Pioneer SP-FS51-LR Speakers: Andrew Jones

[atomlow]

Has anyone out there that has a lot of experience in speakers heard the Pioneer SP-FS51-LR Speakers: designed by Andrew Jones? http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Home/Speakers/Home+Theater+Speakers/SP-FS51-LR Stereophile just did a review on the Pioneer SP-BS41-LR speakers. http://www.stereophile.com/content/pioneer-sp-bs41-lr-loudspeaker

I would love to know your thoughts, thanks!

[atomlow]

I'm asking because I bought a pair of these speakers and I have to say after "breaking them in" they have really opened up and are a joy to listen to. The reason I was asking is because I haven't listened to that many "audiophile" speakers.

I did have a friend stop by to listen to them. He isn't an audiophile doesn't know the lingo but loves music. I played him Beck Sea Change Mobile Fidelity pressing and Muddy Waters Folk Singer Chess pressing and a few others. He asked me what is that sound when listening to the first track on Sea Change, and I said that's just a sound in the recording. He said oh I hadn't noticed that before.

After we got done listening I asked him what he thought about the speakers, he said they sounded nice and started to describe things I hear people talk about all the time with good speakers "audiophile speakers". He said, "I didn't really hear the speakers I just heard the music the way it was supposed to be heard." "I just heard music". I asked him if he'd ever read people talk about speakers that way and he said no. I told him that's how people describe good speakers, just the way he'd described them.

These speakers are fantastic and I hate to say it but Mazy Stars CD So Tonight I Might See also sounds amazing through these pioneers. At this price my speaker ocd is over thank you very much!

[atomlow]

Has anyone had a chance to listen to these Pioneer speakers?

[jason00454]

I have... and they sound very good. Of course, a lot of people are going to think otherwise, especially because of the price. I've had these speakers for about a year now, and I'm still enjoying them. I think the sound is very natural.. not harsh or muddy. They might seem kind of "laid back" sounding at first, but I've grown to love the sound...accurate and non-fatiguing. I use a pair of the 51's for my 2 channel setup, primarily for listening to music. I've had the chance to listen to some very nice and very expensive speakers over the years, and sure... you could find a better sounding speaker if money isn't an issue, but these very well could change how "budget" speakers sound.

[jason00454]

My only complaint concerning these speakers: I wish I could take the metal grill covers off. I wonder if this is possible?

[bauzace50]

Hi fellows,

congratulations! Those must be all you say, and I send copious blessings that you may enjoy them to the hilt.

do enjoy,
bauzace50

[jason00454]

Thank you bauzace50!

Happy holidays

My Best,
Jason

[atomlow]

Hey someone responded to my Pioneer speaker thread! I haven't checked back in a while. Cedar Falls, IA? I'm in Cedar Rapids, IA - Must just be Iowa guys digging the SP-FS51 speakers. Yeah I don't have any complaints on mine, I love them.

[jason00454]

Hey! Yeah... I'm in Cedar Falls. Iowa's a good place to focus on music, especially during the winter. I'm still loving the Pioneer speakers too.. I honestly can't believe how good they sound. If I ever run into Andrew Jones I'll shake his hand and thank him for taking on this project. Oh... I noticed that you use a Shure M97xE with a Jico needle. Would you say the price for the Jico needle is worth the sound upgrade on that cartridge? I use the M97 too.

[atomlow]

Oh... I noticed that you use a Shure M97xE with a Jico needle. Would you say the price for the Jico needle is worth the sound upgrade on that cartridge? I use the M97 too.

That's a great question. I bought my Jico needle back when it was $125. For that price I think it's worth it. Now it's $175, they might have just priced me out of a replacement when I need one. I'd be interested in trying maybe a Denon DL-103, which isn't much more than the Jico needle.

But, Stelly at Acoustic Sounds told me that the Shure M97xE is a very good cartridge. He told me about the Jico needle, which I tried and I've been very happy with it. Beyond upgrading from a Pioneer PL-112d turntable to the Rega P3-24, the Jico needle has been the best upgrade I've ever done. I think it takes your listening pleasure to the next level. If I switch back to the original Shure needle it seems very dead, the Jico really opens things up and you get a more detailed listening experience. I would love to compare it to other cartridges and needles but you can't buy them, then return cartridges. I don't feel going to a hifi shop really helps because it's not my equipment and it's not my room.

[ogg]

I've been listening to my new SP-FS51 and SW-8 for the past two weeks in a 2.1 system driven by a Harmon Kardon HK3390. These are great sounding speakers for the money. The SP-FS51 were much more natural sounding than the $200-400 Klipsh and Polk tower speakers standing next to them at the Big Box Store. Bass extension is surprisingly good. I often turn the subwoofer off when listening to music. I've been building my own DIY speakers off and on for the past 15 or so years so and had the test equipment on hand to create an impedance plot. There is a substantial peak around 3Khz, confirmed with a quick frequency sweep test disc and a SPL meter. There is no doubt some room reinforecement going on at that frequency but I think improving the crossover will be in order. Time to dig out the old reference books.

[jason00454]

Thanks for your input atomlow. I've been on the fence about spending the money on the Jico stylus. It used to be available for $125? It's been up in the 170's since I heard about it, but if the improvement is there over the original shure stylus I might just spend the money. Your input helps.

[jason00454]

Hey ogg, Sounds like we have the same setup as as far as amp and speakers go. I'm pretty happy with the sound I'm getting from them. Let me know how your crossover improvement goes.

[atomlow]

Thanks for your input atomlow. I've been on the fence about spending the money on the Jico stylus. It used to be available for $125? It's been up in the 170's since I heard about it, but if the improvement is there over the original shure stylus I might just spend the money. Your input helps.

I just looked up how much the Jico needle was when I bought it. Here are the details. I placed the order on 2/17/2011:

Jico S.A.S replacement for Shure N97xE needle stylus 1 $129.95
Shipping: US Postal Service / UPS Ground within US: $7.98
Sales Tax: $0.00

I'd be curious what ogg is going to do with the crossover too. That's one of the areas Andrew Jones focused heavily on because he mentioned most entry level speakers always have bad crossovers, I'd assume that that is one thing Andrew spent a great deal of time on to make them sound much better than most speakers in their class.