Andrew Jones took a page from Denon electronics and Pioneer car co-axials to make these not-even-good-first-effort floor-standing speakers.
I have been running an audio retail store since 1968 and have sold just about every brand ever made, so, I know my sound. And when I got these Pioneer SP-FS 52 speaker systems that have such rave reviews and the design heritage of Andrew Jones, I expected a lot. I spent weeks breaking them in. And when I tested and listened to them, I wondered, "What's the buzz?"
The sound reminds me of the typical Denon electronic sound: too smooth, but complete - unlike the overall harshness of Harmon Kardon or the gutless sound of Yamaha.
And when I did my laboratory testing, I found the design was typical car stereo - the tweeter covers one-third octave and the woofer is forced to unnaturally make up the difference.
The sad part is that Pioneer and Andrew Jones came so close to making a phenomenal speaker. I guess he was forced to make compromises to reach a price point - a problem I have found in too many speaker manufacturers that make one great speaker, and then force the designer to make a whole line around it that is full of compromises to reach price points.
Hey, Pioneer, let me finish the job that Andrew began. It won't be that hard. And once I'm through, your customers will say, music is "...what it's all about.
The overall sound is pleasant but not engaging, except in one case.
Recordings
* CLAIRE MARLO * LET IT GO: Do You Love Me and Let It Go.
* THE NOTTING HILLBILLIES, missing ... ... presumed to having a good time : Your Own Sweet Way and Will You Miss Me
* CLARK TERRY, Portraits: PENNIES FROM HEAVEN
* ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH, JOHN DENVER: Late Winter, Early Spring
* Bill Whelen, Riverdance: Real Around the Sun and CAOINEADH CU CHULAINN
After listening to these recordings, I realize that the music reproduced by these SP-FS 52 loudspeakers is like listening to live music through that proverbial blanket - boring, but not irritating... except one. CAOINEADH CU CHULAINN was phenomenal because these speakers are primarily a midrange loudspeaker, i.e. a better Bose 901.
What these Pioneer speakers will do is increase ticket sales to live performances because they give a taste of music, but only a taste.
Equipment used in this review
* An acoustically treated room that among other treatments use ASC
* Oppo BDP-83 CD player
* Rogue Audio Titan Magnus Metis Preamplifier, modified
* Parasound Halo A-23 power amp
* Transparent Audio PowerLink AC power cord
* Transparent Audio The Link RCA Interconnects
* Kimber Kable 4TC speaker wire, modified
* DRM Stage II SW Reference Loudspeaker system
Click Here For More Information About Pioneer SP C22 Designed Channel Speaker
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