Buchardt Audio is back! This time around, they have a pair of active bookshelf speakers, which, according to the company, is three years in the making.
The new model is called the A500, and it’s based on the super-popular S400 speaker we reviewed last year. They have a similar design to that much sought-after model, utilizing a large, sealed, back angled cabinet, a colossal tweeter waveguide, plus drivers in the front and rear.
Being the A500 is an active model, it also has 3 x 150W Class-D amplification per speaker, meaning all three drivers, including the one in the rear, are amplified. This is noteworthy since the S400 used a passive radiator in the back.
Despite this distinction, both the rear-mounted 6-inch paper cone driver on the A500 and the S400’s passive radiator serve the same purpose, which is to extend the frequency response on the low end.
Along with that rear driver, the A500 has another 6-inch paper cone driver on the front matched to a .74 inch soft dome tweeter.
The A500 also has built-in DSP, Dual Cirrus Logic CS4398 DAC chips, and a single XLR Analog input on the back of the speaker.
You can add additional input options (USB, Toslink, Coax, HDMI, 3.5mm, RCA) plus wireless capabilities (Apple Airplay, Chromecast, Bluetooth 5 w/ aptX, Spotify Connect, DLNA) by adding Buchardt’s Stereo Hub.
The Stereo Hub transmits stereo signals up to 24/96 to the A500, and it looks like you need it to get the most out of these speakers since it provides remote control of the system along with access to Buchardt’s room correction option.
The A500 and Stereo Hub are currently available for Pre-order, with a promised ship date in June. The A500 is 3500 euros (about 3900 USD) by itself or 4000 euros (about 4450 USD) for a A500/Stereo Hub combo. If you place a pre-order, you can get up to 500 euros off the purchase. For more info check out https://www.buchardtaudio.com/
I’m an audio writer who started as a young audio salesman/consumer electronics professional back in the late 90s. That’s where I discovered the magic of 2-Channel sound. My thirst for great sound has led me on a delightful music quest that continues today.
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