SpeakerDecision
  • SPEAKERS by TYPE
    • Passive Bookshelf Speakers
    • Passive Floor-standing Speakers
    • Passive Center Channel Speakers
    • Passive In-wall Speakers
    • All Passive Speakers
    • Powered Subwoofers
    • Powered Stereo Speakers
  • AMPLIFIERS
  • SMART FIND

Buchardt A500 vs Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 Comparison

x
Speaker to replace
Change

Buchardt A500

Powered Bookshelf | 25-40k Hz

Buchardt A500
CHECK PRICE
Change
    
Sony Signature Series SA-Z1

Powered Bookshelf | 51-100k Hz

Sony Signature Series SA-Z1
CHECK PRICE
Buchardt A500 Buchardt A500
See at AMAZON
Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 Sony Signature Serie...
See at AMAZON
Buchardt A500
See at AMAZON
Sony Signature Serie...
See at AMAZON
Buchardt A500 vs Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing A500 and Sony Signature Series SA-Z1, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Buchardt and Sony. 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 Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 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 )

Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 212-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
  • 0.75, 0.5 (2)" Hard-Dome Tweeter
  • 2 x 4" Woofer
  • 51-100k Hz Frequency Response
  • 32-bit Max Depth / 768 Hz Max Sample Rate
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 209.5" x 7.875" x 12.875"( 209.5 x 200.0 x 327.0mm )

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Buchardt A500 and Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 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 Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 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 Sony Signature Series SA-Z1
Driver Setup 3-way 2-way
Tweeter 0.74-inch 0.75, 0.5 (2)-inch
Midrange 1 x 6-inch -
Woofer 1 x 6-inch 2 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 Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 features a 0.75, 0.5 (2)" Titanium Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 4" Woofer .

Frequency Response

A500 has a frequency range of 25-40k Hz whereas Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 has a frequency range of 51-100k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the A500 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Sony Signature Series SA-Z1's min frequency of 51Hz.

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
Sony Signature Series SA-Z1
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Buchardt A500
Sony Signature Series SA-Z1
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 Sony Signature Series SA-Z1's external dimensions. Buchardt A500 has external dimensions of 365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm ( 14.4 x 7 x 11inch) whereas Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 has external dimensions of 209.5 x 200.0 x 327.0mm ( 8.25 x 7.875 x 12.875inch) .

Buchardt A500 is 20mm narrower and 47mm less deeper than Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 but it is also 155.5mm taller.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Buchardt A500 and Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 in scale.

Buchardt A500 vs Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Buchardt A500 and Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 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 Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 is approximately 654.0cm2 / 101.4inch2. The A500 requires 23% less surface area than the Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 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 Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 Size Comparison on a Media Console
Size Comparison image of Buchardt A500 and Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 on a Media Console

What's in the Box of Sony Signature Series SA-Z1?

Here are the items that come with the Sony Signature Series SA-Z1:
  • 2 Desktop monitor speakers
  • 2 AC power cords
  • Digital sync cable
  • Walkman cable
  • USB-C to USB-B cable
  • Remote control
  • 2 AAA batteries
  • Instruction Manual

  • Reasons to choose Buchardt A500 over Sony Signature Series SA-Z1
    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 51 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Base Surface Area 504cm2 vs 654cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 3850USD vs 8000USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    USB Port Service Only vs No USB port adds flexibility
    Subwoofer Output vs No Pair your speakers with external subwoofer

    Reasons to choose Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 over Buchardt A500

    Number of Woofers 2 vs 1 More woofers
    High Frequency Response 100k Hz vs 40k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Handheld Remote Yes vs No Control the speaker by the included RC
    Height 209mm vs 365mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    USB Port USB-B vs No USB port adds flexibility
    3.5mm Connection Yes vs No Connection via 3.5mm AUX input
    RCA Connection Yes vs No Connection via RCA input
    XLR Connection Yes vs No Connection via XLR input
    Digital Input Optical, Walkman vs No Connect digital inputs directly
    Buchardt A500 vs Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Buchardt A500 Sony Signature Series SA-Z1
    Brand Buchardt Sony
    Speaker Type Powered Stereo Speakers Powered Stereo Speakers
    Frequency Response 25-40k Hz 51-100k Hz
    Amplifier
    Watts RMS (Continuous) 450-watt RMS 212-watt RMS
    Watts Peak (Max) 1320-watt RMS n/a
    Max Bit Depth 24-bit 32-bit
    Max Sample Rate 192kHZ 768 Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 2
    Woofer Size 6" 4"
    Woofer Composition paper
    Tweeter Size 0.74" 0.75, 0.5 (2)"
    Tweeter Type aluminum waveguide Hard-Dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver 6" No
    Crossover Frequency 150Hz and 1800Hz n/a
    Suggested Break-in Period 100 hours n/a
    Physical Specs
    Height 365.0mm (14.4") 209.5mm (8.2")
    Width 180.0mm (7.1") 200.0mm (7.9")
    Depth 280.0mm (11") 327.0mm (12.9")
    Weight 9.00kg (19.8lbs) n/a
    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, RCA, XLR
    USB Port Service Only USB-B
    Phone Input No No
    Subwoofer Output n/a No
    Digital Input No Optical, Walkman
    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) 2 Years
    Labor Warranty 10 years on speakers / 2 years on electronics (4 years if registered) 2 Years

    Most Popular Speakers
    Klipsch Reference R-51M
    Klipsch R-51M
    2-way | 93 dB | 8 ohms
    Wharfedale Elysian 2
    Wharfedale Elysian 2
    3-way | 89 dB | 4 ohms
    ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
    ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
    2-way | 87 dB | 6 ohms
    Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition
    B&W 606 S2
    2-way | 88 dB | 8 ohms
    KEF Q150
    KEF Q150
    2-way | 86 dB | 8 ohms
    Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-500M
    Klipsch RP-500M
    2-way | 93 dB | 8 ohms
    Wharfedale EVO4.1
    Wharfedale EVO4.1
    2-way | 87 dB | 8 ohms
    Bowers & Wilkins 606
    B&W 606
    2-way | 88 dB | 8 ohms
    Copyright © 2025 by SpeakerDecision
    About Privacy Contact US Camera Decision

    Report a Correction