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Pioneer SP-BS22-LR Andrew Jones Designed Bookshelf Loudspeakers (Pair)
- 80W Power Handling
- 4" Structured Surface Woofer
- 1" Soft Dome Tweeter
- RF Molded Curved Cabinet
- 6 Element Sophisticated Crossover
- Oversized Magnets for Improved Bass
Pioneer Andrew Jones Designed Bookshelf Loudspeaker Pair
- 4” Structured Surface Woofer
- 1” High Efficiency Soft Dome Tweeter
- 6 Element Sophisticated Crossover
- 90 Watt Power Handling
Overview
High quality home audio doesn’t have to break the bank. As proof, we’d like to introduce you to the new SP-BS22-LR bookshelf speakers from Pioneer.
Whether you use them as stereo speakers or part of a multi-channel home theater system, with their ability to handle 80 watts the SP-BS22-LR’s deliver wide frequency response and sophisticated sound quality regardless of the source.
70 Years of Audio Firsts
These speakers come with a remarkable pedigree of over 70 years of Pioneer audio heritage and industry firsts. Like every speaker we build, these are engineered to offer incredible design and amazing sound quality. But then that’s exactly what you’d expect from speakers designed by internationally renowned speaker engineer, Andrew Jones. As Pioneer’s Chief Speaker Engineer, Andrew has designed some of the world’s finest loudspeakers, some costing as much as $80,000. Now he has brought his high-end expertise and passion to the creation of this affordable bookshelf speaker. And while the price is considerably lower than some of his other efforts, the expectation and delivery of accurate sound reproduction are the same.
Thinking Out Of the Box
Typically you’ll find most bookshelf speakers not only come in a box, they are a box. And while that might be better for production costs, it isn’t better for sound reproduction. The SP-BS22-LR speakers utilize a true curved cabinet design. So besides the aesthetics being considerably more pleasing, this stiffer design reduces standing sound waves inside the cabinet, resulting in high-performance and exceptional sound quality.
As you look at them, you’ll also notice our unique speaker grills. They’re beautiful and elegant in their own right, but not for their own sake. They protect the speakers, but are also removable if you prefer to see the drivers themselves.
The Inside Story
Crossover: The job of the cross over in a speaker is to break the audio signal into low, high and sometimes mid-range frequencies. It’s an important job, and it uses circuitry like inductors and capacitors to accomplish it. Much of the competition uses an extremely simple, low-cost cross over made up of a single capacitor and inductor. The Pioneer SP-BS22-LR utilizes a sophisticated 6 component high quality cross over. The reasoning is simple: we do it because it’s one more way of insuring high quality sound that makes its presence known.
Woofer: There are many challenges designing and manufacturing a woofer capable of delivering true bass performance. In the SP-BS22-LR, we’ve added a structured surface to the 4-inch woofer. By doing so, not only is rigidity improved, so is bass accuracy. Engineers have also vented the pole piece, again improving bass response from the same size woofers in previous models.
Tweeter: To widen the sweet spot of the 1-inch High Efficiency Soft Dome tweeter, we’ve engineered a custom wave guide. Increasing tweeter efficiency, together with newly designed crossovers, allows the SP-BS22-LR’s play louder using less power.
Whatever your system, the SP-BS22-LR Bookshelf Speakers are ready to step it up with authentic audio reproduction to bring your listening experience to the next level.
Eggxpert ReviewWarranty & Returns
Warranty, Returns, And Additional Information
Warranty
- Limited Warranty period (parts): 1 year
- Limited Warranty period (labor): 1 year
- Read full details
Return Policies
- Return for refund within: 30 days
- Return for replacement within: 60 days
- This item is covered by DealParade Return Policy
Manufacturer Contact Info
- Manufacturer Product Page
- Manufacturer Website
- Support Phone: 1-800-421-1404
- Support Website
- View other products from Pioneer
Pros: I was initially drawn to these speakers for both their low price and their award winning ability. About a month prior to picking up these speakers, I bought the matching floor-standing loudspeakers and center channel from a local electronics store. I was impressed enough with those (which also were award winners) that I was inclined to try these. One of the first things you'll notice is that these are heavy! Each speaker weighs near 20 pounds! For someone coming from a HTiB solution, this was a HUGE difference! While this does lend to a feeling of quality, it does essentially rule out the possibility of mounting these on a wall. Granted, I haven't given these much of a break-in period; maybe 20 hours so far. This past weekend, I watched Iron Man 3 at slightly above reference volume and to put it lightly, my ears were ringing. The combination of the fronts, center, and matching rears really played well together. The sound isn't very warm, and I found that the out-of-the-box balance required some tuning, but once that's done, these things really pump! Unlike the Onkyos these replaced, I wasn't able to max these out within 10 dB of reference volumes. The balance of these speakers tends towards the higher side, that's for sure. Like their big brothers (the FS-52s) these are a little bit cold, but they deliver decent, punchy bass and very crisp highs. Mids could be a little better, but that's if I'm being nitpicky. In many reviews I've read, I notice a common thread of people claiming these have no bass. I can see how this would be a concern if you were using them exclusively in a 2.0 system. However, I find the bass to be adequate and feel that many for others, it is their receiver that is lacking. I currently run an Onkyo TX-NR626 receiver @ 130 watts/channel @ 6 ohms.
Cons: For some, I feel the low frequency output will not be sufficient; however running this in tandem with larger speakers in the front and a subwoofer means you don't need them to pump out pounding bass. These are 6 ohm speakers, meaning they take a little more power to drive. This may be a concern for some. As I mentioned from the get-go, these are heavy! I have speaker mounts, but I'm afraid my drywall won't hold them without drilling into a stud. I currently have one of them on an end table and the other sitting on a makeshift shelf until I build a new one. Finally, I think the outward appearance of these, and in fact the whole family of speakers, could be improved upon. The cabinets look nice enough, but there are a lot of others that look a little bit flashier/nicer for the price. Obviously, this doesn't have an effect on sound quality, but they constitute a big portion of the focal point in my living room. I mostly just can't stand the look of the grilles on them; they are oblong circles that don't cover the entire front of the speaker and just look out of place to me.
Overall Review: I should mention that while I have more knowledge of audio equipment than the average schmuck, I am no expert, nor would I consider myself an audiophile. Just someone who appreciates being able to hear the details in movies, even when played at reference volumes. I think a lot of people fail to realize that once you start getting into "nice" speakers (vs a simple HTiB package) you are going to need a better receiver to power them. These are 80 watts per, so using a 5 year old receiver that pumps 75 watts per channel at 8 ohms is going to underpower these and play a role in the sound quality you hear. Further, don't hook these up with cheap wire! I use a 14 ga speaker wire, which might be overkill, but it gives me the possibility to go up later down the road.