Short answer: the Genelec 8361A for better sound quality, the Buchardt A500 for the lower price. The Genelec 8361A ranks #5 of 31 powered bookshelf speakers at $10900. The Buchardt A500 ranks #12 at $4150, $6750 cheaper.
What the Genelec 8361A offers: Three-way coaxial design: 5” mid-range with an inset 1” metal dome tweeter, flanked symmetrically above and below by two 10” front-loaded woofers, giving nearly identical vertical response whether you’re sitting or standing. Watch for: Approximately $11,000 per pair; Genelec’s GLM room-correction add-on (measurement mic plus software) is another ~$450 and wasn’t used in this review.
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.
Buy the Genelec 8361A if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Buchardt A500 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Genelec 8361A | Buchardt A500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $10900 | $4,150/pair |
| Ranked | #5 of 31 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #12 of 31 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 29Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 34Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Dimensions | 22.5"H x 14"W x 13.6"D (571.5 x 355.6 x 345.4 mm) | 14.4H x 7W x 11D inches |
| Inputs | XLR | - |
| Drivers | Dual 263 x 137 mm woofers, 5.1" coaxial with tweeter midrange, 1" (25mm) coaxial tweeter | 0.74-inch dome; front and rear 6-inch long-throw woofers |
| Weight | 70.3 lbs / 31.9 kg each | 55.1 lbs / 25kg/pair |
| App | Yes (GLM) | - |
| Bluetooth | No | - |
| DSP | Yes | - |
| EQ | Yes (via GLM software) | - |
| Frequency Response | 30Hz - 43kHz (±2dB) (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Max SPL | 118dB @ 1m | - |
| Output Power | 1000w Per Speaker | - |
| Bass Extension | - | Master-tuning dependent; approximately 25–40Hz |
| Sensitivity | - | Not applicable (active DSP loudspeaker) |
| Amplification | - | 3 x 150W per speaker |
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- Genelec 8351B vs HEDD Type 20 MK2
- Dutch & Dutch 8C vs Kali Audio IN-8
- Genelec 8050B vs Genelec 8351B
- Genelec 8361A vs Genelec 8050B
- Genelec 8361A vs HEDD Type 20 MK2
The Two Speakers In Full
Genelec 8361A: $10900 Bhphotovideo
Pros: Three-way coaxial design: 5” mid-range with an inset 1” metal dome tweeter, flanked symmetrically above and below by two 10” front-loaded woofers, giving nearly identical vertical response whether you’re sitting or standing. Wide, consistent horizontal radiation of about ±60°, very forgiving for multiple seats or a home-theater row. Distortion at both 86dB and 96dB/1m stays below roughly 1%, and multitone distortion is also under about 1% - among the cleanest speakers reviewed. Long-term compression is practically non-existent, with no woofer bottoming or audible intermodulation even driven to 90dB+ at 10 feet. In-room bass extension reaches down to about 35Hz without a subwoofer. Extensive back-panel tuning (bass rolloff, bass profile, treble profile, and a desk/console compensation switch) for boundary placement.
Cons: Approximately $11,000 per pair; Genelec’s GLM room-correction add-on (measurement mic plus software) is another ~$450 and wasn’t used in this review. Shows an on-axis dip around 200Hz that may be tied to some rear-panel radiation or resonance the reviewer couldn’t fully explain. In far-field listening there’s a mild upper-midrange/lower-treble rise (roughly 2-3kHz) that only smooths out with 5-10° of toe-out or closer near-field placement. Short-term compression testing shows some tweeter limiting, though it didn’t translate to audible issues in real-world listening. At about 70 lbs, awkward to lift onto a stand alone.
Full Genelec 8361A review and specifications →
| App | Yes (GLM) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 29Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 34Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| DSP | Yes |
| Dimensions | 22.5"H x 14"W x 13.6"D (571.5 x 355.6 x 345.4 mm) |
| Drivers | Dual 263 x 137 mm woofers, 5.1" coaxial with tweeter midrange, 1" (25mm) coaxial tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (via GLM software) |
| Frequency Response | 30Hz - 43kHz (±2dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR |
| Max SPL | 118dB @ 1m |
| Output Power | 1000w Per Speaker |
| Weight | 70.3 lbs / 31.9 kg each |
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Buchardt A500: $4,150/pair Buchardt Audio
Pros: 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. Erin found neutral balance, excellent directivity matching through the shallow waveguide, strong imaging and surprisingly deep, clean bass for the enclosure size. Downloadable master tunings can trade extension, latency and maximum SPL, while the Platin hub adds WiSA wireless, room correction and streaming. Distortion remained unobtrusive even at levels Erin considered unnecessarily loud.
Cons: Passive sensitivity is not applicable and performance depends materially on the selected DSP master, so a single response specification cannot describe every setup. The standard tuning protects the small woofers with limiting at high bass output, and ultimate headroom cannot match a large tower or a subwoofer-assisted system. Hub dependence and app/software lifecycle add failure modes absent from passive speakers; analog input is converted to DSP, and the premium price buys an ecosystem as much as drivers and cabinet.
Full Buchardt A500 review and specifications →
| Amplification | 3 x 150W per speaker |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension | Master-tuning dependent; approximately 25–40Hz |
| 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 |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons