Bookshelf Speakers — Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary

The Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary is a reissue of the AE1 stand-mount speaker, the model with which Acoustic Energy was launched in the late 1980s and which was used in recording studios as well as home systems. None of the original parts remain in production, so every component was redeveloped to recapture the original's character with modern improvements, and the crossover was voiced for domestic listening rather than studio monitoring.

Key specs that matter

A 29 mm aluminium dome tweeter joins a 125 mm spun aluminium mid/bass driver with a ceramic coating, and the crossover point is 2.8 kHz. Frequency range is 50 Hz to 45 kHz, sensitivity is 87 dB and nominal impedance is 6 ohms, with power handling of 150 W. The cabinet is 295 mm tall, 180 mm wide and 255 mm deep and weighs 7 kg.

Engineering and use context

The tweeter's 29 mm voice coil carries a slightly larger dome than the usual 25 mm, and the greater radiating area reduces distortion. An ultra-shallow dome profile extends bandwidth, while a large rear chamber lowers the fundamental resonance and absorbs rear energy. As in the original, the tweeter is ferrofluid cooled and damped. The mid/bass keeps the straight-sided aluminium cone of the first AE1, formed by spinning rather than the more usual pressing, and a thick hard-anodised ceramic layer on both sides turns it into a stiff sandwich. The new cone is slightly larger than before to conform to modern 125 mm standards, giving more efficiency and air movement. A thermally conductive aluminium voice coil works in a powerful motor with an aluminium shorting ring, which cuts the distortion caused by changes in coil inductance as the coil moves. With a 5 ohm DC resistance, the driver makes the speaker easier to drive than the original 7 ohm design, which needed muscular amplifiers. The low-order crossover takes inspiration from the original Signature version. The cabinet is made of Acoustic Energy's RSC material, which replicates the stiffness of the old concrete-lined enclosures without their production drawbacks, and twin front ports have a subtle internal flare. Finishes are ten layers of gloss black or walnut veneer.

Pairing

The moderate sensitivity calls for a capable amplifier of 50 W or more. The speaker suits rooms of 12 to 25 m2.

Alternatives

Acoustic Energy's AE100 belongs to the cheaper 100 Series and is likewise a stand-mount design.