Price Paid:  $40.00 from From a friend (he bo

Summary:
Overall they soud good, but indeed; with a sub sounds much better.

Strengths:
Very crispy highs.

Weaknesses:
What a surprisse! you guys are talking about mid-range speaker having no sound?
I opened both of them and guess what, the lower speakers from both towers were fake> fake? yes believe it or not.
No wonder I even bought a new AV Receiver thinking that,
Becarful who you buy them from. I am sorry for my friend, he really got scammed because he bought them brand new. I feel ok you know I just paid a low price because we are good friends, and he wanted to hook me up with better speaker for my system.

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Price Paid:  $200.00 from king of trade (used)

Summary:
Well this review might be a little bias having purchased these used and getting them for half price of new. However it hasn't taken me long after playing some ps2/ watching a couple of movies, and listening to quite a few cd's through my dvd player, to come to the decision that these speakers are NICE!

Strengths:
I'd have to say the strength of these towers is the broad range of frequencies that are produced. Pioneer has done a great job of crossing over the ranges with all 4 speakers that make up each side. Very crisp but not raspy in anyway. Vocals are crazy true. The imageing comes through in how the artists must have meant the sound to be heard in ranges of volume through the instruments being introduced through-out the songs duration.

Weaknesses:
Yes, because there is only a 6.5" woofer, bass is a little shallow at low volume. Have no fear though, as soon as you turn up the volume, the bass does seem to grow at a nice appropriate balance to the incredible mids and highs. Durable rubbers surrounds on the woofers will allow for a little more pounding as well.

Price Paid:  $65.00 from ebay

Summary:
Got a refurbed set off of ebay. They sounded okay, but not that great. Finally got around to running a few tests and found out that there was no sound coming from the midrange (same as review #1). Pioneer had the drivers wired wrong. The midrange and the tweeter were reversed. Re-wired and now they sound 100% better. Sound coming from both mid-range & tweeter). Also have the pioneer 253's as a center channel (refurbed off of ebay also - direct from pioneer) which were reversed also.

Strengths:
Great speakers for the price.

Weaknesses:
As mentioned in the other reviews, not much bass, but with a decent sub-woofer these sound great.

Similar Products Used:
Polk, JBL, KLH.

Price Paid:  $140.00 from Circuit City

Summary:
Great highs but very poor lows -
subs are must - but even after cranking the cut-over for bass from both - receiver and sub to 200Hz, it was not enough. I suspect that meaningful low frequency response starts from approx. 500Hz. What a shame Pioneer - why build a speaker like this?
Also, the midrange does not seem to be working at all!
Overall, good value for money - but what would you buy a dvd-audio/super-audio ready speaker whose lack of lows can't be compensated with even a good sub.

Strengths:
Very clear and crisp highs.

Weaknesses:
1. Very poor lows/bass - could not compensate with sub too.
2. Mid-range not working???

Price Paid:  $216.00 from Circuit Schitty

Summary:
This is a great speaker for DVD/Home theater use. It lacks low end so a sub is a must for realistic effects. Overall a great speaker for the money. The highs and mids are very clear.

Strengths:
Low Price
Clear

Weaknesses:
Not Much Base

Similar Products Used:
Warfedale Emerald 97(these kick ass)