Simon Price
Buchardt Audio, a Danish Speaker firm, have recently offered up for sale the new Buchardt A500 which is an active bookshelf speaker. The website indicates they are available for pre order (ready for June).
With 3 x 150W amplifiers to each of the drivers, it’s a 3-way class D design, evident on turning the speakers to see an extra driver behind. Apparently a bass driver which Buchardt say is to get greater room interaction bass response from relatively small-ish cabinets.
So in addition to having an amplifier for each driver, each speaker has its own DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter) for turning over digital music sent from the Buchardt Hub, an extra €500, which also has room correction software capability via the app and includes a remote. Beyond the rear XLR analogue connectivity you have the ability to use Bluetooth, Airplay, Spotify Connect, Chrome-Casting and UPnP (universal plug and play) network streaming.
This capability is all via the €500 Hub. Beyond the rear XLR analogue connectivity, with the Hub you have the ability to use Bluetooth, Airplay, Spotify Connect, Chromecasting and UPnP network streaming.
At the moment Buchardt Audio are offering €300 off and you can buy a bundle deal with the hub for €3,450, an extra €250 on the €3,200 current asking price for the A500.
And direct selling is what we want…
It’s welcome to have audiophile manufacturers selling direct with customers without the need for dealers sometimes as it helps bring down price in a competitive market. Dealers *can* take a sizeable margin of the overall price of products.
Plus anyway, most of the time all us internet savvy punters have our ears on what people are saying between the shop led and online world dichotomy of HiFi. We want audiophile quality gear at sensible prices and any approach to help with this is tremendous, not least firms who are prepared to not rest on their laurels, but open up the market to lower priced entrants. Pertinent considering how difficult it is to get people into Audiophile HiFi with price being a big barrier. Also the off putting nature of higher and higher priced audio, to those already in this game.
This direct selling model is the ethos that Buchardt Audio follow. They say they have “eliminated everything deemed unnecessary to the speakers, including expensive marketing, distributors, agents, and HiFi dealers”. Also “No frills, No BS, just good sound”. I like it…
Available in white, black and with the remote/hub
But at this price, it would be hard to think it’s possible to buy a medium sized 3-way active bookshelf design with DSP, like the A500, and all the streaming connectivity you need. Particularly from a bespoke Audiophile designing firm like this company. It’s not possible to buy some passives for this price from equitable brands. One wonders why speaker cabinets need to be made in expensive jurisdictions sometimes, when quality control can be got right elsewhere.
Manufacturing of the Buchardt A500 is in China with final quality control in Denmark. But for £2900 or $3,800 at current rates of exchange, definitely a leftfield idea to consider against traditional brands.
You can trial these speakers for home use with free worldwide shipping and return for a refund if you aren’t happy. A model that is great and one quite a few firms offer nowadays – eg Sonos 100 day return policy.
Specifications – Buchardt A500
- Amplifiers: 3 x 150 watt class D Amplifiers (each speaker)
- Operating principle: 2.5-way Or 3-way sealed enclosure
- Tweeter: 1 x 0,74″ Custom fine weave soft fabric textile with CDC aluminum waveguide
- Mid / woofer: 1 x 6″ linear long stroke paper cone
- Rear / subwoofer: 1 x 6″ linear long stroke paper cone
- Frequency response: 25 – 40.000 Hz +/- 1.5dB
- DSP: Quad Core processor
- DAC chip: Dual CS4398
- Crossover Point: 150 hz / 2800 hz
- Wireless: WiSA 24 bit / 96khz lossless. Can be paired across brands up to 7.1 setup
- Cabled analogue input: Balanced / unbalanced XLR
- Measurements (h x w x d): 365 x 180 x 280 mm
- Input voltage: 100-240 Volts AC auto adjusting (EU & US power cords incl.)
- Weight: 25 kg / pair
Manufacturer
Buchardt Audio
Web : https://www.buchardtaudio.com
