In this review, we will be comparing Genelec G Four and A500, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Genelec and Buchardt. 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 Genelec G Four and Buchardt A500 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Genelec G Four Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 180-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75" Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Cone Woofer
- 48-20k Hz Frequency Response
- N/A Max Depth / N/A Max Sample Rate
- Weight:8.60kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 365.0" x 9.3" x 8.8"( 365 x 237 x 223 mm )
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
- 6" Midrange
- 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 )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Genelec G Four and Buchardt A500 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 Genelec G Four is a 2-way design whereas the A500 is a 3-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 |
Genelec G Four |
Buchardt A500 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
0.74-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6-inch
|
Genelec G Four features a 0.75" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz. On the other hand, the 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.
Frequency Response
Genelec G Four has a frequency range of 48-20k Hz whereas A500 has a frequency range of 25-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the A500 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Genelec G Four's min frequency of 48Hz.
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 Genelec G Four's and Buchardt A500's external dimensions. Genelec G Four has external dimensions of 365 x 237 x 223 mm ( 13.8 x 9.3 x 8.8) whereas Buchardt A500 has external dimensions of 365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm ( 14.4 x 7 x 11inch) .
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Genelec G Four and Buchardt A500 in scale.
Comparison image of Genelec G Four and Buchardt A500 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 Genelec G Four is approximately 528.5cm2 / 81.9inch2 and base area of the Buchardt A500 is approximately 504.0cm2 / 78.1inch2. The Genelec G Four requires 5% more surface area than the A500 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:
Size Comparison image of Genelec G Four and Buchardt A500 on a Media Console