The SP-FS52 LRs are the floor standing speakers included in Pioneer’s SP-PK52FS speaker package. If you are piecing together an entire home entertainment system and looking for good speakers, you can buy all matching Pioneer speakers in this package deal, but you can also purchase the floor standing speakers on their own. The SP-FS52 LRs are the most affordable speakers we reviewed, although they are now difficult to find. If you need better audio, we suggest you look at our guide of the best soundbars instead.
Pioneer SP-FS52: What you need to know
When you take off the grille protector, you'll first notice the size of the drivers – these speakers feature three 5.25-inch drivers to handle the low and midrange frequencies. Generally, drivers smaller than 8 inches have a hard time reproducing bass frequencies, and that proved true for the SP-FS52 LRs in our audio-performance tests.
The lack of bass was most evident during our movie-listening tests. The bass response had little attack or presence. We could feel the punch of the bass when we tested competing speakers like the Emotiva T1, but the Pioneer SP-FS52 LRs were underwhelming. They certainly enhanced the low frequencies more than a pair of bookshelf speakers, but for a full cinematic experience, you need to pair these tower speakers with an additional subwoofer.
These speakers excel in reproducing midrange frequencies. This is especially important because the midrange is where vital audio information is found, including most instruments and lyrics in music and the dialogue in movies.
We tested each pair of speakers in our review by playing a variety of songs. The SP-FS52 LRs produced natural sound where frequencies weren’t overemphasized. All the instruments and vocals were clear and spacious, and everything was smooth on the ear, which made for a delightful listening experience.
This set of stereo tower speakers has a sensitivity rating of 87 dB. When you take this spec at face value, it may seem like they don’t convert power to sound efficiently. However, they carry a 6-ohm load, which means they have low resistance to power, making them slightly more efficient than the sensitivity rating initially suggests. Still, they are inefficient compared to the top-rated speakers in our review. It’s important to match your amplifier's power ratings with your speakers’ so you don't damage your components.
This set of Pioneer speakers only comes with a one-year warranty, which starts on the date of purchase. This is a much shorter warranty than those offered with all other speakers in our review – most speakers are covered for five years or longer.
Should you buy the Pioneer SP-FS52?
The Pioneer SP-FS52 LR are a quality, affordable pair of left and right tower speakers. Because their bass presence isn't prominent, you need to add a separate subwoofer to experience the full sound spectrum. That being said, they recreate natural midrange tones that contribute to great-sounding music and movies.
