Short answer: the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52, if you are buying new, though neither ranks well in its class. The Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) ranks higher than it (#63 vs #70 of 90 bookshelf speakers, 2.8/5 vs 2.4/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 is still sold new at $799. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 90 bookshelf speakers; for better sound, the Philharmonic Ceramic Mini ranks #2 at $900.
Buy the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 if you want one new; the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) is discontinued, so only look for it used.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) | ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $168 per pair Discontinued | $799.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #63 of 90 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #70 of 90 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 55.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 38.6Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 1x 4” curvilinear-cone woofer (stock Pioneer), 1x Peerless BC25TG15 1” silk dome tweeter (replacement) | 5.25” aluminum woofer, 4” aluminum midrange, 1” soft dome tweeter |
| Weight | 9 lbs (4.1 kg) | 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg) |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Audio Science Review) | 83.3dB (measured by Audio Science Review; 85dB manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (approx. 5 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) | 6 ohms |
| Crossover Frequency | 3000Hz | 200Hz / 2000Hz |
| Dimensions | 12.6”H x 7.1”W x 8.5”D (320.0 x 180.0 x 215.0 mm) | 13.6”H x 7.3”W x 10.8”D (346 x 185 x 275 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.07 | 5.32 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.82 | 7.34 (spinorama.org) |
| DIY Kit | Yes | No |
| Power Handling | - | 140W max |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) compares with other leading options:
- Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) vs Ascend Sierra 1 v2
- KEF LS50 Meta vs Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod)
- Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) vs Arendal 1961 Monitor
- Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) vs Revel M105
- Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) vs Klipsch RP-500M II
Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
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
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ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52: $799.00 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Wide, smooth horizontal directivity: beamwidth holds to about ±60 degrees up to 8kHz before narrowing. Vertical directivity is substantially better than average, giving more listening-height leeway than most two-way bookshelf speakers. Measured bass extension of 55.7Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 83.3dB.
Cons: Dipped 3db from 1.5-3kHz. On-axis response shelves down above 1.5kHz along with multiple resonances, leading the reviewer to predict it will “likely sound dull.” Nasty resonance at 600Hz: audible as an actual buzzing artifact on some recordings (the reviewer demonstrated it with an Eva Cassidy track), and it shows up as a sharp distortion spike exceeding 4% at 585Hz when driven to 96dB SPL/1m. Not recommended.
Full ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38.6Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 55.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Crossover Frequency | 200Hz / 2000Hz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 13.6”H x 7.3”W x 10.8”D (346 x 185 x 275 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25” aluminum woofer, 4” aluminum midrange, 1” soft dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms |
| Power Handling | 140W max |
| Sensitivity | 83.3dB (measured by Audio Science Review; 85dB manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.32 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.34 (spinorama.org) |
| Weight | 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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