Short answer: the Kii THREE. It ranks #3 of 119 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.9/5) at $16,970 and is still sold new; the Buchardt A500 ranks #18 (rated 4.6/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
The Kii THREE is the more accurate choice. Compact cardioid active speakers with extremely accurate sound and full range bass that walls barely color. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 7.70 against 7.02 for the Buchardt A500. The tradeoff: Deep-bass output has limits: demanding low-frequency material at high levels can trigger compression or audible distress.
Why pick the Buchardt A500: Now discontinued but worth buying used: active speakers with remarkably deep bass for their size and balanced, full range sound. The catch: Bass extension depends on the selected tuning and comes with output tradeoffs at high levels.
Buy the Kii THREE. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Buchardt A500 is discontinued.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.
Measured Differences
- Tonal accuracy above the bass: with a subwoofer taking the low end, the Kii THREE scores 8.3 against 7.9 for the Buchardt A500 on the Spinorama preference scale. Its frequency response and off-axis sound are smoother, so voices and instruments sound closer to the recording.
- Close enough not to matter: bass extension (20.5 Hz vs 23.4 Hz, 10 dB down).
Prices on this page were last checked November 14, 2026 at 6:17 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| Kii THREE | Buchardt A500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $16,970 per pair | $4,150 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #3 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #18 of 119 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) |
| Drivers | Four 6.5” woofers; 5” midrange; 1” waveguided tweeter | 0.74-inch dome; front and rear 6-inch long-throw woofers |
| Amplifier Power | 1,500W total per speaker; Six Ncore channels | 3 x 150W per speaker |
| Coverage | 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 | 42.1 lbs (19.1 kg) each | 55.1 lbs (25kg)/pair |
| DSP | Yes; boundary, contour, phase-exact and low-latency modes | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 7.70 | 7.02 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.35 | 7.92 |
| Inputs | XLR (analog), XLR AES/EBU (digital), proprietary KiiLink digital multi-pin | XLR, WiSA |
| 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 | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (-6dB at 20Hz; ±0.5dB 100Hz-10kHz; ±1dB 10kHz-20kHz) (Manufacturer specified) | 25Hz - 40kHz (+/- 1.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension | - | Master-tuning dependent; approximately 25–40Hz |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Kii THREE: 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.
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Kii THREE compares with other leading options: