In this review, we will be comparing 4305P and A500, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from JBL 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 JBL 4305P and Buchardt A500 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL 4305P | Buchardt A500 |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | Buchardt
Denmark · founded 2014 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 300-watt RMS | 450-watt RMS (1320-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Horn-Loaded | 0.74" aluminum waveguide |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 6" |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Pulp | 6" paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-25k Hz | 25-40k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 192kHz | 24-bit / 192kHZ |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.1 | No |
|---|
| App control | Yes | — |
|---|
| Weight | 6.60kg / 14.5lbs | 9.00kg / 19.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.3125" x 8.3125" x 8-3/4"
336 x 210 x 223 mm | 14.4" x 7" x 11"
365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that 4305P 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.
JBL 4305PBuchardt A500
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
JBL 4305P |
Buchardt A500 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.74-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6-inch
|
4305P features a 1" Teonex Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Pulp Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1750 Hz. 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
4305P has a frequency range of 45-25k 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 4305P'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.
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 JBL 4305P's and Buchardt A500's external dimensions. JBL 4305P has external dimensions of 336 x 210 x 223 mm (13.3125 x 8.3125 x 8-3/4 inch) whereas Buchardt A500 has external dimensions of 365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm (14.4 x 7 x 11inch).
JBL 4305P is 29mm shorter and 57mm less deeper than Buchardt A500 but it is also 30mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL 4305P and Buchardt A500 in scale.
Comparison image of JBL 4305P 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 JBL 4305P is approximately 468.3cm2 / 72.6inch2 and base area of the Buchardt A500 is approximately 504.0cm2 / 78.1inch2. The 4305P requires 7% less surface area than the A500 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is 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 JBL 4305P and Buchardt A500 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 JBL 4305P weighs 6.60kg / 14.5lbs and the Buchardt A500 weighs 9.00kg / 19.8lbs. This makes the A500 36% heavier than the 4305P.
Here is a comparison of how 4305P and A500's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of JBL 4305P?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 4305P:
- 2 Powered speakers
- 2 Grilles
- Two 69-inch AC power cords
- 10-feet CAT5e cable
- Remote control
- 2 AAA batteries
- 8 Self-adhesive feet
- Owner-feets Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
 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 |
336mm
vs
365mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
468cm2
vs
504cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2200USD
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 |
USB-B
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 3.5mm Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via 3.5mm AUX input |
 Digital Input |
Optical
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
 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
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 XLR Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via XLR input |
| General |
JBL 4305P |
Buchardt A500 |
| Brand |
JBL |
Buchardt |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
45-25k Hz |
25-40k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
300-watt RMS |
450-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
1320-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
192kHz |
192kHZ |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
Pulp |
paper |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
0.74" |
| Tweeter Type |
Horn-Loaded |
aluminum waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
1750 Hz |
150Hz and 1800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
n/a |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
n/a |
100 hours |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
336.0mm (13.2") |
365.0mm (14.4") |
| Width |
210.0mm (8.3") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
223.0mm (8.8") |
280.0mm (11") |
| Weight |
6.60kg (14.5lbs) |
9.00kg (19.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
3/4-inch MDF with real wood veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Satin Walnut, Black Walnut |
Black, White, Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm |
XLR |
| USB Port |
USB-B |
Service Only |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA |
n/a |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
No |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5yr drivers/2 yr amp |
10 years on speakers / 2 years on electronics (4 years if registered) |
| Labor Warranty |
5yr drivers/2 yr amp |
10 years on speakers / 2 years on electronics (4 years if registered) |
These sit in different price classes - Buchardt A500 costs roughly 1.8x what JBL 4305P does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Buchardt A500 digs deeper - 25Hz against 45Hz. |
| Built-in power | B | Buchardt A500 has the bigger amplifier (450W vs 300W RMS). |
| Connections | A | JBL 4305P adds Bluetooth, streaming and digital inputs. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Sealed. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | A | JBL 4305P: a sub output. JBL 4305P sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | JBL 4305P is cheaper - $2,200 against $3,850, about 43% less; arguably a different class. |
A JBL 4305P B Buchardt A500
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. 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 JBL 4305P much easier to justify. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $1,650 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.