Help me choose between these Speakers. PLS

That is a good deal, except sometimes the BS21 shows up cheaper
on NewEgg. >> I would still aim for a different subwoofer, if there is
room in he budget.

The Dayton sub is up to you (a good price), and some people like it. However not for me.

They are a solid performer, and the smaller BS22 measured better, over the bigger
BS41 speakers in the bass department. The Phase 2 speakers are not a wimp, and
they can get loud. Also, the C22 had a lower -3 db bass point over the C21.

The problem with the Pioneer speakers is that their low sensitivity is a bad match for the typical lower-priced receiver that they will be used with. This is a major problem, as it will result in distortion at relatively modest sound levels. It takes too much power to drive them to home theater sound levels, and less-expensive receivers do not have it.

The Polk RM705 is not too bad, but the Energy Take system is pure crap IMO; the front speakers are way too small and the so-called subwoofer is a useless joke! I have seen dozens of posts by people who are sorry they bought it.

If you could spend around $300, the Martin-Logan MLT-2 system is far better than any of the above IMO. It has a much better subwoofer, the front speakers are large enough to give adequate performance, and it is priced quite low right now, considering its quality and performance. I don't know of any other 5.1 packaged system that will give decent performance for much under $500.

Another possibility would be combining the Jamo 5.0 system with the Polk PSW505 subwoofer, which I have seen for as low as $180.

You haven't said whether you have a receiver or plan to buy one. The Onkyo TX-NR414 is one that I would suggest if you don't have one yet. It is under $300 at Amazon and has a lot going for it.
Edited by commsysman - 12/3/12 at 12:45pm

That is a good price; $50 better than Amazon right now.

I haven't seen it that low before.

So how many watts per channel do you think is needed to push the pioneers to their full power, 90? 100? 110?

As I am sure you know, many receivers can't even put out 50 watts per channel when all 5 channels are driven. A receiver that claims more power for TWO channels frequently falls on its ass when asked to drive 5 channels (or 7). Read the actual power tests done by Home Theater magazine and you will see.

Power peaks, though, often take 20 times the average operating power, so it is easy to cause amplifier clipping and distortion on peaks with low-sensitivity speakers. The actual power level where clipping occurs varies dramatically among receivers with similar manufacturer ratings, which are usually dishonest and contrived to mislead the consumer.

A speaker like the Pioneers, at 86 db/watt sensitivity, takes twice the power of a speaker rated for 89 db/watt. Why buy a speaker that takes 2 or 3 times as much power to give the same performance compared to a more typical speaker with better sensitivity? It doesn't make much sense to me.
Edited by commsysman - 12/3/12 at 1:03pm

I have actually owned/own the Pioneer speakers - and I can play them loud in a 20 X 30 room. >
Now if you want to buy something small for smaller sound, > like them MLT- 2 satellite speakers,
then that is up to you.

An efficient receiver, like the Denon 1612 receiver - can drive the Pioneers.

There is nothing particularly "efficient" about the 1612 receiver. You don't seem to understand what that word means when applied to an amplifier or receiver.

The 1612 DOES, however, put out very good power relative to its specifications, according to the lab tests performed by Home Theater magazine.

Its specifications are much closer to reality than most other receivers.

One extreme example of manufacturer deception that I remember is a $3000 receiver from Anthem that didn't put out anywhere near as much power as the Denon 1612, which sells for less than $300. A real serious ripoff there!

The reason I ask is because I have this reciever http://www.us.onkyo.com/model.cfm?m=TX-NR616&class=Receiver&p=f and was just wondering if it could handle the pioneers?

Yes it can work fine.

Note that Amazon is not an authorized retailer for Pioneer home audio/video (but oddly it is for DJ equipment). This means no warranty. You can buy from the authorized online dealers here. Unless speakers count as DJ equipment?

[Edit] If you are buying used then I guess that does not matter. Have you read the thread on the pioneers (search forum for Andrew Jones Pioneer)? Seems like the newer models are better in general, but the amount of difference depends on the speaker model. I wonder if you should get the new BS22 over the older BS41 (not redesigned in 2012 unlike the other models)...has anyone compared them?
Edited by MarsianMan - 12/4/12 at 11:33am