Short answer: the KEF LS60. It ranks #1 of 3 powered floorstanding speakers by sound quality at $5999.99; the Buchardt A700 ranks #2 and costs $6600, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the KEF LS60 offers: Four 5.25” force-cancelling midwoofers (two per side) paired with a single concentric Uni-Q mid/tweeter (4” mid, 3/4” tweeter) for a true point-source above the bass. Watch for: Coincident driver design produces an on-axis diffraction dip around 9-10kHz (about 4-5dB) that can dull shimmer on cymbals and shakers; needs roughly 10-20° of toe-out to smooth it and widen the stereo image.
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.
Buy the KEF LS60. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Buchardt A700 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| KEF LS60 | Buchardt A700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5,999.99 | $6,600 |
| Ranked | #1 of 3 in Large Size Powered Floorstanding Speakers | #2 of 3 in Large Size Powered Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | <20Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 22Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 23Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 42.9"H x 8.3"W x 15.5"D (1089.7 x 210.8 x 393.7 mm) | 40"H x 7"W x 11"D |
| Inputs | Wifi, Optical, Digital coaxial, RCA, HDMI, Ethernet | RCA, Optical, Platin wireless hub (streaming) |
| Drivers | 4 x 135 mm (5.25 in.) Uni-Core Force Cancelling Driver: woofers, 100 mm (4in.) aluminium cone midrange, 19 mm (0.75 in.) vented aluminium dome with Metamaterial Absorption Technology tweeter | 3/4" tweeter with waveguide, 6" midwoofer, 2x 6" front woofers, 2x 6" rear woofers |
| Weight | 69 lbs / 31.3 kg each | - |
| App | Yes (KEF Connect) | Yes (with Platin hub) |
| Bluetooth | Yes (5.0 with SBC, AAC) | - |
| DSP | Yes (Music Integrity Engine) | Yes (multiple selectable Master Tuning profiles via USB, plus room/manual EQ via Platin hub app) |
| EQ | Yes (Normal and Expert modes, room adaptation) | - |
| Frequency Response | 31Hz - 24kHz (±3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Max SPL | 111dB @ 1m (pink noise) | - |
| Outputs | Subwoofer RCA | - |
| Streaming Services | Yes (AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Roon Ready, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Amazon Music, Qobuz, Deezer) | - |
| Wifi | Yes (dual-band) | - |
| Output Power | 700W (500W LF Class D + 100W MF Class D + 100W HF Class AB) | 600W total (4x150W amplifier channels per speaker) |
| Sensitivity | 97.7dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
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- Dutch & Dutch 8C vs Kali Audio IN-8
- KEF LS60 vs B&O Beolab20
- Buchardt A700 vs B&O Beolab20
The Two Speakers In Full
KEF LS60: $5,999.99 Amazon Crutchfield
Pros: Four 5.25” force-cancelling midwoofers (two per side) paired with a single concentric Uni-Q mid/tweeter (4” mid, 3/4” tweeter) for a true point-source above the bass. Extremely flat response, holding within about ±3dB from 20Hz to 20kHz in Extended mode. Horizontal directivity stays close to ±60° at the -6dB point and vertical directivity to about ±40°, with off-axis trend lines barely deviating from the on-axis curve even at 30° - unusually consistent tonality whether seated or standing. Distortion at both 86dB and 96dB/1m is dominated by second-order harmonics with third-order distortion very low; high-passing at 80Hz for a subwoofer barely changes the midrange distortion, pointing to a clean woofer motor. Extensive built-in connectivity (HDMI, TOSLINK, digital coax, analog RCA) plus onboard streaming (Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer, Qobuz).
Cons: Coincident driver design produces an on-axis diffraction dip around 9-10kHz (about 4-5dB) that can dull shimmer on cymbals and shakers; needs roughly 10-20° of toe-out to smooth it and widen the stereo image. DSP limiting caps real-world output well under KEF’s claimed 111dB max SPL spec - measured closer to 99-102dB at 1 meter per speaker - and bass extension (F3 around 23Hz in Extended mode) shrinks at the loudest levels to protect the drivers. Small bass bump in Extended mode (roughly 1-2dB around 100Hz plus a 1.5-2dB shelf near 200Hz) that typically needs the app’s Wall Mode or placement changes to tame. Only basic bass/treble sliders and Wall Mode presets are available - no true parametric EQ bands for dialing out specific room modes. Each speaker weighs about 70-72 lbs, making solo stand-mounting awkward.
Full KEF LS60 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (KEF Connect) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | <20Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 23Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | Yes (5.0 with SBC, AAC) |
| DSP | Yes (Music Integrity Engine) |
| Dimensions | 42.9"H x 8.3"W x 15.5"D (1089.7 x 210.8 x 393.7 mm) |
| Drivers | 4 x 135 mm (5.25 in.) Uni-Core Force Cancelling Driver: woofers, 100 mm (4in.) aluminium cone midrange, 19 mm (0.75 in.) vented aluminium dome with Metamaterial Absorption Technology tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Normal and Expert modes, room adaptation) |
| Frequency Response | 31Hz - 24kHz (±3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Wifi, Optical, Digital coaxial, RCA, HDMI, Ethernet |
| Max SPL | 111dB @ 1m (pink noise) |
| Output Power | 700W (500W LF Class D + 100W MF Class D + 100W HF Class AB) |
| Outputs | Subwoofer RCA |
| Sensitivity | 97.7dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Streaming Services | Yes (AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Roon Ready, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Amazon Music, Qobuz, Deezer) |
| Weight | 69 lbs / 31.3 kg each |
| Wifi | Yes (dual-band) |
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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) |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons