Short answer: the Genelec 8361A. It ranks #6 of 119 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.8/5) at $11,700 and is still sold new; the Buchardt A500 ranks #18 (rated 4.6/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
What the Genelec 8361A does well: Big coaxial studio monitors with highly accurate sound, deep bass, and the headroom to play cleanly from farther away. Watch for: Its larger size buys headroom, not uniformly better tonality than the smaller Ones models.
The Buchardt A500 is the deeper-bass pick. Now discontinued but worth buying used: active speakers with remarkably deep bass for their size and balanced, full range sound. Its bass reaches about 24.9Hz before falling 3dB, against 34Hz for the Genelec 8361A. Watch for: Bass extension depends on the selected tuning and comes with output tradeoffs at high levels.
Buy the Genelec 8361A. It is rated higher for sound quality; the Buchardt A500 is no longer sold new.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Measured Differences
- Bass depth: the Buchardt A500 reaches 23.4 Hz (10 dB down) against 29 Hz for the Genelec 8361A, about half an octave deeper. You hear more of the lowest bass notes and kick drums.
- Close enough not to matter: preference score with a subwoofer (8.1 vs 7.9).
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Specifications Side By Side
| Genelec 8361A | Buchardt A500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $11,700 per pair | $4,150 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #6 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #18 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 29Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 23.4Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 34Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 24.9Hz (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 | XLR, WiSA |
| 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 | No |
| DSP | Yes | - |
| EQ | Yes (via GLM software) | - |
| Frequency Response | 30Hz - 43kHz (±2dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 25Hz - 40kHz (+/- 1.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 1000w Per Speaker | 3 x 150W per speaker |
| Maximum SPL | 118dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.76 | 7.02 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.08 | 7.92 |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension | - | Master-tuning dependent; approximately 25–40Hz |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Genelec 8361A: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
- Buchardt A500: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner video.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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