Earlier this year, we hinted that Acoustic Energy’s most iconic loudspeaker was about to receive the royal treatment—and now it’s official. Acoustic Energy proudly unveils the AE1 40th Anniversary Edition, a reimagined take on the legendary AE1 loudspeaker that redefined the compact speaker market when it debuted in 1987.
Honoring four decades of acoustic innovation, this special edition fuses timeless British design with modern engineering to deliver uncompromising sound from a compact enclosure. The AE1 has long stood as a benchmark in high-fidelity audio, and the 40th Anniversary Edition carries that legacy forward with refined enhancements while staying true to the sonic character that made the original a legend.
“Re-engineering a beloved and well-known classic is no easy feat. We had to examine where we could improve upon the original while retaining the character that made it such a big hit for decades. The AE1 40th is a faithful evolution, not a simple reissue. None of the original parts remain in production, so we meticulously broke the original down component by component, examining, appraising, and where possible, improving,” said Managing Director Mat Spandl.
AE1 40th Anniversary Edition: All-New Tweeter, Upgraded Bass Driver, and Refined Cabinet Design
When the original Acoustic Energy AE1 landed in 1987, it upended expectations. A compact monitor with the kind of clarity, dynamics, and bass reach usually tied to much larger speakers, it quickly found a home in both studios and audiophile systems.
Four decades later, the £1499 Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary Edition brings that design forward. With all original parts long out of production, the speaker has been fully re-engineered to match the sonic DNA of the classic while refining a few key areas.
The tweeter is a completely new design, built specifically to mirror the performance of the original unit. It now carries a larger 29mm voice coil and slightly larger aluminium dome, improving radiating area and lowering distortion. The ultra-shallow profile maintains bandwidth, while a new rear chamber controls resonance and absorbs unwanted energy. Like the first AE1, it uses ferrofluid cooling for better power handling, lower thermal compression, and stable dynamics.
The woofer has also been redeveloped. Using modern 125mm standards, its slightly larger cone provides greater efficiency and air movement. The design retains the straight-sided aluminium profile and spinning process that defined the original, with added strength from a hard-anodised ceramic layer on both sides of the cone.
The thermally conductive aluminium voice coil sits inside a powerful motor structure, now improved with an aluminium shorting ring to reduce distortion from inductance variations. The driver has been specified at 5 ohms DCR rather than the original 7 ohms, making it easier to drive with a wider range of amplifiers.
The crossover draws from the work done on the AE1 Signature, using low-order filters and high-grade components for a natural, dynamic sound. Voicing has been adapted for domestic listening rather than strict studio use, with a balanced midrange, weightier low end, and smoother treble response.
The cabinet remains compact but benefits from Acoustic Energy’s RSC material to increase stiffness and replicate the tonal character of the original concrete-lined enclosures. It is available in high-gloss black or walnut veneer, finished with ten layers of lacquer. Ports have been re-tooled with an internal flare to cut distortion and extend bass performance.
The result is a loudspeaker that carries forward the essential AE1 formula—metal dome tweeter, stiff spun-aluminium midbass, heavy cabinet, and twin front ports—while updating every component for modern production and reliability.
The AE1 40th sticks with the trusted 2-way format, pairing a new 29mm anodised aluminium dome tweeter with a 125mm spun and hard-anodised aluminium mid/bass cone. Together, they deliver a frequency range from 50Hz up to 45kHz, which is far beyond human hearing but keeps harmonics clean and intact.
Sensitivity is rated at 87dB, meaning they’ll like a bit of power behind them—though the redesigned 6-ohm impedance and 150W handling make them far easier to partner with modern amps compared to the original AE1’s appetite for juice. The crossover sits at 2.8kHz, a sweet spot for balancing that metal-dome top end with the fast, rigid bass driver.
The cabinet is classic AE1: small, solid, and heavy. Built from 18–22mm RSC constrained-layer HDF with bitumen damping, it’s braced and twin reflex-ported at the front.
You get the choice of high-gloss walnut veneer or high-gloss black, both with ten coats of lacquer. At 295 x 180 x 240mm and 7kg apiece, they’re still compact but feel reassuringly substantial. Magnetic cloth grilles are included if you want to cover up that purposeful look.
AE1 40th Anniversary Edition – Specifications
- Tweeter: 29mm anodised aluminium dome
- Mid/Bass Driver: 125mm spun, hard-anodised aluminium cone
- Frequency Range: 50Hz – 45kHz (±6dB)
- Sensitivity: 87dB (1m/2.83V)
- Power Handling: 150W
- Crossover Frequency: 2.8kHz
- Impedance: 6 ohms
- Design: 2-way, twin front reflex ports
- Cabinet: 18–22mm RSC HDF/bitumen construction, braced
- Grilles: Cloth, magnetic fit
- Dimensions: 295 x 180 x 240mm (HWD)
- Weight: 7kg each
- Finishes: High Gloss Walnut, High Gloss Black
The Bottom Line
The AE1 40th Anniversary Edition is a compact loudspeaker that carries forward the iconic design and sonic signature that made the original a benchmark in high-fidelity audio. Against contemporaries in this segment—ProAc, Q Acoustics, KEF, and Wharfedale—it stands out for its faithful evolution rather than a simple reissue, blending classic AE1 character with modern engineering improvements. For those who value a speaker with historical significance, technical refinement, and enduring performance, the AE1 40th remains a reference point in both design and sound.
For more information: acoustic-energy.co.uk
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