AE1 Active

The changing roles of hifi equipment mean that audio systems themselves are changing shape. The increasing number of products with integrated pre-amplifiers mean that many customers are searching for an equally convenient speaker to connect them to. Taking full advantage of Acoustic Energy’s considerable experience in the field of active speakers, the AE1 Active is designed to deliver this convenience without trading performance.

The AE1 Active is a two-way standmount speaker with integrated class A/B amplification and fully active filter networks. Featuring Acoustic Energy’s legendary pure piston ceramic aluminium cone technology, the AE1 Active has all the refinement and impact you would expect from the original AE1 housed within a self-powered, fully active package. The speakers also feature Acoustic Energy’s proprietary aluminium dome tweeter with their unique WDT waveguide for improved coverage and room integration.

Ideal for direct connection to audiophile DAC/Preamps and Hi-Res streamers, the AE1 Active merges three decades of AE1 refinement with Acoustic Energy’s expertise in the active studio monitor sector. Fully bi-amped with two 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.

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

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.

The active design offers the ability for accurate tuning to the listening room and placement thanks to defeatable +/- 2dB trims for bass and treble response. Each speaker features a high-quality analogue volume pot for systems without level control on the source component. Each AE1 Active connects to a mains power supply using an IEC connector. Externally, the AE1 Active gets a wholly redesigned cabinet. This features extensively braced heavyweight fibreboard construction with internal damping panels and the introduction of a slot port to the AE1 design for the first time. With several Acoustic Energy models already benefiting from the company’s R&D programme into slot port loading, the AE1 Active’s port delivers unrivalled cross-sectional area, reduced baffle space and significantly reduced ‘wind-noise’ at high volumes.

The AE1 Active maximises all the benefits of active loudspeaker design. These include reducing crossover losses, eliminating speaker cable influences, and delivering unrivalled dynamic power. The result is a cohesive active loudspeaker with performance rivalling passive speaker / external amplifier set ups at many times its price.

With a bandwidth from 40Hz to 25kHz, efficiency of 104dB for 1Vrms, and maximum SPL of 115dB, no other small speaker gets close to the AE1 Active’s performance.

The AE1 Active is equally comfortable in the home or the recording studio. With the added benefit of adjustable bass and treble and a choice of RCA or balanced XLR connections, this speaker blends seamlessly into any listening environment.