Acoustic Energy AE1 Active Speakers

Acoustic Energy AE1 active is a two way bookshelf speaker system with a built-in 100 watt analogue amplifier, balanced inputs and controls. The speakers have been optimized for a perfect match between the amplifier, drivers and fully active filter network.

CERAMIC ALUMINUM CONES

Featuring the legendary Acoustic Energy pure piston ceramic aluminium cone technology, the AE1 powered speakers have all the refinement and impact you would expect from the original award winning AE1. The speakers also feature the proprietary Acoustic Energy aluminium dome tweeter and unique WDT waveguide for improved coverage and room integration. Balanced inputs and optional matching high quality stands finish out this stunning system.

If you are looking for the performance of a floorstanding speaker with a smaller footprint, this is it.

CLASS A/B POWER

Fully bi-amped with 2 x 50watt class A/B amplifiers per speaker, the design offers unrivalled amplifier speaker integration and class leading dynamics. The new Active model offers all the musical insight and detail that has made the AE1 the audiophile’s small speaker of choice for 30 years.

John Darko says:

"the AE1 Active separate themselves for two clear and distinct reasons: 1) the in-speaker amplification is Class A/B throughout with 50 Watts applied to each driver; and 2) the signal path is entirely analogue – no ADC greets the analogue signal entering the speaker via its RCA or XLR socket to turn the signal into ones and zeroes. The all-new AE1 are actives for purists who, rightly or wrongly, turn their nose up at Class D amplification and who, rightly or wrongly, insist that an all-analogue signal path is the only way they’ll hear their existing DAC’s full capabilities."

Key to the success of the AE1 Active design is its unique pure piston ceramic aluminium cone technology. Now in its fifth generation, this 125mm ceramic hard-anodized spun aluminium cone offers exceptional stiffness at low weight. This negates the cone flex and break-up nodes at frequencies typical of paper and plastic cone designs.

The tweeter is an all-new AE designed 27mm metal done unit designed to work in harmony with AE’s Wide Dispersion Technology (WDT) waveguide. The result is perfect integration with the mid/bass driver, with extremely wide and spacious imaging.

WHAT HIFI AE1 5 Stars. See the review here: AE1 Review

Electronically, the AE1 Active is proudly an all-analogue design focused on performance without compromise. This includes wired analogue inputs, both balanced XLR and standard RCA, the highest quality linear power supplies and two pair-matched, high-performance 50Watt Class A/B amplifiers per speaker. While the design team experimented with wireless inputs, switch mode power supplies, Class D amplification and DSP, none delivered the audio performance befitting of a loudspeaker wearing the legendary AE1 badge.

SPECIFICATIONS

Drive Unit: 125mm ceramic aluminium sandwich cone
Tweeter: 25mm aluminium dome
Frequency Range: 42Hz – 28kHz (+/-6dB)
Input Sensitivity: 104dB for 1VRMS @ 1kHz
Peak SPL: 115dB
Maximum SPL: 105dB
Amplifier: Class A/B with linear power supply
Power: 100 watts
Crossover Frequency: 3.5kHz 4th Order Linkwitz-Riley
Inputs: RCA and Balanced XLR
Controls:
Volume adjust 0dB to -inf
HF shelf +/-2dBLF shelf +/-2dB
Power Connection: IEC C13
Voltage: Switchable 110 / 240v 
Design: 2 way active
Cabinet: 18mm MDF with bracing and damping panels
Grills: Slim, cloth magnetic fit
Dimensions: (mm): 300 x 185 x 250 (HxWxD)
Weight: 18kg (pair)
Finishes: Piano Black, Piano White and Piano Walnut real wood veneer