Short answer: the Neumi BS5. It ranks #11 of 34 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $110; the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) ranks #24 and costs $168, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Neumi BS5 offers: 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. Watch for: Erin measured F3 at 64Hz, so kick-drum punch should not be mistaken for deep-bass extension.
What the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) offers: 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… Watch for: Some directivity error appears near the crossover frequency.
Buy the Neumi BS5. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Neumi BS5 | Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $110/pair | $168 |
| Ranked | #11 of 34 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #24 of 34 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 64Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| 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 |
| Weight | - | 9 lbs / 4.1 kg |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 3000Hz |
| Dimensions | - | 12.6"H x 7.1"W x 8.5"D (320.0 x 180.0 x 215.0 mm) |
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- Neumi BS5 vs Neumi Silk 4
The Two Speakers In Full
Neumi BS5: $110/pair Amazon
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.
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 (-3dB) | 64Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| 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) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
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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 →
| 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