The Pioneer SP-BS22-LR bookshelf speakers have carved out a legendary status in the budget audio world. Priced incredibly affordably, these speakers, often referred to as simply Pioneer Bs22 Speakers, have consistently surprised listeners with their performance that punches well above their weight class. I recently acquired a pair for just US $118 on Amazon, a testament to their accessibility, though I’ve heard whispers of even lower sale prices. Right out of the box, the build quality immediately impressed, setting a high bar for what you might expect at this price point.
The speaker cabinet stands a bit tall, but doesn’t feel overly heavy, striking a good balance. Turning them around, the back panel reveals unexpectedly high-quality binding posts, a feature rarely seen in budget offerings.
Alt text: Rear panel of Pioneer SP-BS22-LR bookshelf speaker showcasing high-quality binding posts, a notable feature for budget audio equipment.
Adding a touch of premium design, the curved cabinet is a detail usually reserved for high-end speakers, demonstrating an attention to aesthetics not commonly found in this price range. Examining the drivers, there are no signs of sloppy glue or other cost-cutting shortcuts that can plague budget speaker construction.
To objectively assess the Pioneer BS22 speakers’ performance, rigorous measurements were conducted using the Klippel Near-field Scanner (NFS). This advanced robotic system allows for comprehensive speaker analysis, capturing sound radiation in all directions and effectively eliminating room reflections through sophisticated mathematical processing. The near-field measurement technique also minimizes the influence of ambient room noise. In essence, the Klippel NFS provides highly accurate measurements of the speaker’s inherent sound characteristics, independent of the acoustic environment.
Spinorama Audio Measurement Analysis
The Spinorama, a standardized set of acoustic measurements, offers a visually intuitive way to evaluate a speaker’s tonal balance and identify potential sonic characteristics. It distills complex measurement data into perceptually relevant curves, providing a comprehensive performance overview.
Alt text: Spinorama CEA 2034 audio measurements graph for Pioneer SP-BS22-LR speakers, showing on-axis frequency response and early reflections, key indicators of speaker performance.
The on-axis response, indicated by the red arrow, ideally should be as flat as possible for neutral sound reproduction. The Pioneer BS22 speakers achieve commendable flatness below 1 kHz. However, around the 3 kHz crossover frequency, a peak in response is noticeable just before, followed by a dip immediately after.
Encouragingly, the early reflections (dashed blue line) appear smooth, a positive attribute suggesting good off-axis behavior and a less colored in-room sound.
Focusing on the “directivity index” reveals how closely the speaker’s direct sound aligns with the sound reflected off surfaces in a typical listening environment.
Alt text: Directivity Index Spinorama graph for Pioneer SP-BS22-LR speakers, illustrating the speaker’s sound dispersion characteristics and potential for room interaction.
Deviations above 2 kHz are present but remain reasonably controlled for a speaker in this budget category, indicating acceptable directivity performance.
The predicted in-room response, simulating how the speaker would sound in a typical room by combining direct sound and reflections, further clarifies the speaker’s tonal character in real-world scenarios.
Alt text: Predicted In-room Response Spinorama graph for Pioneer SP-BS22-LR bookshelf speakers, showing relatively small deviations and suggesting a neutral tonal balance in a typical listening room setup.
The small deviations in the predicted in-room response suggest that the Pioneer BS22 speakers lean towards a neutral sound profile, a desirable characteristic for versatile listening.
Basic Speaker Measurement Insights
Impedance and phase measurements provide insights into the speaker’s electrical characteristics across the frequency spectrum.
Alt text: Impedance and Phase measurements graph for Pioneer SP-BS22-LR speakers, revealing impedance variations across frequencies and potential resonance points.
The impedance curve reveals minor kinks or wiggles, indicative of resonances. Resonances are observed around 280 Hz and 1.6 kHz. While the 280 Hz resonance doesn’t significantly impact the frequency response, the resonances around 1 kHz correlate with some peaks observed in the frequency response measurements, suggesting they might be more audible.
