Short answer: the Klipsch RP-500M II. It ranks #27 of 160 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.0/5) at $389.99 and is still sold new; the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) ranks #111 (rated 2.8/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
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.
The Klipsch RP-500M II is the better-sounding, deeper-bass pick. Major mid-range clarity improvement over the original RP-500M: about a 5dB fill-in between 1-3kHz in the estimated in-room response, giving a noticeably more resolved, detailed midrange. Its bass reaches about 67Hz before falling 3dB, against 78Hz for the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod). The catch: Klipsch’s quoted sensitivity (around 92-93dB) uses an unconventional in-room-based rating rather than the standard anechoic measurement; on an anechoic basis it measures closer to about 85dB, in line with typical bookshelf speakers this size, so it isn’t the outlier in efficiency the spec sheet implies.
Buy the Klipsch RP-500M II. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) is discontinued.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) | Klipsch RP-500M II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $168 per pair Discontinued | $389.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #111 of 160 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #27 of 160 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 67Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1x 4” curvilinear-cone woofer (stock Pioneer), 1x Peerless BC25TG15 1” silk dome tweeter (replacement) | 5.25” Cerametallic™ cone woofer with Faraday rings, 1” LTS Titanium diaphragm tweeter with Hybrid Cross-Section Expanded Tractrix® horn |
| Weight | 9 lbs (4.1 kg) | 13 lbs (5.9 kg) each |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Audio Science Review) | 85dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (approx. 5 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) | 8 ohms nominal, 3.3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 3000Hz | 1530Hz |
| 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 6.8”W x 10.6”D (344.4 x 173 x 270.5 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.07 | 5.22 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.82 | 7.84 |
| DIY Kit | Yes | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Klipsch RP-500M II:
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs Audio First Fidelia
- Ascend Sierra 1 v2 vs Klipsch RP-500M II
- KEF LS50 Meta vs Klipsch RP-500M II
- Arendal 1961 Monitor vs Klipsch RP-500M II
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs Moondrop M4P MTM
Prices on this page were last checked October 7, 2026 at 9:25 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) vs Dynaudio X14
- Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) vs MartinLogan Motion 4i
- Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) vs ELAC BS U5
- Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) vs JBL L52 Classic
- Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) vs Dynaudio Emit M10
- 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 ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52
- See all 36 comparisons
Klipsch RP-500M II: $389.99 per pair Amazon eBay
Older model: the Klipsch RP-500M (ranked lower, rated 3.4/5).
Same family: the Klipsch RP-600M II (larger bookshelf, rated 3.7/5), the Klipsch RP-5000F II (smallest floorstanding, rated 4/5), the Klipsch RP-6000F II (floorstanding, rated 3.9/5), the Klipsch RP-8000F II (largest floorstanding, rated 3.9/5), the Klipsch RP-404C II (smallest center, rated 3.7/5), the Klipsch RP-500C II (center, rated 3.9/5) and the Klipsch RP-504C II (largest center, rated 3.8/5).
Pros: Major mid-range clarity improvement over the original RP-500M: about a 5dB fill-in between 1-3kHz in the estimated in-room response, giving a noticeably more resolved, detailed midrange. More neutral and linear overall than its sibling RP-600M II, which carries about 2-3dB more high-frequency energy and a touch more bass but less overall balance. Very precise soundstage imaging and instrument placement. Distortion through the midrange is cleaner than the previous generation. Measured bass extension of 67Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85dB.
Cons: Klipsch’s quoted sensitivity (around 92-93dB) uses an unconventional in-room-based rating rather than the standard anechoic measurement; on an anechoic basis it measures closer to about 85dB, in line with typical bookshelf speakers this size, so it isn’t the outlier in efficiency the spec sheet implies. Horizontal dispersion of about ±40-50° is narrower and more directive than the reviewer’s preference for a wider, more enveloping soundstage. Toeing the speaker out to widen the soundstage or soften on-axis brightness comes at some cost to imaging precision. Slightly less clean in the tweeter region than the midrange, likely tied to crossover placement, though not considered a dealbreaker. Low-frequency output is limited: measured around 95dB at 4 meters for the pair before the woofers started to unload, so a subwoofer is recommended for anyone wanting real bass rather than stepping up to a larger model.
Full Klipsch RP-500M II review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 67Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1530Hz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 13.6”H x 6.8”W x 10.6”D (344.4 x 173 x 270.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25” Cerametallic™ cone woofer with Faraday rings, 1” LTS Titanium diaphragm tweeter with Hybrid Cross-Section Expanded Tractrix® horn |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.22 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.84 |
| Weight | 13 lbs (5.9 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs Wharfedale Super Denton
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs Revel M105
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs Radiant Acoustics Clarity 4.2
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs Moondrop M4P MTM
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs Arendal 1961 Monitor
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs KEF Q150
- See all 39 comparisons