Short answer: the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod). It ranks #33 of 56 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $168; the KEF Q100 ranks #38 and costs $550, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
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.
The case for the KEF Q100: 5.25” Uni-Q coaxial driver keeps the tweeter and woofer point-source aligned for consistent imaging. The tradeoff: CEA2034 spinorama shows broad, audible deviations from flat rather than narrow peaks: a lift from 700Hz-1.5kHz and again from 5kHz up, plus a cancellation notch around 1.4kHz from port/cabinet interaction.
Buy the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod). It ranks higher for sound quality than the KEF Q100 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) | KEF Q100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $168 | $550 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #33 of 56 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #38 of 56 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 85Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 65Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 1x 4" curvilinear-cone woofer (stock Pioneer), 1x Peerless BC25TG15 1" silk dome tweeter (replacement) | 5.25" Uni-Q aluminum coaxial driver, 1" aluminum dome tweeter |
| Weight | 9 lbs / 4.1 kg | 13 lbs / 5.9 kg each |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Audio Science Review) | 85dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (approx. 5 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) | 8 ohms nominal |
| Crossover Frequency | 3000Hz | - |
| Dimensions | 12.6"H x 7.1"W x 8.5"D (320.0 x 180.0 x 215.0 mm) | 11.8"H x 7.1"W x 10.7"D (300 x 180 x 272 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
| Frequency Response | - | 49Hz - 40kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Q Acoustics 3020i vs JBL Stage A130
- ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 vs Polk T15
- ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 vs Micca RB42
- KEF Q100 vs JBL Control 1 Pro
- KEF Q100 vs Micca RB42
The Two Speakers In Full
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 Dynaudio Emit M10
- See all 21 comparisons
KEF Q100: $550 Discontinued
Pros: 5.25” Uni-Q coaxial driver keeps the tweeter and woofer point-source aligned for consistent imaging. 86dB sensitivity is reasonably easy to drive.
Cons: CEA2034 spinorama shows broad, audible deviations from flat rather than narrow peaks: a lift from 700Hz-1.5kHz and again from 5kHz up, plus a cancellation notch around 1.4kHz from port/cabinet interaction. Bass sensitivity drops to about 80dB and impedance falls below 4 ohms in the bass, demanding a capable amplifier. The reviewer heard boomy, buzzing bass that improved somewhat with the port plugged, and could not recommend it, calling the famous reputation more about looks than sound. Discontinued.
Full KEF Q100 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 65Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 85Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 11.8"H x 7.1"W x 10.7"D (300 x 180 x 272 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 5.25" Uni-Q aluminum coaxial driver, 1" aluminum dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 49Hz - 40kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 13 lbs / 5.9 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons