Short answer: the Kii THREE on measured sound quality, the Buchardt A500 on price. The Kii THREE ranks #3 of 66 powered bookshelf speakers at $14000. The Buchardt A500 ranks #15 at $4150, $9850 cheaper.
What the Kii THREE offers: A genuinely full-range active cardioid monitor. Watch for: The protection limiter becomes evident above approximately 96dB at 1m; bass-heavy material can overdrive the compact woofers with an audible plop even though many tracks exceed 100dB at a four-meter seat.
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 Kii THREE if sound quality is the priority over the price, or the Buchardt A500 if the price is the priority over sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Kii THREE | Buchardt A500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14,000/pair | $4,150/pair |
| Ranked | #3 of 66 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #15 of 66 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 28Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 24.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 20.5Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 23.4Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Not applicable (active DSP loudspeaker) | Not applicable (active DSP loudspeaker) |
| Drivers | Four 6.5" woofers; 5" midrange; 1" waveguided tweeter | 0.74-inch dome; front and rear 6-inch long-throw woofers |
| Amplification | Six Ncore channels, 1,500W total per speaker | 3 x 150W per speaker |
| Radiation | DSP-controlled cardioid above approximately 70-90Hz | - |
| Dimensions | 15.7"H x 7.9"W x 15.7"D | 14.4H x 7W x 11D inches |
| Weight | 42 lb each | 55.1 lbs / 25kg/pair |
| DSP | Yes; boundary, contour, phase-exact and low-latency modes | - |
| Bass Extension | - | Master-tuning dependent; approximately 25–40Hz |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Kii THREE compares with other leading options:
- Kii THREE vs Dutch & Dutch 8C
- Kii THREE vs Buchardt A10
- Kii THREE vs SHIVAUDYO Point Zero
- Yamaha HS8 vs Kii THREE
- Kali Audio LP-6 V2 vs Kii THREE
Prices on this page were last checked September 8, 2026 at 6:02 PM 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
Kii THREE: $14,000/pair Vintage King eBay
Pros: Exceptionally even measured balance: the 300Hz-5kHz response spans only 1.2dB, with preference scores of 7.06 standalone and 7.71 with an ideal subwoofer. Cardioid control reduces rearward low-midrange energy, while measured -3dB extension of 29.3Hz provides convincing full-range bass in a compact system.
Cons: Deep-bass output has limits: demanding low-frequency material at high levels can trigger compression or audible distress. The reviewer preferred a small treble reduction, so the high score is not a promise of ideal tonal balance for every listener. Linear-phase operation adds latency, and the system is expensive.
Full Kii THREE review and specifications →
| Amplification | Six Ncore channels, 1,500W total per speaker |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 20.5Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 28Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| DSP | Yes; boundary, contour, phase-exact and low-latency modes |
| Dimensions | 15.7"H x 7.9"W x 15.7"D |
| Drivers | Four 6.5" woofers; 5" midrange; 1" waveguided tweeter |
| Radiation | DSP-controlled cardioid above approximately 70-90Hz |
| Sensitivity | Not applicable (active DSP loudspeaker) |
| Weight | 42 lb each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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