Pioneer has replaced our previous pick, the SP-BS41-LR, with the $130 SP-BS22-LR, and from the reviews they’re just as good, if not better. As such, they’re our new pick for inexpensive bookshelf speakers.
Why these? Well, you can check out the full rationale for the SP-BS41s here. The short version is that storied speaker designer Andrew Jones designed these inexpensive speakers. One of his other notable designs are the TAD Reference One’s which sell for slightly more money than the SP-BS22-LRs: $70,000.There’s near-universal praise from the audio reviewers who have checked out the SP-BS22-LRs. Neil Gader, in his review for The Absolute Sound magazine, had this to say, “The BS22 has an honest tonal signature that doesn’t pander to the “let’s move ’em” sensibilities of big-box-store salesmen. It is remarkably free of sonic hype.” He continued, “However, the essence of the BS22’s performance is found in the quality of its midrange. Jones has fashioned a smooth, tonally ripe midband with just enough heft and weight behind vocal and instrumental images to provide reasonable dynamic and harmonic scale. The treble is surprisingly open, which lends overtones a fullness and dimensionality that are often lacking in blue-plate loudspeakers.” He concluded his review with, “The BS22 is simply one of the great buys out there, without reservation.”
CNET’s Steve Guttenberg, who reviewed both the old and the new models, said, “I’ve heard the complete system and the new models really do sound better, they sound clearer, make more bass, and can play louder than the original speaker line.” When comparing the small speakers to the 6-inch tall size common in this price range, Steve said, “If you care more about sound quality than getting the smallest possible speaker, consider something a bit larger, like the Jones designed SP-BS22-LR, the price is inline with the pint-size competition.” In a roundup of his Top 10 inexpensive speakers, Steve said of the BS22, “In its price class, nothing can touch this bookshelf speaker.”
by Geoff Morrison, Wirecutter | Read more:
Image: Pioneer
