Полочная акустика — Acoustic Energy AE500

The AE500 is the single standmount in the 500 Series, alongside the AE509 and AE520 floorstanders. It follows the AE100 and AE300 and moves up in materials and cabinet finish, with carbon fibre drivers designed to equal the rigid piston motion of the brand's ceramic aluminium units while adding more self-damping.

Key specs that matter

In its two-way configuration, a 125 mm carbon fibre cone mid/bass unit works with a 25 mm carbon fibre dome tweeter, the two sharing the band at 2.8 kHz. Rated response is 45 Hz to 28 kHz within plus or minus 6 dB, a sensitivity of 87 dB, a peak output of 113 dB SPL, power handling of 120 watts and a nominal impedance of 6 ohms. Each speaker measures 310 x 185 x 260 mm (height, width, depth) and weighs 8 kg. Cabinets come in American walnut wood veneer or in a piano gloss surface of either white or black, and all three finishes are also listed for the AE509 and AE520.

Engineering and use context

The woofer uses an oversized 35 mm voice coil for low thermal compression and a high motor force factor, with the motor and suspension optimised for linearity. The carbon fibre tweeter dome is lighter and better damped than typical hard dome materials, according to Acoustic Energy. Its WDT waveguide is a cast aluminium part positioned near the woofer for controlled dispersion, and its rigidity limits vibration reaching the tweeter. At critical points in the filter network, air core inductors and film capacitors of polypropylene rated for high voltage are fitted. The drivers sit in an 18 mm Resonance Suppression Composite cabinet evolved from the Reference Series, using the same constrained-layer build to reduce panel radiation. Slim cloth grilles attach magnetically.

Pairing

A solid-state integrated amplifier of moderate power suits this load, kept within the handling rating. Acoustic Energy intends the AE500 for speaker stands or bookshelves, and the AE509 and AE520 share its tweeter and driver technology, as well as its 6 ohm nominal rating, for a matched front stage in a larger system. The AE520 moves to a three-way layout with two midrange units in their own sealed enclosure and three low frequency drivers loaded by a large rear port.

Alternatives

The Acoustic Energy AE300² is the stand-mount from the 300 Series, built around a 120 mm paper and coconut fibre driver and a 29 mm fabric dome tweeter.