Pioneer SP-BS21-LR

[smithnc]

I picked up a pair of the SP-BS21-LR speakers to try in place of my paradigm Atoms. I wanted a little broader baseline to use for comparison as I start to build speakers.

I'm not sure I'm ready to give up the Paradigms for the Pioneers but maybe after they break in.

Compared to the Atoms the Pioneers seem more "open" but sometimes they also seem "boomy" which seems odd becuase at lower volume levels I thought they sounded muffled. Is that contradicting or an aspect of design - a byproduct of a trick used to enhance bass?

I wonder how they will change as they break in. The Pioneers do appear to be an excellent value, especially if you find them on sale.

-Nate

[foxfire3]

Personally, I thought the mids. seemed a little recessed with this line of speakers.

That may be why you find them muffled at lower volumes.

The Pioneers probably have quite a bit of bsc in an attempt to make them sound "bigger" than they really are.

The amount of bass a speaker produces seems to be one of the big deciding factors for many speaker purchasers.

Unfortunately the mids. suffer in an attempt to gain more midbass "boom".

Just my 2 cents...

[GranteedEV]

I'm not sure I'm ready to give up the Paradigms for the Pioneers but maybe after they break in.

They won't. You might adjust to their presentation though.

Compared to the Atoms the Pioneers seem more "open" but sometimes they also seem "boomy" which seems odd becuase at lower volume levels I thought they sounded muffled. Is that contradicting or an aspect of design - a byproduct of a trick used to enhance bass?

That doesn't seem to be in line with this speaker's design / voicing.. it actually sounds more like the Atom based on my experiences.

I suspect what's happening is that they have half an octave of deeper bass extension, which is exciting a ~70hz room mode that the atoms were avoiding. Play around with placement.

As far as muffled at low volumes, that's what happens with a more neutral speaker. It's just the way our hearing works. Speakers with raised treble and bass balance seem clearer at low volumes but fall apart at more realistic volumes. More balanced speakers want to be listened to at more realistic volumes.

[Pallas]

***As far as muffled at low volumes, that's what happens with a more neutral speaker. It's just the way our hearing works. Speakers with raised treble and bass balance seem clearer at low volumes but fall apart at more realistic volumes. More balanced speakers want to be listened to at more realistic volumes.

Which is why, IMO, a good loudness compensation "circuit" (really DSP program in 2012, not analog circuit) that boosts bass/treble/surrounds at low volumes, and progressively tapers off that boost one turns up the wick, is indispensible for those who regularly listen to music at less than its ideal volume level.

Both Audyssey DynamicEQ and the "volume modeler" side of Dolby Volume are, fortunately, quite good. I'd never buy a front end that didn't have one or the other...