Pioneer Bookshelf Home Theater Speaker System Designed by Andrew Jones - Review

Shopping for loudspeakers can be tough. Speaker prices don't always relate to how good or bad specific speakers really are, the proof is in the listening. If you are looking speakers to complement both your movie and music listening experience, check out the great sounding compact and affordable Pioneer 5.1 Channel Home Theater Speaker System designed by noted speaker designer, Andrew Jones. The system provided for this review consists of a SP-C21 center channel speaker, 4 SP-BS41-LR bookshelf satellite speakers, and a compact SW-8 8-inch powered subwoofer. After reading this review, also check out my Photo Gallery.

Here are the features and specifications of the SP-C21 Center Channel Speaker:

1. Frequency Response: 55Hz to 20KHz.

2. Sensitivity: 87dB (represents how loud the speaker is at a distance of one meter with an input of one watt).

3. Impedance: 6 ohms. (can be used with amplifiers that have 8 ohm speaker connections)

4. Dual 5 1/4 inch Woofer/Midrange, 1 inch Tweeter.

5. Power Handling: 130 watts maximum.

6. Crossover Frequency: 2.5KHz (represents the point where frequencies higher than 2.5KHz are sent to the tweeter).

7. Weight: 16 lbs 3 oz.

8. Dimensions: 7-1/8 inches (W) x 12-5/8 inches (H) x 8-1/16 inches (D).

9. Finish: Black.

10> Suggested Price: $79.99 each.

Here are the features and specifications of the Satellite Speakers:

1. Frequency Response: 55Hz to 20KHz.

2. Sensitivity: 85 dB (represents how loud the speaker is at a distance of one meter with an input of one watt).

3. Impedance: 6 ohms (can be used with amplifiers that have 8 ohm speaker connections).

4. Drivers: 5 1/4 inch Woofer/Midrange, 1 inch Tweeter, Rear Port.

5. Power Handling: 130 watts maximum.

6. Crossover Frequency: (represents the point where frequencies higher than 2.5 KHz are sent to the tweeter).

7. Weight: 10 lbs 5 oz each.

8. 7-8/8 (W) x 13-3/4 (H) x 8-11/16 (D) inches.

9. Mounting options: On shelf.

10. Finish Options: Black.

11. Suggested Price: $199.99 per pair.

1. Driver: Bass Reflex design with 8-inch downfiring driver with and port.

2. Frequency Response: 38Hz to 150Hz (LFE - Low Frequency Effects).

3. Crossover Frequency: 40Hz to 150Hz (adjustable).

4. Power Output: 100 watts Maximum (50 Watts FTC rating).

5. Phase: Switchable to Normal (0) or Reverse (180 degrees) - synchronizes in-out motion of sub speaker with in-out motion of other speakers in system.

6. Connections: 1 set of stereo RCA Line inputs (low level), 1 set of Speaker connections (high level).

7. Power: On/Auto/Standby.

8. Dimensions: 12-3/16 inches (W) x 14-3/16 inches (H) x 12-3/16 inches (D).

9. Weight: 20lbs 4oz.

10. Finish: Black.

11. Suggested Price: $149.99 each.

For a look at the speakers, subwoofer, and their connections and control options, check out my supplementary Pioneer 5.1 Channel Speaker System Photo Gallery.

Additional Hardware Used in This Review

Home Theater Receivers: Onkyo TX-SR708 (on review loan), Harman Kardon AVR147.

Blu-ray Disc Player: OPPO Digital BDP-83.

DVD Player: OPPO DV-980H DVD Player

Note: The OPPO BDP-83 and DV-980H were also used to play SACD and DVD-Audio discs.

CD-only Player sources included: Technics SL-PD888 and Denon DCM-370 5-disc CD Changers.

Loudspeaker/Subwoofer System 1 (5.1 channels): 2 Klipsch F-2's, 2 Klipsch B-3s, Klipsch C-2 Center , Klipsch Synergy Sub10.

Loudspeaker/Subwoofer System 2 (5.1 channels): EMP Tek E5Ci center channel speaker, four E5Bi compact bookshelf speakers for left and right main and surrounds, and an ES10i 100 watt powered subwoofer.

TV/Monitor: A Westinghouse Digital LVM-37w3 1080p LCD Monitor.

Level checks made using a Radio Shack Sound Level Meter

Additional Software Used in This Review

Blu-ray Discs used included scenes from from the following: Across The Universe, Avatar, Hairspray, Iron Man 1&2, Kick Ass, Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, Shakira - Oral Fixation Tour, Sherlock Holmes, The Expendables, The Dark Knight, Tropic Thunder, and Transporter 3

Standard DVDs used included scenes from the following: The Cave, House of the Flying Daggers, Kill Bill - Vol 1/2, Kingdom of Heaven (Director's Cut), Lord of Rings Trilogy, Moulin Rouge, and U571.

CDs: Al Stewart - A Beach Full of Shells and Uncorked, Beatles - LOVE, Blue Man Group - The Complex, Joshua Bell - Bernstein - West Side Story Suite, Eric Kunzel - 1812 Overture, HEART - Dreamboat Annie, Nora Jones - Come Away With Me, Sade - Soldier of Love.

DVD-Audio discs included: Queen - Night At The Opera/The Game, Eagles - Hotel California, and Medeski, Martin, and Wood - Uninvisible.

SACD discs used included: Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon, Steely Dan - Gaucho, The Who - Tommy.

Proceed to Page 2: Audio Performance, Pros/Cons, and Final Take.