The Pioneer SP-C22 center channel speaker, designed by the renowned Andrew Jones, has garnered attention in the home theater community for its incredibly affordable price point. Priced at just US $75, this speaker promises to deliver performance that belies its cost. We delve into a detailed review, including comprehensive measurements, to determine if the Pioneer SP-C22 truly lives up to the hype and if it’s the right choice for your home theater setup.
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Close-up view of the Pioneer SP-C22 center speaker showcasing its design and components.
Unboxing the SP-C22 reveals a surprisingly well-constructed speaker for its price. While minor cosmetic imperfections like glue smears can be found, the overall build quality, including color-matched black screws and a clean design, is commendable. The speaker features a typical MTM (Midwoofer-Tweeter-Midwoofer) configuration, a design choice known for potential horizontal directivity limitations in center channel applications. Unlike many sealed center speakers, the SP-C22 incorporates dual ports on the rear.
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Rear view of the Pioneer SP-C22 highlighting the dual port design and speaker terminals.
This ported design is intended to enhance bass response, although the bass performance can vary depending on port configuration and placement within a room.
Pioneer SP-C22 Measurements: A Deep Dive into Performance
Our measurements were conducted using the state-of-the-art Klippel Near-field Scanner (NFS). This advanced system provides highly accurate speaker analysis by eliminating room reflections and minimizing room noise, achieving results comparable to, or even exceeding, those obtained in an anechoic chamber. The measurements adhere to the latest speaker research and CEA/CTA-2034 ANSI standards, ensuring industry-recognized benchmarks for performance evaluation.
Predicted In-Room Response: Surprisingly Balanced
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Graph illustrating the predicted in-room frequency response of the Pioneer SP-C22, showing a balanced sound profile.
The predicted in-room response of the Pioneer SP-C22 is remarkably good, especially for a speaker in this price range. While there are slight peaks in the high frequencies and around 100 Hz, the overall response is impressively balanced. This favorable in-room performance is attributed to the speaker’s excellent early window reflections.
Early Window Reflections: Near Perfection
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Chart depicting the early window reflections of the Pioneer SP-C22, indicating excellent control and minimal unwanted reflections.
The early window reflections are exceptionally well-controlled, contributing significantly to the speaker’s balanced and natural sound reproduction in a typical listening environment.
On-Axis and Spinorama: Unveiling the Speaker’s DNA
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Spinorama graph of the Pioneer SP-C22, providing a comprehensive view of its frequency response and directivity characteristics.
The on-axis response reveals some variability, including a notch between 3 and 4 kHz, potentially caused by diffraction effects. Near-field measurements help to further diagnose these nuances in frequency response.
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Near-field frequency response measurements of the Pioneer SP-C22, detailing individual driver performance and cabinet resonances.
Horizontal Directivity: A Narrow Soundstage
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Horizontal directivity plot of the Pioneer SP-C22, illustrating its narrow sound dispersion pattern.
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Contour map of the horizontal directivity, visually representing the off-axis frequency response changes.
As anticipated with an MTM configuration, the horizontal directivity of the SP-C22 is quite narrow. This is less than ideal for a center speaker, where wider sound dispersion is generally preferred to accommodate multiple listeners across a viewing area.
Vertical Directivity: Performance Where It Matters Less
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Vertical directivity graph of the Pioneer SP-C22, showing its sound dispersion in the vertical plane.
The vertical directivity, while less critical for center channel applications, is well-behaved. This characteristic is a typical byproduct of the MTM design.
Power Handling: Robust Performance
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Power handling measurements of the Pioneer SP-C22, demonstrating its ability to handle high SPL without significant distortion.
One of the advantages of the MTM design is enhanced power handling, and the SP-C22 excels in this aspect. It can handle significant power, making it suitable for dynamic home theater soundtracks. The in-room frequency response remains remarkably flat even at higher volumes, further confirming the benefits of its reflection characteristics.
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Zoomed-in in-room frequency response, highlighting the flatness and evenness across the audio spectrum.
Distortion and Impedance: Identifying Resonances
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Impedance and phase measurements of the Pioneer SP-C22, revealing resonance points within the speaker’s operating range.
Narrow distortion peaks observed in measurements correlate with resonances evident in the impedance and phase plots. These resonances are typical in speakers at this price point and might contribute to minor sonic coloration.
Timing Measurements: Impulse Response and Step Response
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Impulse response of the Pioneer SP-C22, showing its transient behavior and time-domain characteristics.
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Step response of the Pioneer SP-C22, further illustrating its time-domain performance and integration of drivers.
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Group delay measurement, indicating phase linearity and potential time-smearing issues.
Timing measurements, including impulse response, step response, and group delay, provide insights into the speaker’s transient behavior and phase linearity.
Pioneer SP-C22 Listening Tests: The Real-World Experience
Initial listening impressions of the Pioneer SP-C22 were surprisingly positive. The sound was remarkably good, especially considering its budget price. However, a quick check revealed that the initial sound was actually from high-end Revel Salon 2 speakers mistakenly left playing. Upon correctly connecting the SP-C22, a noticeable, though not drastic, degradation in sound quality was observed.
The SP-C22 exhibited slightly tubby bass and somewhat harsher, brighter highs compared to the reference speakers. Despite these shortcomings, the overall sound remained enjoyable, with impressive power handling capabilities.
Experimenting with equalization (EQ) to address the on-axis response proved challenging. While attempting to fill the 3-4 kHz dip provided a sense of spaciousness, it also resulted in excessive brightness. A -2 dB cut at 100 Hz effectively mitigated the tubbiness in the bass, resulting in a tighter and more controlled low-end response, particularly beneficial in rooms with modal issues in that frequency range.
The narrow horizontal directivity became apparent during listening tests. Even slight shifts off-axis resulted in significant tonal changes, confirming its limitations as a center speaker for wider seating arrangements.
Conclusions: Rethinking the Pioneer SP-C22’s Role
The Pioneer SP-C22, while marketed as a center speaker, might be miscategorized. At its incredibly low price of $75, it represents exceptional value, particularly when considered for alternative applications. Its limitations in horizontal directivity hinder its performance as a traditional center channel in multi-seat home theaters.
However, when used as main speakers, perhaps rotated vertically by 90 degrees, the SP-C22 becomes a compelling option. The dual woofers, while contributing to the narrow directivity in a center configuration, provide excellent power handling and bass extension, especially for its size and price. The rear port further enhances bass performance, a feature often lacking in compact speakers.
In conclusion, while we cannot wholeheartedly recommend the Pioneer SP-C22 as a dedicated center speaker due to its directivity limitations, it stands out as an outstanding, budget-friendly speaker for general use. Its impressive measurements and surprisingly enjoyable sound quality make it a hidden gem for those seeking affordable audio solutions. For solo listening or setups where horizontal dispersion is less critical, the Pioneer SP-C22 delivers remarkable performance for the price.
