Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary Speakers

In 1987, the speaker world was rocked by the introduction of the Acoustic Energy AE1 —a compact monitor that shook up the norms of the time. The AE1 was a revelation: a small speaker that delivered dynamic range, clarity, and bass response previously only found in much larger speakers.

The original AE1 was born out of a vision to build a compact loudspeaker that delivered uncompromising studio quality. It was a bold departure from the bulky, inefficient designs of the time—and it worked. The AE1 became a staple in both studios and among discerning hi-fi enthusiasts.

Today, decades later, we proudly celebrate 40 years of this groundbreaking loudspeaker by introducing the AE1 40th Anniversary Edition , which brings this heritage into the present with cutting-edge engineering and timeless design.

Redesigning the AE1 was anything but easy.
Not only is it a design classic, but all the original parts had been out of production for some time, so we had to start from scratch.

Since the sound of this loudspeaker and its reputation for very high performance were already firmly established, there was no room for major deviations from the original design. Every component had to be tuned to sound like the original. We gently smoothed out some of the minor flaws along the way – but carefully, so as not to destroy the special character of the original. This loudspeaker had to both impress the many AE1 fans worldwide and appeal to new customers who were unfamiliar with the tradition.

We've allowed ourselves only a few, carefully considered upgrades that don't detract from the original character.
The basic principles, such as a high-mass, high-rigidity cone with straight sides, driven by a high-performance motor (High BL Motor), installed in a small, stable, heavy cabinet with the classic two front bass reflex ports, and complemented by a metal dome tweeter, define this loudspeaker.

A completely new tweeter was specifically designed to match the performance of the long-discontinued original. It features a larger 29 mm voice coil and thus a slightly larger aluminum dome, which reduces distortion due to the larger radiating area compared to the standard 25 mm dome. The dome is very flat, improving bandwidth, and has a large rear chamber that keeps the resonance frequency low and absorbs rearward energy. Like the original, this tweeter is also cooled and damped with ferrofluid, resulting in higher power handling, better dynamics, and lower thermal compression.

The new woofer was also specially designed to achieve the characteristic sound of the original. The new cone is slightly larger, meeting modern 125 mm standards. The larger surface area offers slightly higher efficiency, lower distortion, and can move more air.
The key element of the original woofer was the cone's straight aluminum profile and the rarely used "spinning" manufacturing process (instead of the more common pressing). The cone is then reinforced by a thick, hard-anodized ceramic layer on both sides—making it a kind of sandwich.

Beneath the signature pointed aluminum dust cap, the new woofer also features a thermally conductive aluminum voice coil and a very powerful magnetic drive. A modern improvement we've made is the use of an aluminum shorting ring in the drive. This drastically reduces distortion caused by inductive fluctuations in the voice coil. We've also designed the woofer to have a 5 ohm DC resistance (DCR) instead of the original 7 ohms, making the new AE1 easier to drive and requiring less amplifier power.

Inspired by the luxurious "Signature" version of the original, the crossover uses flat-slope filters and high-quality components to achieve a very natural, vibrant sound.
We tuned this new version to sound better in the typical home living room, rather than exclusively as a studio monitor like the original. The result: a warm, natural midrange, good bass for its size, pleasant highs, and an overall impressive punch.

All these improvements to the drivers and crossover are housed in a beautifully crafted cabinet. Finished in ten layers of high-gloss black or finished with a walnut veneer, the cabinet has been tuned to retain the sonic character of the original AE1. We've further developed the cabinet and incorporated our RSC material , which has already proven itself in our top-of-the-line models, from the Corinium to the 300 Series. The increased rigidity allows us to achieve the sound of the previous concrete-reinforced cabinets—but without their production disadvantages. And because the original bass reflex ports were no longer available, we redesigned them with slight internal modifications: with a gentle flare to reduce distortion and allow for more bass.

With an unprecedented combination of performance, quality, and value, the AE1 feels equally at home in the living room or in the recording studio. The result is a loudspeaker with clean, elegant lines that delivers a captivating and powerful soundstage—just as connoisseurs have come to expect from the AE1 name for 40 years.

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