Short answer: the Buchardt A700. It ranks #2 of 3 powered floorstanding speakers by sound quality at $6600; the B&O Beolab20 ranks #3 and costs $15000, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Buchardt A700 offers: Excellent bass extension for a cardioid-capable design, measuring F3 51Hz/F10 22Hz, with very low multitone distortion through the midrange - among the best the reviewer has measured. Watch for: Horizontal radiation is narrower than the reviewer’s preferred ~60 degrees - closer to ±50°, giving somewhat less room involvement than he’d like.
What the B&O Beolab20 offers: CEA2034 spinorama shows a nearly flat response down to 20Hz, unusual for this cabinet size. Watch for: Overpriced and not recommended. 5dB dip at 7khz.
Buy the Buchardt A700. It ranks higher for sound quality than the B&O Beolab20 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Buchardt A700 | B&O Beolab20 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $6,600 | $15000 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #2 of 3 in Large Size Powered Floorstanding Speakers | #3 of 3 in Large Size Powered Floorstanding Speakers |
| Drivers | 3/4" tweeter with waveguide, 6" midwoofer, 2x 6" front woofers, 2x 6" rear woofers | 10" driver woofer, 5" driver midrange, 0.75" Acoustic Lens tweeter |
| Output Power | 600W total (4x150W amplifier channels per speaker) | 640W (160W tweeter + 160W midrange + 320W dual woofer) |
| Dimensions | 40"H x 7"W x 11"D | 15.5"W x 32.3"H x 12"D (393.7 x 820.4 x 304.8 mm) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 20Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 22Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | <20Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Inputs | RCA, Optical, Platin wireless hub (streaming) | PowerLink (RJ45), RCA, TOSLINK optical, WiSA wireless |
| DSP | Yes (multiple selectable Master Tuning profiles via USB, plus room/manual EQ via Platin hub app) | Yes (Digital Sound Engine) |
| App | Yes (with Platin hub) | Yes (B&O app) |
| Bluetooth | - | No |
| EQ | - | Yes (Room adaptation: Free/Wall/Corner) |
| Frequency Response | - | 19.5Hz - 23.6kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Max SPL | - | 108dB @ 1m |
| Outputs | - | PowerLink, TOSLINK |
| Weight | - | 39.7 lbs / 18 kg each |
| Wifi | - | Yes (WiSA) |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
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- KEF LS60 vs Buchardt A700
The Two Speakers In Full
Buchardt A700: $6,600 Buchardt Audio
Pros: Excellent bass extension for a cardioid-capable design, measuring F3 51Hz/F10 22Hz, with very low multitone distortion through the midrange - among the best the reviewer has measured. Selectable Master Tuning DSP profiles let you switch the speaker’s entire voicing via USB, including a cardioid bass mode that made the low end noticeably more neutral in the reviewer’s room versus the standard tuning. All-in-one powered design with 4x150W amplification per speaker (front/rear 6” woofers, 6” midwoofer, 3/4” waveguide-loaded tweeter), so no separate amp is needed. The optional Platin wireless hub adds streaming plus room EQ and manual parametric adjustment from a phone app - the reviewer strongly recommends buying it. Checks off nearly every audiophile box: great out-of-box sound, extensive tuning flexibility, and a 45-day home trial policy.
Cons: Horizontal radiation is narrower than the reviewer’s preferred ~60 degrees - closer to ±50°, giving somewhat less room involvement than he’d like. Vertical dispersion is quite narrow (about ±10°), meaning seated ear height needs to be dialed in carefully; not well suited to multi-row home theater seating. Compression starts to show at 102dB output, though it’s not severe. Genuinely expensive at roughly $6,600/pair (€6,000), and the optional Platin hub - which the reviewer considers close to essential for the best experience - adds another ~€300 on top.
Full Buchardt A700 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (with Platin hub) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 22Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| DSP | Yes (multiple selectable Master Tuning profiles via USB, plus room/manual EQ via Platin hub app) |
| Dimensions | 40"H x 7"W x 11"D |
| Drivers | 3/4" tweeter with waveguide, 6" midwoofer, 2x 6" front woofers, 2x 6" rear woofers |
| Inputs | RCA, Optical, Platin wireless hub (streaming) |
| Output Power | 600W total (4x150W amplifier channels per speaker) |
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B&O Beolab20: $15000 Discontinued Bang-olufsen
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows a nearly flat response down to 20Hz, unusual for this cabinet size. Predicted in-room response looks even better than the on-axis curve, with a good downward slope. Distortion at 86dB SPL/1m is pretty good for the size.
Cons: Overpriced and not recommended. 5dB dip at 7khz. Messy vertical directivity - the reviewer recommends staying right at the tweeter axis. Distortion at 700hz. Resonance at 5khz. At 96dB SPL/1m, harmonics of an 800Hz resonance become more audible, with broad distortion elevation through the midrange. Discontinued.
Full B&O Beolab20 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (B&O app) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | <20Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 20Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| DSP | Yes (Digital Sound Engine) |
| Dimensions | 15.5"W x 32.3"H x 12"D (393.7 x 820.4 x 304.8 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 10" driver woofer, 5" driver midrange, 0.75" Acoustic Lens tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Room adaptation: Free/Wall/Corner) |
| Frequency Response | 19.5Hz - 23.6kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | PowerLink (RJ45), RCA, TOSLINK optical, WiSA wireless |
| Max SPL | 108dB @ 1m |
| Output Power | 640W (160W tweeter + 160W midrange + 320W dual woofer) |
| Outputs | PowerLink, TOSLINK |
| Weight | 39.7 lbs / 18 kg each |
| Wifi | Yes (WiSA) |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons