Short answer: the Dynaudio Emit M10 for better sound quality, the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) for the lower price. The Dynaudio Emit M10 ranks #28 of 56 bookshelf speakers at $800. The Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) ranks #33 at $168, $632 cheaper.
The case for the Dynaudio Emit M10: CEA2034 spinorama shows impressive, headphone-level distortion through the midrange and tweeter at 86dB SPL, with a well-executed port that keeps resonance low below the crossover. The tradeoff: Tuned toward a mild showroom sound with boosted upper bass and treble and a recessed midrange - the reviewer prefers speakers that get the 100Hz-3kHz range right, which this doesn’t.
What the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) gets right: This is Dennis Murphy’s “Affordable Accuracy Monitor” (AAM) mod of the discontinued. The catch: Some directivity error appears near the crossover frequency.
Buy the Dynaudio Emit M10 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Dynaudio Emit M10 | Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $800 | $168 |
| Ranked | #28 of 56 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #33 of 56 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 83.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) | 83dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal | 8 ohms nominal (approx. 5 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 23kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Drivers | 28mm soft dome tweeter, 14cm MSP mid/bass driver | 1x 4" curvilinear-cone woofer (stock Pioneer), 1x Peerless BC25TG15 1" silk dome tweeter (replacement) |
| Weight | 12.3 lbs / 5.6 kg each | 9 lbs / 4.1 kg |
| Dimensions | 11.5"H x 6.7"W x 9.4"D (292 x 170 x 240 mm) | 12.6"H x 7.1"W x 8.5"D (320.0 x 180.0 x 215.0 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported, rear |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 3000Hz |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- KEF Q150 vs Totem Kin One
- ELAC BS U5 vs Micca RB42
- Sony SS-CS5 M2 vs Totem Kin One
- ELAC BS U5 vs Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod)
- Sony SS-CS5 M2 vs Dynaudio Emit M10
The Two Speakers In Full
Dynaudio Emit M10: $800
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows impressive, headphone-level distortion through the midrange and tweeter at 86dB SPL, with a well-executed port that keeps resonance low below the crossover. 28mm soft dome tweeter and 14cm MSP mid/bass driver.
Cons: Tuned toward a mild showroom sound with boosted upper bass and treble and a recessed midrange - the reviewer prefers speakers that get the 100Hz-3kHz range right, which this doesn’t. His verdict: cheaper speakers deliver much more balanced tonality, so he wouldn’t buy it for himself.
Full Dynaudio Emit M10 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 11.5"H x 6.7"W x 9.4"D (292 x 170 x 240 mm) |
| Drivers | 28mm soft dome tweeter, 14cm MSP mid/bass driver |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 23kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 83.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 12.3 lbs / 5.6 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Dynaudio Emit M10 vs ELAC BS U5
- Dynaudio Emit M10 vs JBL Stage 2 250B
- Dynaudio Emit M10 vs Paradigm Monitor SE Atom
- Dynaudio Emit M10 vs Sony SS-CS5 M2
- Dynaudio Emit M10 vs Dynaudio X14
- Dynaudio Emit M10 vs ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2
- Dynaudio Emit M10 vs JBL Studio 530
- Dynaudio Emit M10 vs JBL L52 Classic
- See all 17 comparisons
Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod): $168
Pros: This is Dennis Murphy’s “Affordable Accuracy Monitor” (AAM) mod of the discontinued, budget Pioneer SP-BS22-LR: the stock tweeter is swapped for a Peerless BC25TG15 dome and a redesigned 3rd-order crossover is built to match it to the stock 4” woofer. CEA2034 spinorama shows only small variations from a flat on-axis response with some directivity error near the crossover, a marked improvement over the unmodified Pioneer, which the reviewer notes shows much more variation from flat. Distortion at 86dB SPL/1m is reasonably controlled above 200Hz, and tweeter distortion barely rises even at 96dB SPL/1m.
Cons: Some directivity error appears near the crossover frequency. Distortion climbs in the woofer’s range (below 200Hz) at both 86dB and 96dB SPL/1m. Minimum impedance dips to about 5 ohms with a couple of resonance peaks. This is a DIY project, not a finished retail product: Murphy sold ~$168 pre-built pairs for a while but no longer does, so it now requires sourcing a used/discontinued Pioneer SP-BS22-LR pair plus building the crossover and swapping the tweeter yourself. The mod itself is public domain, but there is no current turnkey way to buy this speaker.
Full Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Crossover Frequency | 3000Hz |
| Dimensions | 12.6"H x 7.1"W x 8.5"D (320.0 x 180.0 x 215.0 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 4" curvilinear-cone woofer (stock Pioneer), 1x Peerless BC25TG15 1" silk dome tweeter (replacement) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (approx. 5 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 9 lbs / 4.1 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) vs JBL L52 Classic
- Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) vs Dynaudio X14
- Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) vs Parts Express Copperhead Desktop Kit
- Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) vs JBL Stage A120
- Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) vs JBL Stage 2 250B
- Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) vs ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52
- Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) vs ELAC BS U5
- Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) vs KEF Q100
- See all 21 comparisons