
Polypropylene |
Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
0.74" |
0.75" |
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") |
220.7mm (8.7") |
Width |
180.0mm (7.1") |
131.8mm (5.2") |
Depth |
280.0mm (11") |
206.4mm (8.1") |
Weight |
9.00kg (19.8lbs) |
4.50kg (9.9lbs) |
Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
n/a |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
Available Colors |
Black, White, Walnut |
Matte Black, Matte White |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Aux Inputs |
XLR |
3.5mm |
USB Port |
Service Only |
microUSB |
Phone Input |
No |
Yes |
Subwoofer Output |
n/a |
No |
Digital Input |
No |
Optical |
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) |
1 Year |
Labor Warranty |
10 years on speakers / 2 years on electronics (4 years if registered) |
1 Year |