Distortion measurements, ideally performed in an anechoic chamber, were conducted in a non-anechoic environment, limiting reliable data to frequencies above 200 Hz.
Alt text: THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) percentage measurements for Pioneer SP-BS22-LR speakers, indicating distortion levels at different frequencies, measured in a desktop environment.
Alt text: Detailed THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) measurements for Pioneer SP-BS22-LR speakers, further analyzing distortion characteristics across the frequency range in a desktop setup.
Advanced Measurement Observations
Further analysis of early reflections reinforces the importance of considering room acoustics and avoiding excessive sound absorption.
Alt text: Early Reflections Spinorama measurements for Pioneer SP-BS22-LR speakers, highlighting the smoothness of early reflections compared to on-axis response, suggesting balanced room interaction.
The smoother early reflections compared to the on-axis response suggest that room reflections can actually contribute positively to the overall sound, countering the common audiophile practice of over-dampening listening rooms.
Directivity plots, both vertical and horizontal, illustrate the speaker’s sound dispersion pattern.
Alt text: Full Vertical and Horizontal Directivity measurements for Pioneer SP-BS22-LR speakers, visualizing sound dispersion patterns both horizontally and vertically, essential for speaker placement and room integration.
The 20 and 30-degree horizontal off-axis responses are highlighted to demonstrate the effect of not toeing-in the speakers directly towards the listener, showcasing the speaker’s soundstage characteristics.
Alt text: Horizontal Contour plot for Pioneer SP-BS22-LR speakers, detailing sound dispersion across the horizontal plane, crucial for understanding soundstage and stereo imaging.
Alt text: Vertical Contour plot for Pioneer SP-BS22-LR speakers, illustrating sound dispersion in the vertical plane, relevant for speaker height placement and multi-level listening setups.
Eye-Candy Measurement: Crossover Directivity
Visualizing the sound field at the crossover frequency (3000 Hz) reveals the speaker’s directivity behavior in this critical frequency region.
Alt text: Crossover Directivity measurement at 3000Hz for Pioneer SP-BS22-LR speakers, visualizing the sound field and driver interaction at the crossover frequency, revealing potential interference patterns.
Ideally, a single, focused sound lobe directed at the listener is desired. However, the Pioneer BS22 speakers exhibit a more complex pattern at the crossover frequency, with multiple lobes indicating interference between the tweeter and woofer.
Full spinorama data is available for further in-depth analysis.
Informal Listening Impressions
Initial listening impressions were positive, characterized by a generally balanced sound. However, a slight brightness due to a perceived lack of deep bass was noted. Experimenting with toe-out (angling speakers away from direct listener axis) significantly improved tonal balance, mitigating the brightness. Compared to the JBL LSR305P Mark II, the JBLs offered noticeably stronger bass, but the Pioneer BS22 speakers exhibited comparable overall tonality, indicating respectable performance. However, a slight emphasis in the midrange was also observed in the Pioneer BS22.
Loudness testing revealed limitations in deep bass reproduction, with significant distortion occurring at very low frequencies and high volumes. Techno music with higher-frequency bass fared considerably better. Employing a high-pass filter to remove very low frequencies in playback software is recommended to maximize clean playback volume.
Conclusion: The Enduring Appeal of Pioneer BS22 Speakers
The Pioneer SP-BS22-LR speakers are a testament to the design philosophy of Andrew Jones, the renowned speaker engineer behind their creation. His insight – that investing incrementally more in component quality in budget designs yields disproportionately better results – is clearly evident in the BS22’s performance. These speakers manage to deliver a non-offensive and surprisingly refined sound experience despite their remarkably low price. Their attractive aesthetics and solid measured performance solidify their position as a top recommendation for budget-conscious audiophiles. While not perfect, particularly in deep bass extension, the Pioneer BS22 speakers offer exceptional value and represent a benchmark for affordable audio excellence.
