Напольная акустика — Acoustic Energy AE309

The Acoustic Energy AE309 is a slim-line floorstanding loudspeaker from the original 300 Series of the British maker, which marked its 30 years in audio at the time of the launch. Acoustic Energy placed it above the equivalent 100 Series tower, with higher performance and better finish, and intended it for medium and large rooms. The UK price was GBP 1,149 per pair in gloss black or gloss white and GBP 1,249 per pair in walnut. The model was later succeeded by the AE309², which moved to a constrained-layer cabinet and paper and coconut fibre cones.

Key specs that matter

This passive tower follows a 2.5-way layout with two 130 mm mid-bass units and a 28 mm aluminium tweeter. Acoustic Energy quotes a bandwidth of 38 Hz to 30 kHz, a sensitivity of 89 dB and a nominal impedance of 6 ohm. Power handling is rated at 175 W, and the stated peak SPL is 115 dB. Each cabinet measures 900 mm in height, 175 mm in width and 280 mm in depth, and weighs 22 kg. Buyers could choose piano gloss black, piano gloss white or a satin real walnut veneer, and cloth grilles are supplied.

Engineering and use context

Both woofers use a newly developed ceramic and aluminium sandwich cone with an ultra-shallow profile, driven by a long-throw motor with high force, which the company credits with better dispersion, deeper bass extension and higher power handling. The first crossover point at 296 Hz divides the low range between the two units, and the tweeter takes over at 2.56 kHz. That aluminium dome was developed for the 300 Series with high power handling and a low fundamental resonance intended to reduce distortion. It sits in a Wide Dispersion Technology waveguide that shapes its output to match the woofers and widens the usable listening area. The 18 mm high-density MDF enclosure uses bracing derived from the company's Reference Series. A slot-shaped duct port on the rear panel was developed to reduce air turbulence, and the base is pre-loaded with an inert mass that adds damping. Together with 8 mm floor spikes, this mass loading keeps the slim tower stable and stops cabinet resonance from interacting with the floor surface.

Pairing

The moderate impedance and good efficiency form an easy load for stereo integrated amplifiers of moderate output. For a home cinema layout the earlier AE307 LCR speaker from the same range could fill the centre channel.

Alternatives

Acoustic Energy's current AE320² is a bigger three-way tower of the 300 Series with a 200 W rating.