Short answer: the Neumi BS5. It ranks #22 of 88 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $139.99; the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) ranks #61, rated 2.8/5, and costs $168, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the Neumi BS5 does well: Exceptional budget value: Erin measured approximately +/-1.5dB on-axis linearity through most of the mid/treble, 84dB/2.83V/1m sensitivity and a manageable 4.6-ohm minimum. The catch: Erin measured F3 at 64Hz, so kick-drum punch should not be mistaken for deep-bass extension.
The case for the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod): 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. Watch for: Some directivity error appears near the crossover frequency.
One note: the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) is no longer in production and isn’t widely stocked new anymore.
Buy the Neumi BS5. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Neumi BS5 | Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.99 per pair | $168 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #22 of 88 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #61 of 88 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 64Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41.0Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 84dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 83dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Impedance | 4.6 ohms minimum; approximately 6 ohms nominal (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal (approx. 5 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 1” silk-dome tweeter; 5” fiberglass woofer | 1x 4” curvilinear-cone woofer (stock Pioneer), 1x Peerless BC25TG15 1” silk dome tweeter (replacement) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.60 | 5.07 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.12 | 7.82 |
| Dimensions | 10.6”H x 7.2”W x 8.5”D (269.2 x 182.9 x 215.9 mm) | 12.6”H x 7.1”W x 8.5”D (320.0 x 180.0 x 215.0 mm) |
| Weight | 7.1 lbs (3.2 kg) each | 9 lbs (4.1 kg) |
| DIY Kit | No | Yes |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 3000Hz |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Neumi BS5: $139.99 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Exceptional budget value: Erin measured approximately +/-1.5dB on-axis linearity through most of the mid/treble, 84dB/2.83V/1m sensitivity and a manageable 4.6-ohm minimum. The 5-inch fiberglass woofer and 1-inch silk dome provide good horizontal directivity for the price; a mild upper-bass rise adds punch, and ordinary modern AVRs can generally drive the mostly six-ohm load at sensible levels. Measured bass extension of 64Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 84dB.
Cons: Erin measured F3 at 64Hz, so kick-drum punch should not be mistaken for deep-bass extension. Output around 90dB began to reveal distortion and compression, limiting farfield/high-volume use. A narrow dip near 800Hz, port/cabinet resonances and imperfect crossover directivity remain visible; the tweeter itself is approximately four ohms even though the system is sold as nominal six ohms. A subwoofer is strongly preferred.
Full Neumi BS5 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41.0Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 64Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 10.6”H x 7.2”W x 8.5”D (269.2 x 182.9 x 215.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” silk-dome tweeter; 5” fiberglass woofer |
| Impedance | 4.6 ohms minimum; approximately 6 ohms nominal (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 84dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.60 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.12 |
| Weight | 7.1 lbs (3.2 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod): $168 per pair Discontinued eBay
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. Measured bass extension of 78Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 83dB.
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 |
| DIY Kit | Yes |
| 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) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.07 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.82 |
| Weight | 9 lbs (4.1 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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