Here is info on the mod:[audiokarma.org]
If link doesn't work, do an internet search for "Dennis Murphy Pioneer SP-BS22-LR DIY Modifications" located at audiokarmaDOTorg
1-10-2021 The proceeding was added to assist those not sure what value-based speaker they may want.
Below are reals reviews with real/very expensive testing equipment on other popular value-based small loudspeakers. So, while we all hear what we want to hear, the data is presented here. Measuring instruments don't hear what they prefer to hear. In the end, only you can determine what sound/speaker you like.
Sony SS-CS5 3-way Speaker Review on AudioScienceReviewDOTcom[audiosciencereview.com] Conclusions "Boy, did I go into this review hoping for a great bargain at this price. Around $36 a speaker. Are you kidding me? Alas, that was not meant to be. I don't know what the objective scores are but subjective results are just too annoying for me to tolerate."
"I used to work for Sony and our company Madrona Digital is a dealer for Sony...Needless to say, I cannot recommend the Sony SS-CS5 speaker."
"I like to encourage you to save more money and buy the Pioneer if you can. Despite being much cheaper, I can't justify recommending the Polk T15 even though subjective performance was not horrible."
Pioneer SP-BS22-LR Bookshelf Speaker Review (stock/non-modified) on AudioScienceReviewDOTcom[audiosciencereview.com]
Conclusions "I remember meeting Andrew Jones at CES years ago when he had first brought out these (or was it the older generation) ones. I asked him what made them sound good and he said: "people making budget speakers put in 10 cent parts. I spend $1 and that makes a big difference!" Naturally there is more there in the form of a skilled designer than typical budget speaker."
"Overall, the mission is accomplished in designing a speaker that is not offensive despite its low cost. It looks good and seems to perform well."
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Got these from Newegg a while back. Excellent speaker for the price. Don't get me wrong, better speakers out there, but these are a great price/quality ratio at this price
I'm all for modifying things to improve them, but the instructions in that mod are almost to the point where you'd just be better off building your own speakers.
There are plenty of kits available, even on the site where it tells you to source the parts for this mod.
The only interesting thing about these speakers is the sale price hasn't changed in 7 years (the $299 msrp is completely overstated though).
I used these for about 6-years and loved them. In fact, I have the full set sitting in a closet in case my girlfriend moves in and I have to convert a room to a man cave.
I moved into one of those houses with 20-foot high ceilings, and an open floor plan, and these just couldn't fill that space adequately. However, in my old houses with traditional 8-10 foot high ceilings and more of a closed off living room, they were absolutely beautiful.
Please do yourself a favor and do some speaker comparisons before committing to anything.
These used to be set up in my local best buy next to polks, sonys, and then some higher ends stuff like Elac, B&Ws and MartinLogans. Obviously, the higher end stuff would trounce anything in the price range but the Polks and Sony's made these sound like the speaker on your kids Vtech "laptop". They are not good and I have never understood the praise. I swear Andrew Jones is going around paying people to praise his speakers.
Anyways, my BB still carries all those other brands but not these. It's pretty easy to see why.
I used these for about 6-years and loved them. In fact, I have the full set sitting in a closet in case my girlfriend moves in and I have to convert a room to a man cave.
I moved into one of those houses with 20-foot high ceilings, and an open floor plan, and these just couldn't fill that space adequately. However, in my old houses with traditional 8-10 foot high ceilings and more of a closed off living room, they were absolutely beautiful.
I would fully agree with this comment. In a smaller space, they are great, in a large open room, they sound weak.
I would fully agree with this comment. In a smaller space, they are great, in a large open room, they sound weak.
I have the bookshelf speakers (SP-BS22-LR), and there's a reason they are still selling essentially the same speaker after 10 years: for the price, they are still really good!
The comment about smaller spaces tracks with my experience too, although that may be because I have only used cheap amplifiers that can only deliver less than 10W/channel - but they are still impressive even at those levels.
When they first came out, they *destroyed* everything at their $170 price point. Ten years later they have competition - but they have competition because they were so good that everyone else had to raise their game.
Andrew Jones went on to design a few of the other speakers mentioned here (the ELACs that everyone lost their minds over a few years ago).
Are these actually good? Or are they just good "for the price?" I get very skeptical about hype. I checked out those sony cores and they sounded like doodoo caca and the reviews were glowing
I have the bookshelf speakers (SP-BS-22-LR), and there's a reason they are still selling essentially the same speaker after 10 years: for the price, they are still really good!
The comment about smaller spaces tracks with my experience too, although that may be because I have only used cheap amplifiers that can only deliver less than 10W/channel - but they are still impressive even at those levels.
When they first came out, they *destroyed* everything at their $170 price point. Ten years later they have competition - but they have competition because they were so good that everyone else had to raise their game.
Andrew Jones went on to design a few of the other speakers mentioned here (the ELACs that everyone lost their minds over a few years ago).
Unless Andrew Jones is going to come to my house and set them up for me, I couldn't care less that his name is associated with a product.
It's like Beats by Dre levels of lacking humility, but at least Andrew Jones' name is only on the back label.
There are plenty of speakers that don't even have badges on the grilles, which looks far nicer IMO.
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There are plenty of kits available, even on the site where it tells you to source the parts for this mod.
The only interesting thing about these speakers is the sale price hasn't changed in 7 years (the $299 msrp is completely overstated though).
like, for example, this
https://www.parts-express.com/c-s...--300-7043
or
https://www.parts-express.com/ove...r--300-706
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I moved into one of those houses with 20-foot high ceilings, and an open floor plan, and these just couldn't fill that space adequately. However, in my old houses with traditional 8-10 foot high ceilings and more of a closed off living room, they were absolutely beautiful.
These used to be set up in my local best buy next to polks, sonys, and then some higher ends stuff like Elac, B&Ws and MartinLogans. Obviously, the higher end stuff would trounce anything in the price range but the Polks and Sony's made these sound like the speaker on your kids Vtech "laptop". They are not good and I have never understood the praise. I swear Andrew Jones is going around paying people to praise his speakers.
Anyways, my BB still carries all those other brands but not these. It's pretty easy to see why.
I moved into one of those houses with 20-foot high ceilings, and an open floor plan, and these just couldn't fill that space adequately. However, in my old houses with traditional 8-10 foot high ceilings and more of a closed off living room, they were absolutely beautiful.
I have the bookshelf speakers (SP-BS22-LR), and there's a reason they are still selling essentially the same speaker after 10 years: for the price, they are still really good!
The comment about smaller spaces tracks with my experience too, although that may be because I have only used cheap amplifiers that can only deliver less than 10W/channel - but they are still impressive even at those levels.
When they first came out, they *destroyed* everything at their $170 price point. Ten years later they have competition - but they have competition because they were so good that everyone else had to raise their game.
Andrew Jones went on to design a few of the other speakers mentioned here (the ELACs that everyone lost their minds over a few years ago).
The comment about smaller spaces tracks with my experience too, although that may be because I have only used cheap amplifiers that can only deliver less than 10W/channel - but they are still impressive even at those levels.
When they first came out, they *destroyed* everything at their $170 price point. Ten years later they have competition - but they have competition because they were so good that everyone else had to raise their game.
Andrew Jones went on to design a few of the other speakers mentioned here (the ELACs that everyone lost their minds over a few years ago).
Unless Andrew Jones is going to come to my house and set them up for me, I couldn't care less that his name is associated with a product.
It's like Beats by Dre levels of lacking humility, but at least Andrew Jones' name is only on the back label.
There are plenty of speakers that don't even have badges on the grilles, which looks far nicer IMO.