Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary bookshelf speakers
In 1987, the loudspeaker world was shaken by the arrival of the Acoustic Energy AE1 – a compact monitor that defied the norms of that time. The AE1 was a revelation: a small speaker that delivered the kind of dynamic range, clarity, and bass extension typically reserved for much larger enclosures.
The original AE1 was born from the vision of a compact speaker that could deliver studio-grade performance without compromise. It was a bold departure from the boxy, inefficient designs of the time – and it worked. The AE1 became a staple in studios and audiophile systems alike.
Now, decades later to celebrate 40 years of this ground-breaking loudspeaker, we’re proud to launch the AE1 40th Anniversary Edition bringing that legacy into the modern era – with cutting-edge engineering and timeless design.
TWEETER
Featuring a new larger 29mm voice coil, it supports a slightly larger aluminium dome to lower distortion. Like the original it’s ferrofluid cooled and damped
DRIVERS
A new woofer has been developed to specifically match the characteristic sound of the original. The new cone is slightly larger, conforming to modern 125mm woofer standards, whilst the greater radiating area offers slightly higher efficiency, lower distortion and the ability to move more air. The cone itself is further strengthened by a thick, hard anodised ceramic layer coating on both sides
CROSSOVER
Drawing inspiration from the luxury ‘Signature’ version of the original speaker, the crossover uses low order filters and high-quality components to achieve a very natural ‘live’ dynamic sound. It has a warm natural midrange, good bass weight for its size, forgiving high frequencies and exceptional punch throughout its operating range
CABINET
Coated in ten layers of high gloss black paint or walnut wood veneer, the cabinet has been tuned to match the characteristic sound of the original AE1. The cabinet has also been upgraded to include our RSC material capturing the sound of the original without any of the production drawbacks.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | AE1 40th Anniversary |
| Design | 2-way compact monitor, twin front-ported |
| Tweeter | 29 mm anodised aluminium dome, ferrofluid cooled |
| Mid / Bass Driver | 125 mm spun / hard-anodised aluminium cone with ceramic coating |
| Frequency Range | 50 Hz – 45 kHz (±6 dB) |
| Sensitivity | 87 dB (1 m, 2.83 V) |
| Power Handling | 150 W |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.8 kHz |
| Impedance | 6 Ω |
| Cabinet | 18–22 mm RSC™ constrained-layer HDF/bitumen construction, braced, twin reflex-ported |
| Grilles | Cloth, magnetic fit |
| Dimensions (H × W × D) | 295 × 180 × 240 mm |
| Weight | 7.0 kg (each) |
| Finishes | High Gloss Walnut, High Gloss Black |
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