Short answer: the Buchardt A500 on measured sound quality, the JBL 4305P on price. The Buchardt A500 ranks #15 of 66 powered bookshelf speakers at $4150. The JBL 4305P ranks #28 at $2200, $1950 cheaper.
What the Buchardt A500 offers: A sophisticated three-way active system with 450W and DSP per cabinet, using the rear 6-inch driver as a cardioid/low-bass element rather than a passive radiator. Watch for: Passive sensitivity is not applicable and performance depends materially on the selected DSP master, so a single response specification cannot describe every setup.
What the JBL 4305P offers: Erin measured a 45Hz F3 and heard solid 40–50Hz in-room extension—excellent for a compact 5.25-inch active monitor. Watch for: The limiter becomes conspicuous around 96dB: Erin measured about 8dB lost near 50Hz at the highest drive and achieved roughly 93dB unweighted at 2m in-room, so this is a near/midfield system rather than a high-output theater…
Buy the Buchardt A500 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the JBL 4305P if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Buchardt A500 | JBL 4305P | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,150/pair | $2,200/pair |
| Ranked | #15 of 66 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #28 of 66 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension | Master-tuning dependent; approximately 25–40Hz | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 24.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 45Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 23.4Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 40.5Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Not applicable (active DSP loudspeaker) | Not applicable (active DSP loudspeaker) |
| Amplification | 3 x 150W per speaker | 300W system: 125W LF + 25W HF per speaker |
| Drivers | 0.74-inch dome; front and rear 6-inch long-throw woofers | 5.25-inch pulp woofer; 1-inch annular compression driver |
| Dimensions | 14.4H x 7W x 11D inches | 13.2H x 8.3W x 8.8D inches |
| Weight | 55.1 lbs / 25kg/pair | - |
| Maximum Output | - | ~93dB at 2m in-room before limiting (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
A few more comparisons worth a look in the same class:
- Focal Solo6 ST6 vs Genelec S360
- Genelec 8040B vs Genelec 8050B
- Focal Twin6 Be vs Genelec 8050B
- Buchardt A500 vs Focal Twin6 Be
- JBL 4305P vs JBL 708P
Prices on this page were last checked September 4, 2026 at 6:09 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Buchardt A500: $4,150/pair Buchardt Audio eBay
Pros: Erin measured unusually deep bass for the cabinet size: 24.9Hz at -3dB. A 1.8dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz and 6.12 standalone preference score support balanced, full-range listening. Master Tunings and optional wireless integration provide practical flexibility.
Cons: Bass extension depends on the selected tuning and comes with output tradeoffs at high levels. The 7.01 ideal-subwoofer score is good but not class-leading. A rear-facing woofer does not by itself establish cardioid radiation, and alternate Master Tunings should not inherit the measured configuration’s score.
Full Buchardt A500 review and specifications →
| Amplification | 3 x 150W per speaker |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension | Master-tuning dependent; approximately 25–40Hz |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 23.4Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 24.9Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 14.4H x 7W x 11D inches |
| Drivers | 0.74-inch dome; front and rear 6-inch long-throw woofers |
| Sensitivity | Not applicable (active DSP loudspeaker) |
| Weight | 55.1 lbs / 25kg/pair |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL 4305P: $2,200/pair Amazon JBL eBay
Pros: The measured 1.5dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz supports even mids, with a 6.54 ideal-subwoofer score and 45.4Hz -3dB bass extension. Integrated consumer connectivity makes this a more convenient living-room system than many studio monitors.
Cons: Crossover-region directivity changes mean the narrow on-axis span does not describe every listening angle. Limiting becomes relevant at high output, particularly with bass-heavy music. It suits near- to midfield listening better than the largest high-output systems here.
Full JBL 4305P review and specifications →
| Amplification | 300W system: 125W LF + 25W HF per speaker |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40.5Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 45Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 13.2H x 8.3W x 8.8D inches |
| Drivers | 5.25-inch pulp woofer; 1-inch annular compression driver |
| Maximum Output | ~93dB at 2m in-room before limiting (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Not applicable (active DSP loudspeaker) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons