Pioneer SP-FS52 Floor-Standing Loudspeaker Reviewed

Published On: January 14, 2013
Last Updated on: October 31, 2020
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Pioneer SP-FS52 Floor-Standing Loudspeaker Reviewed

According to Andrew Robinson's review, his time with the Pioneer SP-FS52 revealed that "the SP-FS52 is the kind of speaker that I feel every enthusiast should experience." Read on to find out why.

Pioneer SP-FS52 Floor-Standing Loudspeaker Reviewed

By Author: Andrew Robinson

Andrew Robinson began his career as an art director in entertainment advertising in 2003, after graduating from Art Center College of Design. In 2006, he became a creative director at Crew Creative Advertising, and oversaw the agency's Television Division, where he worked for clients such as TNT, TBS, History, FX, and Bravo to name a few. He now has one of the most popular AV-related channels on YouTube.

Pioneer-SP-FS52-floorstanding-speaker-review-no-grills-small.jpgEarlier this year, I was introduced through a friend to the Andrew Jones-designed Pioneer SP-BS21-LR, which proved most enlightening. As it turns out, the $99 per pair Pioneer SP-BS21-LR turned out to be very good - okay, great - little bookshelf loudspeakers. Unfortunately, when I returned to check out their floor-standing brethren, they were no longer in stock, so my introduction to the mighty Pioneer line stopped at the bookshelf speaker. Well, good things come to those who wait, for Andrew Jones is back with a new line of affordable Pioneer loudspeakers, anchored by the SP-FS52 floor-standing model reviewed here.

Additional Resources
Read more floorstanding speaker reviews by the writers at HomeTheaterReview.com.
Explore pairing options in our Subwoofer Review section.
See amplifiers in our Amplifier Review section.

For those of you who may not be familiar with his work, Andrew Jones is the lead designer for TAD (Technical Audio Devices Labratories), a truly high-end brand aimed at discerning two-channel enthusiasts with a line of loudspeakers, amplifiers, preamps and source components. Jones' TAD-branded loudspeakers have garnered numerous awards and praise from the audiophile press, though it's his lesser, or should I say less expensive, designs that intrigue me - they even intrigue Jones. In a recent interview, Jones commented that the challenge of taking all that is gleamed from his TAD designs and bringing it to the masses à la his Pioneer designs is one that excites him. He went on to say that anyone can build a good loudspeaker if given infinite funds to do so; it's designing a quality loudspeaker on a budget that's hard.

I would agree with Jones, though I believe as time passes and technology and understanding grow, we're beginning to see that, more and more, so-called entry-level products are evolving more rapidly than their high-end counterparts. As a result, what once cost tens of thousands can now be had for a fraction of the cost, allowing more and more would-be enthusiasts access to this great hobby. Access is what the Pioneer SP-FS52 is all about.

Retailing for $129.99 each (that is not a typo), the SP-FS52 is a three-way, four-driver floor-standing speaker that is available virtually everywhere, including Pioneer's own website. The speakers themselves are compact, measuring a little over 35 inches tall by nearly nine inches wide and 11 inches deep. The RF molded wood cabinet gives each speaker a weight of roughly 25 pounds. As you can imagine, a speaker at this price point and wide distribution is limited in its number of available finishes, which is a nice way of saying it only comes in Ash Black veneer. The push pin grilles cover a single one-inch soft dome tweeter mated to three five-and-one-quarter-inch woofers. Around back, you'll find two ports, as well as a single pair of binding posts capable of accepting bare spade or banana-terminated speaker cables. A note regarding banana terminations: you must first remove the plastic plugs from the gold-plated posts before inserting any banana-terminated speaker cable.

Despite having only two types of drivers, the SP-FS52 is a true three-way speaker, capable of a reported frequency response of 40Hz to 20kHz. The listed impedance is six ohms, with a stated sensitivity of 87dB. The crossover frequencies are 250Hz and 3kHz. Pioneer states that the SP-FS52 can handle up to 130 watts maximum which, when viewed through the scope of the rest of the SP-FS52's specs, makes it a prime candidate for pairing with today's modern AV receivers. However, due to their somewhat limited low-frequency capabilities, a subwoofer or two will also be required for full-range music or movie playback.

Pioneer-SP-FS52-floorstanding-speaker-review-speaker-line.jpgWhich brings me to the rest of the SP lineup of loudspeakers, which includes a $129.99 per pair bookshelf (SP-BS22-LR), a $99 center channel (SP-C22) and $159.99 eight-inch powered subwoofer. All of the aforementioned loudspeakers use the same drivers, so you can mix and match them to create your ideal 5.1 or even 7.1 channel system, or you can purchase one of the two ready-made 5.1 systems from Pioneer that start at $499.99.

The Hookup
Despite supposedly being introduced at CEDIA this year, the Andrew Jones-designed speakers were available at my local Best Buy just prior to their official unveiling. Not wanting to miss an opportunity, this time I went ahead and purchased a pair of SP-FS52 floor-standing speakers, as well as the matching center. Total price on the ol' credit card? Try less than $360. Had I thrown in a pair of bookshelf speakers for rear channels, the cost still would have been below $500. Hell, I could've picked up two pairs of SP-FS52 floor-standing speakers (fronts and rears) and a matching center for around $600. Toss in another pair of SP-FS52s and you've got seven-speaker surround for well under $1,000. I did not purchase the matching sub for two reasons: first, my in-store demo left a lot of room for improvement and second, my room is a bit too big for a mere 100-watt, eight-inch anything. Insert inappropriate joke here.

Since I was so enamored of Jones' previous Pioneer efforts, I went ahead and set up the SP-FS52s and matching center in my reference system, rather than relegating them to my bedroom system, where affordable loudspeakers tend to flourish. This meant putting my reference Tekton Pendragon aside for the time being, which I wasn't keen to do, but then again, who said the SP-FS52s weren't special, either? I went ahead and connected the left and right SP-FS52s to one of my Crown XLS 2000 DriveCore amplifiers running in stereo/bypass mode, which dishes out a solid 375 watts per its two channels into eight ohms and 650 watts per into four. More than enough juice for the SP-FS52s, if I'm honest. I connected the matching center to another of my XLS 2000 amplifiers, again in stereo/bypass mode. The rear speakers in this setup defaulted to Noble Fidelity's L-85 LCRS in-ceiling loudspeakers.

Since I didn't like the sub Pioneer offered to go along with the Jones' lineup of loudspeakers, I used my JL Audio Fathom f110 in its place. Admittedly, using a JL subwoofer with speakers such as the SP-FS52 is overkill, for you could easily get away with a more affordable sub from the likes of SVS, Outlaw, Aperion or even Definitive, but since I had none of those subwoofers on hand, I went with what I knew and that was JL. My JL subs were also already EQ'd for my room using a combination of tools: the free program Room EQ Wizard and a professional parametric EQ in the form of Behringer's BFD ($109 retail).

The rest of my system consisted of my Integra DHC 80.2 AV preamp, my trusty HTPC running J River for music and movies and a Sony BDP-S580 acting as a transport. All cabling came by way of Binary bulk cables from SnapAV or Monoprice.

The speakers were placed roughly in the same positions where my reference Pendragons had been, putting them approximately two feet off my front wall with three feet to either side of their outermost edges with regards to my side walls. This put them approximately eight feet apart (inside edge to inside edge) and eleven-and-a-half feet from my primary listening position. I don't put a lot of emphasis on break-in, but I did let them loosen up for a few hours before sitting down for a listen.

Performance
I kicked things off with 3 Doors Down's Acoustic EP (Universal Records) album and the track "Landing in London." Right away, what struck me most was the strength of the SP-FS52's center image indicating strong dispersion, at least inward, between the left and right speakers. I applied zero toe-in during setup and discovered it wouldn't be needed later. The vocal presence was good, far more weighted and dimensional that I believe I was prepared to accept, though the height was constrained, thanks in part to the SP-FS52's diminutive stature. I wouldn't go so far as to say the vocals were trapped, but the vocals definitely seemed to be coming from a seated or kneeling position, if I had to describe the effect. The next thing I noticed was just how smooth and sort of seductive the whole sound was. It wasn't overly warm or rolled-off - though high frequencies were definitely being rolled off at the extreme - but the whole performance seemed to take a step or two back from the speakers' front baffles. This again wasn't a terrible trait, just one that stood out to me. In context, many affordable loudspeakers have the opposite problem, in that they're too forward or excitable, two things the SP-FS52s definitely are not. I was able to breathe a bit more life into the SP-FS52s by increasing the volume to the point where the average decibel level was solidly in the mid 80s, although even then, the dynamics sounded a little constrained. When the music kicked up in complexity, I did note that the lower registers became a touch woolly and at times even a bit congested, even though the speaker's faults were more of omission rather than commission, if you catch my drift. Soundstage depth was presented in a more lifelike and natural way than was width; in fact, I found it difficult to get the SP-FS52 to venture much beyond its outer edges.

Read more about the performance of the SP-FS52 on Page 2.

Pioneer-SP-FS52-floorstanding-speaker-review-with-grills.jpgWanting to make sure that I wasn't hearing things with regards to the SP-FS52s' dynamics, I cued up Audioslave's "Show Me How to Live" off their self-titled album (Sony). I use this track a lot when trying to get a feel for a speaker's dynamic prowess and, I must say, even when throttled with decibels reaching 100dB, the SP-FS52s remained calm, cool (as in James Dean) and collected, which wasn't a plus for me in this instance. Yes, all the music, texture and detail was largely present, but that last bit that would've helped solidify and push the performance over the top - I'm talking true dynamic slam and impact - was sadly missing. The meal was good, but I still wanted dessert.

Moving on to movies, I fired up a favorite of mine, Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge! (20th Century Fox). With the SP-FS52s' matching center now in the mix and an uncompressed multi-channel soundtrack to chew on, I did notice the whole aural canvas open up a bit. This in turn brought out a bit more dynamic oomph, which the film itself calls for and the SP-FS52 delivered. I was impressed by the front three's articulation and low-level intelligibility, especially when it came to subtle vocal cues and lyrics. During one of the early duets between Ewan McGregor's and Nicole Kidman's characters, the subtle bells and chimes danced effortlessly in space with delicate nuance and surprising air. When I took the volume up a notch or two, hitting peaks in excess of 102/103dB, there was some slight - emphasis on slight - sibilance up top, but nothing too objectionable. I've heard speakers twice and even three times the price of the SP-FS52s go to hell in a handbag way before the Pioneers did. Still, the same gripes I had with some of the vocals in my two-channel tests were present in my multi-channel ones. Due to their limited height, the performances don't always grow upward and reach physical heights necessary to match some of the grandeur onscreen. When it's just talking heads, it appears to all sit together well, but when the going gets epic, the sound doesn't "rise" to the occasion. Most probably won't be bothered by this (my wife didn't notice), as everything else the SP-FS52 does, it does shockingly well. You could easily solve the SP-FS52s' height issues by placing them atop small plinths or risers like those made for subwoofers by Auralex.

I ended my evaluation of the SP-FS52 with a new favorite, the remake of The Poseidon Adventure, this time simply titled Poseidon (Warner Bros.). I chaptered ahead to the rogue wave scene, put down my pen and turned up the volume. I wanted to see if by the end of the ten-minute-or-so sequence if anything jumped out at me enough to jot it down, or if I could simply be entertained. Well, believe it or not, a couple of few-hundred-dollars loudspeakers managed to silence my critical ear and pen, allowing me to simply enjoy the show well past the moment when the action had ceased. Viewing the sequence again, this time with pen in hand, I came away with a blank sheet, for while the SP-FS52s' performance could have been more (insert silly demand here), or more (next demand), the simple fact remains that the presentation was enjoyable. At no point was I overly or even at all aware that I was listening to cheap loudspeakers to the point that it became a distraction in any way. While I've heard better, I've heard better also sound much, much worse.

The SP-FS52 may not be the last word in dynamics or low-end detail or extension, but none of that matters, given how little they cost and just how much enjoyment they provide. On the whole, the SP-FS52 is an incredibly well-balanced loudspeaker; it does a couple of things surprisingly well given its modest price that allow you to overlook some of its shortcomings. More importantly, it affords you, the consumer, the ability to share in the home theater experience in more ways than one. While soundbars are becoming a very hot ticket in today's modern home theater space, there is still no substitute for having five or more speakers surrounding you. Well, the SP-FS52s, and the rest of the SP Series, are small enough, affordable enough and downright good enough to give those contemplating buying a soundbar a legitimate moment of pause. In even a small room, you could set up two pairs of SP-FS52s with a matching center and not feel at all like you're living inside a Best Buy. In exchange, you'll be able to enjoy your favorite music and movies in a way few, if any, soundbars can match, while possibly saving you money in the process.

The Downside
For what Pioneer is charging for the SP-FS52, you have no right to expect the level of performance it affords you, nor should you ever complain - but I will. I kind of wish the SP-FS52 were more expensive, say $150 or $200 each, if only to afford a few more creature comforts, i.e., different finish options, taller cabinet, slightly better binding posts and maybe magnetic grilles (my God, the grilles are on tight). That being said, for $129.99 each, there is little to find fault with the SP-FS52s, for they are a sonic embarrassment of riches.

Still, the SP-FS52s do require a subwoofer, which drives up the total cost of ownership. Also, despite being marketed to the AV receiver crowd, the SP-FS52s need a fair amount of juice to do their thing - I'd say at least 100 if not 120 watts per, if you've got it. The issue of power as it pertains to the SP-FS52 and its crossover is the biggest knock I have against the speaker, for without power, the speaker is just a bit too laid-back and polite. Sometime you want it rough and tough and a bit edgy, and it simply takes more than I feel many AV receivers have to give to get the SP-FS52s to want to dance.

Lastly, you might want to consider investing in some form of riser or platform, even if that platform is a DIY job, just to raise the SP-FS52s' sound up a couple of inches. A little effort and maybe a little cash will reward you in spades. I'd start with maybe using a few cinder blocks with some black cloth covering them and see if that doesn't work for you before spending any real money for something made commercially. After all, with loudspeakers as inexpensive as the SP-FS52, the idea isn't to jack up the price with after-the-sale mods or accessories.

Pioneer-SP-FS52-floorstanding-speaker-review-speaker.jpgCompetition and Comparison
It's at this point in the review, given everything you've read, that you're expecting me to say that the $129.99 SP-FS52 are as good as (name your multi-thousand dollar speaker here). Well, as pleased as I am with the SP-FS52s, they're not going to upset loudspeakers costing $1,000 or more per pair. But those in the sub-$1,000 range should definitely take note. I feel that the SP-FS52 competes very favorably with the likes of Paradigm's new Monitor 7 loudspeaker at $898 a pair. Other worthy opponents include Aperion Audio's Intimus 4C ($275/ea) and possibly even the 6T ($695 each). Even HSU Research's fabulous monitor loudspeaker, the HB-1 MK2 at $298 per pair, would be in the crosshairs of the SP-FS52. I'm not saying that the SP-FS52 is the outright winner in any of these comparisons, but it is definitely in the same class when judging only sound quality. In terms of build quality and finish, all of the aforementioned options will destroy the Pioneer SP-FS52, especially the Aperion and Paradigm offerings, but then again, they don't cost $129.99, either.

Now, I know I mentioned it earlier, but it is worth repeating that the SP-FS52, when mated to its matching center and possibly rears, is straight up better than any soundbar system I've heard to date. I know I 'm comparing apples to oranges a bit, but if soundbars are the new entry point into this hobby, then home theater has a new gateway drug and it is the Pioneer SP-FS52. For less than the cost of a lot of soundbars, you can enjoy discrete, multi-channel surround sound with the Pioneer SP line of speakers, and that's a good thing. For as great as soundbars are, and they are, we need more people willing to take the plunge into true discrete multi-channel setups. The SP products make that leap more affordable than ever.

For more on these floor-standing loudspeakers and others like them, please visit Home Theater Review's floorstanding loudspeaker page.

Conclusion
I'll admit it, I rather like - no, love - the Pioneer SP-FS52 floor-standing loudspeaker. It's just good fun and a great value. The SP-FS52 is the kind of speaker that I feel every enthusiast should experience, if for no other reason than to appreciate what they have already, for the SP-FS52 proves that you don't have to spend a lot to enjoy this hobby to its fullest. Are there better speakers? Sure, but in a time when people have little (if any) truly discretionary income, the Pioneer SP-FS52 overcomes all objections by being affordable, and not being so at the expense of overall sound quality. If nothing else, a speaker like SP-FS52 gets new blood to invest into this hobby so that down the road, these people may choose to move more up market, which is something that a lot of lifestyle-oriented products and even soundbars don't do. If I were new to this hobby and wanted to try my hand at building a home theater but didn't want to go broke should things not work out, I'd start by taking a serious look at the Pioneer SP-FS52 floor-standing loudspeaker. Highly recommended.

Additional Resources
Read more floorstanding speaker reviews by the writers at HomeTheaterReview.com.
Explore pairing options in our Subwoofer Review section.
See amplifiers in our Amplifier Review section.

  • Mike Duncan
    2021-07-01 13:10:04

    Great review Andrew on these Pioneer 52s. I just got a pair yesterday (499.99 🇨🇦) took em out of the box plugged em in and... well the 2 bottom drivers had little to no bass at all. Gr8 mids and highs tho. Would you say this is an issue on Pioneers end or do theses speakers really put out that little or pour amount of bass? I D.J. also and hooked them up to my equipment to try and make the most out of the sound they could "dance to" but no dice. Should I ship them back and shop for something else or give these a second a chance? Thnx look 4ward to your reply. Cheers Mike D

  • Adrienne Maxwell
    2017-02-22 21:16:45

    Sorry, but Andrew is no longer with the publication.

  • jonboy
    2017-02-22 20:31:46

    Hi Andrew. I love reading your reviews and I hope you're still replying to questions to these Pioneer speakers. I'm really stuck between the Pioneer setup vs the Polk RTiA setup. I would be pairing the system with the SVS PB 2000 for my subwoofer in a 2,000 cubic foot room. This is primarily for HT. I want something with some nice clarity, good highs, and dynamic sound. If you had to choose between Pioneer FS52 for fronts, BS22s as surrounds, and SP-C22 as center channel....vs the Polk RTiA3 for fronts, CSiA6 for center channel, and polk surrounds, which would you pick and why? I'd love to hear your comparison on the two. Obviously I'm tempted by the Pioneer price tag, which now you can get some very cheap deals. One setup I calculated it being $325 for all speakers, all in mint condition. The Polk would run more closely to around $655. Thanks so much...hoping to hear your feedback!!!

  • John Kadyk
    2015-08-17 22:20:16

    Thanks for the great review. Would these work with my vintage NAD 7220PE receiver? It's only rated at 20w per channel but we know NAD's ratings are notoriously low. If the 7220PE can't drive them I'm considering buying the NAD C 316BEE amp based on what I've heard about it. Alternatively, maybe getting a pair of Polk R300's to go with my 7220PE. Thanks for any input!

  • gwDisqus1712
    2015-02-17 21:41:47

    It's no concern on a LED but you can wrap it in lead.

  • AudioLover32
    2014-02-11 20:07:48

    Check out these babies https://fluance.com/product/XL7F_High_Performance_Three_way_Floorstanding_Loudspeakers.eng-7.html

  • Elvis A. Yu
    2014-01-22 11:34:07

    what amp would you pair with these 5.1?

  • Guest
    2013-10-13 10:35:49

    Magnetic fields only affect CRT's. Your LED TV will be fine.

  • Goamit10
    2013-08-29 07:09:38

    The speakers are not magnetically shielded and that can cause issues to my LED TV. What in your view, could be a reason to give this important feature, or requirement I wish to say, a miss. I love these speakers and would be buying soon. Can you pls advise how would I overcome this problem. Thx

  • Crew96
    2013-06-08 21:53:46

    Hi, I am a newbie with HT in that I don't know how to do the set-up and tweaking of the system, but am pretty picky about sound quality. In other words, it is very important to me that the sound is excellent, but I lack the skills and fine-tuning knowledge to really get it there. This is even more apparent with all of the options/control-ability I now have with my new system. I just upgraded my receiver and speakers with two FS52's in the front, two BS22-LR's as my surrounds, the C22 as the center and the 8MK2 sub, with a Denon AVR 3313CI. I'm finding conflicting information about whether to set the speakers as "large" or "small" and also what crossovers to use. Some say to call the 52's "small" and set crossover somewhere between 60-80 Hz, while others suggest "large" with that same range of crossover. I have the same question with the BS22's, as I've seen a mix of suggesting calling them large or small and also on what to select for the crossover. One of the comments I saw was that you want to call the 52's "small" to relieve the amp in the receiver from having to do the work and instead let the powered amp in the sub do it. With my AVR not being underpowered, do I not have to worry about "relieving" the amp in the receiver? I would really appreciate any suggestions or thoughts you had on these settings with this specific receiver’s capabilities. Audyssey calibration puts them all at "small" and sets the crossover at 60Hz for all of them. If it makes a difference with this particular question, my listening position on the couch is about 12 feet from the FS52's (The actual room is 16 feet from front wall to back wall, 10 feet wide with a 9 foot ceiling.) One other side question: I have the surrounds on either side of the couch, pointing directly inward at ear level. Because of the height of the back of the couch, I can't have them behind me without the the speaker having to be so high that the bottom of the speaker is level with the top of my head...do you have any thoughts on placing surrounds next to, facing in towards the listening position vs behind and above the listening position? Is it more important to have them at ear level? Thank you so very much!

  • wacokidmike
    2013-05-04 09:18:09

    I'm looking for your opinion only. How do the Andrew Jones fronts, center, and surrounds compare to Klipsch RB 41 II bookshelf, RC42 II center, and RS 41 II surrounds? The Klipsch are more expensive, but are they also better sounding speakers. What's your take them Andrew, if you please?

  • Bncprf
    2013-03-04 20:12:27

    I just received a pair of the FS52 towers and hooked them up to an HK 3490 and an Oppo bluray as a bedroom system. Shocked at how good the sound is for the money! Great to see value like this from Pioneer.

  • Andrew Robinson
    2013-02-21 14:56:56

    Unfortunately I have no direct knowledge regarding the Polks you mentioned, though I've been impressed with the brand for several years so I have no reason to believe that they're not exceptional performers for the money. But I can't really give you anything else other than my general opinion. My apologies.

  • Craig
    2013-02-21 05:43:08

    Helpful review! Andrew, have you listened to Polk Audio TSi300s? I found a review of them here, but not by you specifically. I'm interested because they're in the same price range -- and I like the look of the Polks quite a bit more. I've read some good things, but the HTR review wasn't as favorable as your take on these by Pioneer.

  • Jimmy Lui
    2013-02-19 08:33:06

    Heya Andrew, I haven't bought the Pioneers yet. I'm still waiting on a decent price drop on this set. Off topic a bit, I've noticed you have also reviewed Panasonic SC-HTB20 soundbar system. I'm planning to buy that set for my bedroom. I'm not sure if I should ask you on this page or on the other page, but anyhow, a quick question on the cables needed. The system would be connecting with a Panasonic TV with ARC, and a PS3. Do I just need 2 HDMI cables? I've read people saying you also need a optical/toslink cable? Is that necessary? Sorry again for noob questions. I have no problem putting a computer together, but I'm not really an audio systems guy, haha.

  • Andrew Robinson
    2013-02-06 21:52:06

    I don't find the M-Lore's to be bright or fatiguing, but that is me. People put them with tubes not to combat a supposed issue but rather because they're so efficient, which is something tubes (largely) require. I believe the M-Lore will have better bass overall and may even let you get away with not having a sub for a spell in small to medium sized rooms. Much beyond that I think you're on your own to make up your own mind. Love to hear about which speaker you choose. Good luck!

  • Vic
    2013-02-06 20:35:45

    Thank you Andrew for your response and the good review. Yes, I am looking to purchase some floor standers. I listened to the Pioneers at Best Buy. They were on the shelf and not setup the best way. They defintely sounded better than rest of the lot. I think it would sound nicer with better setup and electronics. For some reason the bass seemed a bit lacking. But, overall very pleasant to listen to. I don't have a way to listen to the M-Lores, but most of the reviews seem positive. Since they are more live sounding, do they cause listener fatigue on prolonged listening? Are they somewhat bright? Also, how will the bass sound on them for a mid-sized room. Seemed like more people use them with tubes. i don't currently own tube gear. My budget was around 700 for the speakers and so, I was looking at both of these. Your input and advice is highly appreciated Thanks. -Vic

  • Andrew Robinson
    2013-02-05 15:51:49

    I did review the M-Lores and these two speakers couldn't be more different. On one hand you have the Pioneers which sound very good given their market and price -very and on the other you have the M-Lores, which are much more dynamic and "live" sounding. It comes down to whether or not you prefer a sound that is a bit more laid back, controlled and "speaker sounding" or whether or not you like a faster, more transparent, open "live sound". The M-Lores are the latter though the Pioneers should not be overlooked if you're in the market and like their sound. Ultimately (if you can) demo both and see what works best for your tastes. Good luck!

  • Vic
    2013-02-05 03:38:19

    Hi, Thanks for the review. I think you reviewed the tekton M-lores. Can you shed some light on how these compare to that.

  • Andrew Robinson
    2013-01-31 07:04:47

    Jimmy, It's all good my friend. With regards to power, the more the better in my opinion, though just because a receiver says it has 100-Watts doesn't mean it does per se. Though, for instance with Harman, their products tend to be listed more in the 65 to 75-Watts per channel range and while that may sound like a "bad" thing it's still okay. The Pioneers do like a bit of power but they won't sound horrible with today's crop of modern AV receivers at any budget. If you can find an AV receiver within your budget that also has preamp outputs then I'd do that as it would give you an upgrade path down the road if you find you would like a bit more power. If you have more questions feel free to keep 'em coming.

  • Jimmy Lui
    2013-01-31 04:22:22

    Thanks for your quick reply, I wasn't expecting that, really appreciated =). Anyways, being a newbie, questions do persist, I hope you understand =P I have another question regarding wattage. I was reading your review and you have mentioned: "Also, despite being marketed to the AV receiver crowd, the SP-FS52s need a fair amount of juice to do their thing - I'd say at least 100 if not 120 watts per, if you've got it." Does that mean when I look for a receiver, I need to look for ones where it list as 100 x 5? I've seen receivers list as less than 100 watts per channel. There are some only have 50 watts, some with 65 or 80 watts per channel only. Should I avoid them and just focus in looking only at receivers with 100 watts per channel? Sorry for the question again and thanks for your insights. I have no experience putting my own system. The only experience I have is a home theater in a box and I want to upgrade it. Do you mind giving me your email address so I don't have to bombard this comments page? =p Thanks again and I will wait for your reply.

  • Andrew Robinson
    2013-01-30 19:26:25

    Jimmy, First, welcome! I'll do my best to help though some of my suggestions are not based on first hand experience but rather historical precedent. If it were me I'd stick with the Pioneer system reviewed above if it fits within your budget for it is truly remarkable given how inexpensive it is. I wouldn't even change the sub if this is your first go-round with home theater as it's fine, plus you don't have anything to compare it to. The Polk could be overkill for your needs? Why spend more if you don't have to as it seems you're on a tight budget. If after a week or two you feel you need more bass then take the Pioneer sub back and then look into getting the Polk or something else. Make sense? As for your receiver question, I'm partial to Onkyo myself though I'd urge you to look at Harman Kardon and Sony too -if they're in your budget. It's not that Yamaha or even Denon are bad, they're not, I just personally prefer Onkyo/Integra, Harman and Sony at present. Good luck! If there is anything else I can help you with please don't hesitate to ask. Thanks for reading and for your question.

  • Jimmy Lui
    2013-01-30 00:22:56

    Hey Andrew Sorry to bother you, but I'm new to the home theater scene and I'm looking to build a budget home theater system to watch movies and listen to music in my mid-sized living room. After thorough research on budget speakers, I came down to this Pioneer package (front/sub/bookshelf/center, etc) vs the Energy Classic 5.1s, and I'm leaning towards this package. The question I have is that since I'm a newbie to home theater, I'm stuck choosing a budget receiver to power this Pioneer package of speakers. What is your recommendations? My budget is around $250 or less if possible, $300 max. I was looking at maybe: Onkyo TX-NR414, or Yamaha RX-V373, or Yamaha RX-V473, or Denon AVR-1513 or Pioneer VSX-1022-K. Or maybe you have one in mind that fits my budget that is even better than those? Also, is it better to replace the sub with Polk PSW-10? Would appreciate your help, thanks in advance.

  • joey
    2013-01-18 03:47:54

    the vocals definitely seemed to be coming from a seated .. <a title=CD4017 href=https://www.hqew.net/product-data/CD4017 target=_blank>CD4017</a>

  • Andrew Robinson
    2013-01-15 21:33:50

    I really started to like Kevon Manuel because of his love of one Andrew Robinson. :) Thanks Kevon and Hardened_Skeptic for your kind words. I appreciate it. I'm actually working with a few pro companies now , as well as PC firms, to try and bridge the gaps even better. Good is good, whatever its form. Thanks again guys!

  • NewYorkBlack
    2013-01-15 19:08:03

    One of the main reason I started to really like HTR was because of Andrew and his stance on Pro gear in the home.. You have a guy who owns B&W, Parasound, JL Audio, etc, etc, so he has the good stuff. But he is not one of the preppy audiophiles with some Kimber Kables sticking out of his anus. I get the picture, if it's a good product then he'll recommend it - Pro Audio, High-end, Cheap, or whatever. And, he'll soon own Emotiva gear :D.. (I had to put that in)

  • hardened_skeptic
    2013-01-15 17:51:27

    I really enjoying seeing reviews of products like this. I sincerely hope that Pioneer makes some effort to promote these as just a "nice pair of speakers to build a value priced system around" too as, like you've done here, it may be best to sort of politely decline the "sub" as there almost certainly better units available from some of the specialized direct-to-consumer firms that are well known for the value they can deliver... I also find it interesting that the "mix & match" nature of using sound reinforcement equipment from firms like Crown & Behringer WOULD be very easy to pull off at a local Best Buy as many do have the "musical instrument & DJ" type equipment but I have NEVER heard that suggestion from either the instrument specialists NOR the "Magnolia trained" guys. Honestly Andrew you should try to use your connections to get this sort of mindset adopted by the BB execs and the whole industry could benefit...

  • Andrew Robinson
    2013-01-14 21:09:13

    I think you'll like the next couple of speaker reviews I have lined up. They're not floorstanding but rather bookshelf speakers but all retail for WAY less than $500/pair meaning I'm putting together complete 5.1 systems for a little over $500 and reviewing them against cost no object components. Stay tuned...

  • kevon27
    2013-01-14 20:42:29

    I think one major mistake people make about speakers is that they under power them. If all you do is play music or movies at whisper quiet volumes, your standard receiver will do. But if you like things loud and what dynamics, you'll need to apply the power. Especially in multi-channel configs. Personally I believe whatever your speaker manufacture recommends as the maxium power you should apply to the speakers, you should try to get at least double that for the best performance. I would like to see HTR do a shootout of dirt cheap speakers which perform like multi-thousand dollar speakers. See. I'm a cheap bastard and REFUSE to spend more than $500 for a pair of floorstanding speakers. Seriously, music and movies ain't all that important to put myself in debt just to hear the extra inner detail of my favorite song. I don't need to hear that cow bell being struck ever so gently by the drummer in the distance of any song. If my speakers can't resolve and bring out those types of detail, so be it..

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