Buchardt A500 Powered Bookshelf Speaker Review (by Erin)

[sweetchaos]

Thanks for another speaker review @hardisj

Link to review:

Buchardt A500 Powered Bookshelf Speaker Review

Buchardt A500 Review

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

Price is approximately €3500 for the speaker pair (as of this writing). With the Platin Hub the cost is €3800.

Erin's conclusion:

See video linked above for subjective and objective analysis. But just a couple notes:

• I really, really like this speaker in the default tuning. I did try a few other DSP options but continually came back to preferring the default setting.
• If you plan to purchase these speakers, spend the extra money and purchase the Platin Hub. It’s a no brainer purchase. Spend the extra money. It provides “room eq” and “manual eq”. Both of which are easy to use and very useful.
• Remember, these results are with the DSP enabled to provide fullrange reproduction and it does it incredibly well. The distortion and compression (limiting) data indicate this speaker does not take kindly to high output volume but in my listening experience in my home theater at about 3 meters away, I was maxing out at about 105dB (in the midrange/highs). I was pushing this speaker hard without any mechanical noise (which indcates the limiter is protecting the drivers as it should) but, more imporantly, I did not feel the speaker was unable to provide adequate output at this listening distance. I did not notice problematic distortion. So, yes, the data indicates this speaker is only capable of getting so loud but that “so loud” should be plenty for most people. And if you have a subwoofer to pair with these then use a HPF on these to alleviate the distortion/limiting concerns.

Discuss!

 

[sweetchaos]

Here's the comparison with @napilopez quasi-anechoic measurements:

 

[napilopez]

Of course, there's no need to verify the NFS's results at this point but I always breathe a sigh of relief when my measurements match! Don't know if the tuning has changed since I tested these but the stock tuning at least is very close, which bodes well for unit consistency too.

 

[napilopez]

Here's the comparison with @napilopez quasi-anechoic measurements:
View attachment 190406

Hah, just beat me to it!

 

[Tonygeno]

Another example of why integrated systems (with built in amps) are the way to go on a price/performance basis.

 

[RMW_NJ]

The A500 seems to be a pretty darn good value…assuming you don’t have the Platin issues.

 

[Haint]

Another example of why integrated systems (with built in amps) are the way to go on a price/performance basis.

If your requirement is ultra low extension from a small no fuss 2.0 system. $4200 would otherwise buy quite a nice system in passives, including multiple subs, and an amp/pro with sophisticated room correction.

 

[sharock]

When Erin says he prefers the default tuning, I don't think that is the 'Theoretical Flat' measured? There is a different 'Neutral Stock" tuning on their website.

I imagine it's very time consuming, but it's a shame we can't see measurements for every tuning. I'm not sure Buchardt themselves provide this?

 

[Sancus]

The limiter on these seems sort of aggressive? I mean the smaller 8331A doesn't really limit at 96dB above 60hz but this does and by >3dB. I know Erin's review said it wasn't really an issue in practice, but still.

 

[Wicky]

The limiter on these seems sort of aggressive? I mean the smaller 8331A doesn't really limit at 96dB above 60hz but this does and by >3dB. I know Erin's review said it wasn't really an issue in practice, but still.

However, if I'm understanding correctly, the 8331A will hard limit at 100dB @ 3m whereas Erin measured 105dB @ 3m for the A500 albeit with compression kicking in below ~110Hz. If you want the A500 loud then you'll probably want a sub/s.

 

[VintageFlanker]

Thx @hardisj !

Would you please measure the standard (and the real "stock") MT: Neutral Stock ?

I'm a bit worried when seeing this, since I planned to use it with a pair of subs...

Here's the comparison with @napilopez quasi-anechoic measurements:

@sweetchaos , @napilopez, It's not the same Master Tuning at all, anyway.

Don't know if the tuning has changed since

Three times, actually.

 

[Sancus]

However, if I'm understanding correctly, the 8331A will hard limit at 100dB @ 3m whereas Erin measured 105dB @ 3m for the A500 albeit with compression kicking in below ~110Hz. If you want the A500 loud then you'll probably want a sub/s.

Ya, it wasn't meant to be an apples to apples comparison. The A500 is larger, and has way more LF driver area/power(2x6" w/150W for each) vs (8331A~5" and 72W). That's why I thought it surprising that it limits so early.

 

[FrantzM]

Thx @hardisj !

Would you please if you may measure the standard (and the real."stock") MT: Neutral Stock ?

I'm a bit worried when seeing this, I planned to use with a pair of subs...
View attachment 190520


@sweetchaos , @napilopez, It's not the same Master Tuning at all, anyway.

Three times, actually.

I had the same reaction when I saw this response to the "Neutral Hi-pass 60 Hz" tuning. If anything such a setting should provide a much better FR.
I suppose they, Burchard, will work on that.

Peace

 

[abdo123]

Thx @hardisj !

Would you please measure the standard (and the real "stock") MT: Neutral Stock ?

I'm a bit worried when seeing this, since I planned to use it with a pair of subs...
View attachment 190520


@sweetchaos , @napilopez, It's not the same Master Tuning at all, anyway.

Three times, actually.

Worried about what?

 

[abdo123]

I had the same reaction when I saw this response to the "Neutral Hi-pass 60 Hz" tuning. If anything such a setting should provide a much better FR.
I suppose they, Burchard, will work on that.

Peace

I'm guessing 'Neutral' means only the crossover without any EQ or additional processing.

 

[VintageFlanker]

I'm guessing 'Neutral' means only the crossover without any EQ or additional processing.

Nope. It's the name for the standard Master Tuning: https://buchardtaudio.com/pages/mastertunings-overview

Worried about what?

Did you see the Spin?

 

[hardisj]

When Erin says he prefers the default tuning, I don't think that is the 'Theoretical Flat' measured? There is a different 'Neutral Stock" tuning on their website.

Per Mads, the default tuning I received is Theoretical Flat. At least for the set I received. See below.

Would you please measure the standard (and the real "stock") MT: Neutral Stock ?

@VintageFlanker you and I discussed this via PM and I told you then what Mads told me.

I assumed it was the "neutral stock" as well, so I verified with Mads before posting the review. Screenshot below.

Edit: I just verified again with Mads. Yes, mine was Theoretical Flat. He said that since people who read/watch my reviews typically are more interested in that setting, he shipped them out with that setting already loaded. The "60Hz" setting I ran is very much the same as the "Neutral Stock" setting but with the HPF applied.

 

[hardisj]

I imagine it's very time consuming, but it's a shame we can't see measurements for every tuning. I'm not sure Buchardt themselves provide this?

Yea, there's just no way I have that kind of time.

 

[VintageFlanker]

Yea, there's just no way I have that kind of time.

You already did a lot.

@VintageFlanker you and I discussed this via PM and I told you then what Mads told me.

I assumed it was the "neutral stock" as well, so I verified with Mads before posting the review. Screenshot below.

Thanks (again) for clarification.

Not your fault anyway. All these "Neutral", "Flat", or "Flatter than Flat" or "Even More Theoretical than before" tunings are kind of mindfucking at the end...

 

[hardisj]

Not your fault anyway. All these "Neutral", "Flat", or "Flatter than Flat" or "Even More Theoretical than before" tunings are kind of mindfucking at the end...

I agree. That's why I asked Mads twice just to make sure I understood him correctly.