Напольная акустика — Acoustic Energy AE120

The AE120, currently listed by Acoustic Energy as the AE120², is a slim three-way tower in the 100 Series. It is a slim-line floorstander built as a true three-way design, with twin bass units and a midrange cone housed in a separate internal chamber, with a choice of black or walnut vinyl veneer.

Key specs that matter

Drive units are 130 mm paper cones for bass and midrange, joined by a 25 mm fabric dome tweeter. Crossover points are 300 Hz and 2.7 kHz. Response is specified from 39 Hz to 26 kHz, a sensitivity of 89 dB, a peak output of 116 dB SPL, power handling of 200 watts and a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. The cabinet is 950 mm high, 165 mm wide and 295 mm deep, growing to 195 mm wide and 315 mm deep with the plinth, and each speaker weighs 19 kg. Floor spikes screw into M8 threaded inserts in the base.

Engineering and use context

For this generation the 100 Series takes cues from the 500 Series, with mid/bass drivers moved closer to the tweeter. HDF allows thinner cabinet walls with no loss of mass or stiffness, which increases internal volume for little change in external size. The separate midrange enclosure is intended to limit the effect of rear wave reflections on that driver. The tweeter was developed together with the 100 Series bass driver, uses a high-power neodymium motor and is set within a Wide Dispersion Technology waveguide. The bass and midrange drivers were developed with a long excursion, high power motor, and their doped paper cones allow a higher crossover point to the tweeter. The three-way crossover is impedance compensated and designed with attention to phase and time alignment. The enclosure uses 15 mm HDF with tuned internal bracing and is supplied mass loaded to damp cabinet vibration, as is the smaller AE109². A rear slot port with a newly tooled vent smooths airflow and reduces chuffing, and a satin black plinth adds stability. Slim cloth grilles attach magnetically.

Pairing

With its 8 ohm load and high sensitivity, the AE120 places a light demand on amplifiers, and its power handling allows use with more powerful units as well. Within the 100 Series the AE107² centre and AE105 wall speaker allow the same drivers to be used across a multichannel setup.

Alternatives

The Acoustic Energy AE109² is the smaller 100 Series floorstander, a 2.5-way design with two paper-cone mid/bass drivers and a soft dome tweeter.