Short answer: the JBL L52 Classic, 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 #67 of 90 bookshelf speakers, 2.8/5 vs 2.6/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the JBL L52 Classic is still sold new at $999. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 90 bookshelf speakers, and the Philharmonic Ceramic Mini, ranked #2 at $900, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
Buy the JBL L52 Classic, since the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) | JBL L52 Classic | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $168 per pair Discontinued | $999.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #63 of 90 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #67 of 90 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 62Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 45Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1x 4” curvilinear-cone woofer (stock Pioneer), 1x Peerless BC25TG15 1” silk dome tweeter (replacement) | 5.25” pure pulp cone woofer, 0.75” titanium dome tweeter with waveguide |
| Weight | 9 lbs (4.1 kg) | 11 lbs (5 kg) each |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Audio Science Review) | 85dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (approx. 5 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) | 4 ohms nominal, 3.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 3000Hz | 2.8kHz |
| Dimensions | 12.6”H x 7.1”W x 8.5”D (320.0 x 180.0 x 215.0 mm) | 13-1/16”H x 7-13/16”W x 8-11/16”D |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.07 | 4.54 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.82 | 6.96 |
| DIY Kit | Yes | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 47Hz - 24kHz (-6dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Power Handling | - | 10-75W RMS |
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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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- Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) vs JBL Stage A120
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JBL L52 Classic: $999.00 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Genuine walnut wood veneer cabinet with a retro Quadrex foam grille (black, orange, or dark blue) reviving JBL’s classic L-series look. 5.25” pure pulp cone woofer and 0.75” titanium dome tweeter on a waveguide, front-firing bass reflex port, in a compact stand-mount cabinet. A pronounced upper-bass bump around 100 Hz gives kick drums a punchy, textured character. Measured bass extension of 62Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85dB.
Cons: Measured compression and distortion behavior from about 1-5 kHz was inconsistent (“wonky”) across output levels, and didn’t clean up even at lower volume; adding a subwoofer high-pass didn’t fix the high-frequency distortion either. Response rolls off quickly above the upper-bass bump, so there’s punch and impact but not real low-end rumble or fundamental weight below about 60 Hz without a subwoofer. Soundstage width was inconsistent track to track, with imaging not staying locked to where instruments should be. Vocals could sound hot and slightly grainy in the 2.5-5 kHz region; pointing the speakers off-axis reduced that sharpness but also killed high-frequency air.
Full JBL L52 Classic review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.8kHz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 13-1/16”H x 7-13/16”W x 8-11/16”D |
| Drivers | 5.25” pure pulp cone woofer, 0.75” titanium dome tweeter with waveguide |
| Frequency Response | 47Hz - 24kHz (-6dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 10-75W RMS |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.54 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.96 |
| Weight | 11 lbs (5 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons