As I sit here listening to the Acoustic Energy AE100² (Series 2), it has become very clear that more North American audiophiles need to take this British brand more seriously.
The active AE1 that I reviewed last year are one of the best loudspeakers I have heard in many years; dynamics, resolution, transparency, and pacing are just top of the category below $3,000.
If I had to start all over again — I would purchase these and not look back.
The AE100² (Series 2) are the next generation, passive version of these loudspeakers and so far — I’m very impressed. Expect to read our review by the end of the month.
Where the bookshelf or stand-mounted AE100² need some help is in the low end; what they posses is quite taut and strong — but it doesn’t extend low enough.
Enter the Acoustic Energy AE120².
Heading up the range, the AE120² is the largest model in the 100 series and a true 3-way design. This speaker offers a big sound from a slimline enclosure, tastefully styled to blend into a wide range of domestic environments.
Twin bass drive units underpin the room filling performance with a dedicated mid-range driver housed in its own enclosure, carefully designed to mitigate the harmful effects of rear wave reflections.
Integrated within the perfectly matched Wide Dispersion Technology (WDT) waveguide, Acoustic Energy’s 25mm soft dome tweeter manages the high frequencies with controlled dispersion, high sensitivity and low distortion.
The 3-way crossover is impedance compensated to avoid the resonance issues which would otherwise slow bass delivery and colour mid-range performance. Particular attention has also been paid to the phase and time alignment for optimum integration and soundstage. The result is a loudspeaker offering smooth, wide dispersion high frequencies with a clean mid-range and lightning-fast bass.
The inert cabinet enclosure is constructed from 15mm HDF and like it’s smaller AE109² brother, supplied mass loaded to help dampen cabinet vibrations. The internal bracing system has been carefully tuned to reduce cabinet resonances and mid-range colouration, whilst the new AE120² benefits from a subtlety styled, discrete satin black plinth to aide stability, further improving dynamics and stereo focus.
The new AE120² will retail for $1,119 (£799) a pair and are available in Black and Walnut veneer now at Essence.
Specifications
- Drive Unit: 130mm paper cones
- Tweeter: 25mm fabric dome
- Frequency Range: 39Hz – 26kHz
- Sensitivity: 90dB
- Peak SPL: 116dB
- Power Handling: 200w
- Crossover Frequency: 300Hz, 2.7kHz
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Design: 3-way
- Grilles: Slim, cloth magnetic fit
- Dimensions: 950 x 165 x 250 (HxWxD, inc. plinth)
- Weight: 19kg (each)
- Finishes: Satin Black and Walnut vinyl veneer
ORT
April 13, 2022 at 2:30 am
Thank you for your thoughts on these beauties. For me, speakers are the most important part of audio because they are what reproduces the sound.
And these also look pretty nice too. Looks matter.
Well written, sir. Sleep warm. Sleep well.
ORT