In this review, we will be comparing A10 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 A10 and KEF LS50 Wireless II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Buchardt A10 | KEF LS50 Wireless II |
|---|
| Brand | Buchardt
Denmark · founded 2014 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 200-watt RMS | 380-watt RMS (760-watt peak) |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.74" Dome with waveguide | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" paper | 5.25" |
|---|
| Frequency response | 28-40k Hz | 45-28k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 192kHZ | Yes / 384 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | No | Built-in |
|---|
| App control | — | Yes |
|---|
| Weight | 6.80kg / 15lbs | 20.10kg / 44.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.6" x 7" x 9.65"
370 x 180.0 x 245.0mm | 10.9375" x 7.875" x 12.6875"
277.8 x 200.0 x 322.3mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both A10 and LS50 Wireless II are 2-way speakers.
Buchardt A10KEF LS50 Wireless II
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Buchardt A10 |
KEF LS50 Wireless II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.74-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
A10 features a 0.74" Aluminum Dome with waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz. On the other hand, the LS50 Wireless II features a 1" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Woofer.
Frequency Response
A10 has a frequency range of 28-40k Hz whereas LS50 Wireless II has a frequency range of 45-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the A10 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the LS50 Wireless II's min frequency of 45Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
A10 has a front firing port whereas LS50 Wireless II has a rear firing ports. Buchardt A10's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to KEF LS50 Wireless II with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 A10's and KEF LS50 Wireless II's external dimensions. Buchardt A10 has external dimensions of 370 x 180.0 x 245.0mm (14.6 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 A10 is 20mm narrower and 77.3mm less deeper than KEF LS50 Wireless II but it is also 92.2mm taller.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
KEF LS50 Wireless II needs about 46% more floor or shelf area. KEF LS50 Wireless II is 77mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Buchardt A10 is 92mm taller.
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 A10 is approximately 441.0cm2 / 68.4inch2 and base area of the KEF LS50 Wireless II is approximately 644.6cm2 / 99.9inch2. The A10 requires 32% less surface area than the LS50 Wireless II which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 A10 weighs 6.80kg / 15lbs and the KEF LS50 Wireless II weighs 20.10kg / 44.2lbs. This makes the LS50 Wireless II 196% heavier than the A10.
Here is a comparison of how A10 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 speakers
- Two 6.5' AC power cords
- 10' Cat-6 interconnect speaker cable
- Remote control
- 2 \"AAA\" batteries
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Safety Information
- Warranty Information
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Base Surface Area |
441cm2
vs
644cm2
|
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
370mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
2999USD
vs
3950USD
|
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 |
1
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
 HDMI Input |
eARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
| General |
Buchardt A10 |
KEF LS50 Wireless II |
| Brand |
Buchardt |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
28-40k Hz |
45-28k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
200-watt RMS |
380-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
760-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
Yes |
| Max Sample Rate |
192kHZ |
384 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
paper |
|
| Tweeter Size |
0.74" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome with waveguide |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2800Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
370.0mm (14.6") |
277.8mm (10.9") |
| Width |
180.0mm (7.1") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
245.0mm (9.6") |
322.3mm (12.7") |
| Weight |
6.80kg (15lbs) |
20.10kg (44.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Solid wood |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black,White, Walnut, Oak, Ash |
n/a |
| Mounting Bracket |
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 |
mono-RCA |
| Digital Input |
No |
1 |
| 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) |
3 Year w/ registration |
| Labor Warranty |
10 years on speakers / 2 years on electronics (4 years if registered) |
3 Year w/ registration |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your sources and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Buchardt A10 digs deeper - 28Hz against 45Hz. |
| Built-in power | B | KEF LS50 Wireless II has the bigger amplifier (380W vs 200W RMS). |
| Connections | B | KEF LS50 Wireless II adds Bluetooth, streaming, HDMI and digital inputs. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | B | KEF LS50 Wireless II: a sub output. KEF LS50 Wireless II sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | KEF LS50 Wireless II is cheaper - $2,999 against $3,950, about 24% less. |
A Buchardt A10 B KEF LS50 Wireless II
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
KEF LS50 Wireless II is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Buchardt A10 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 45Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper KEF LS50 Wireless II much easier to justify.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.