In this review, we will be comparing Prime Wireless and A500, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from SVS 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 SVS Prime Wireless and Buchardt A500 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 SVS Prime Wireless 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 Prime Wireless 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 |
SVS Prime Wireless |
Buchardt A500 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.74-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6-inch |
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 6-inch
|
Prime Wireless features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" composite glass-fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz. 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
Prime Wireless has a frequency range of 52-25k 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 Prime Wireless's min frequency of 52Hz.
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 SVS Prime Wireless's and Buchardt A500's external dimensions. SVS Prime Wireless has external dimensions of 260.0 x 155.0 x 160.0mm ( 10.3125 x 6.125 x 8.6875inch) whereas Buchardt A500 has external dimensions of 365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm ( 14.4 x 7 x 11inch) .
Buchardt A500 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 25mm wider, 105mm taller and 120mm deeper than SVS Prime Wireless.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of SVS Prime Wireless and Buchardt A500 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 SVS Prime Wireless is approximately 248.0cm2 / 38.4inch2 and base area of the Buchardt A500 is approximately 504.0cm2 / 78.1inch2. The Prime Wireless requires 51% less surface area than the A500 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:
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 SVS Prime Wireless weighs 3.96kg / 8.7lbs and the Buchardt A500 weighs 9.00kg / 19.8lbs. This makes the A500 127% heavier than the Prime Wireless.
Here is a comparison of how Prime Wireless 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 SVS Prime Wireless?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Prime Wireless:
Active wireless speaker6-feet AC power cordGrille (pre-installed)4 Self-adhesive feetQuick Start GuideWarranty/Registration CardSVS brochure
App-Based Control |
Apple iOS, Android, Windows
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
Height |
260mm
vs
365mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
248cm2 (155x160mm)
vs
504cm2 (180x280mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
500USD
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 |
Service only
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 |
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
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
52 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 |
SVS Prime Wireless |
Buchardt A500 |
Brand |
SVS |
Buchardt |
Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Frequency Response |
52-25k Hz |
25-40k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
Watts RMS (Continuous) |
200-watt RMS |
450-watt RMS |
Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
1320-watt RMS |
Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
Max Sample Rate |
192 kHz |
192kHZ |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
4.5" |
6" |
Woofer Composition |
composite glass-fiber |
paper |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
0.74" |
Tweeter Type |
Dome |
aluminum waveguide |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
6" |
Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
150Hz and 1800Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Suggested Break-in Period |
n/a |
100 hours |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
260.0mm (10.2") |
365.0mm (14.4") |
Width |
155.0mm (6.1") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
Depth |
160.0mm (6.3") |
280.0mm (11") |
Weight |
3.96kg (8.7lbs) |
9.00kg (19.8lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
Available Colors |
Black |
Black, White, Walnut |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Aux Inputs |
3.5mm, RCA |
XLR |
USB Port |
Service only |
Service Only |
Phone Input |
No |
No |
Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
n/a |
Digital Input |
Optical |
No |
HDMI Input |
No |
No |
Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
Ethernet Port |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
10 years on speakers / 2 years on electronics (4 years if registered) |
Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
10 years on speakers / 2 years on electronics (4 years if registered) |