Acoustic Energy has been part of the British high-end loudspeaker scene for more than three decades; fans of the brand have always prized the speed, detail, and clarity of its loudspeakers and there is no question that the company found a niche in the middle of the market. EIC Ian White reviewed the affordable AE1 and AE100 MK2 loudspeakers and was rather impressed with both. The new Acoustic Energy CORINIUM are aimed at a very different type of customer, however, and priced accordingly.
After 3-years of development, Acoustic Energy has stopped teasing us with images of their new flagship loudspeaker and finally made it available for purchase. Compared to other “flagship” models from the competition, the CORINIUM is actually less expensive but these high performance loudspeakers still require high-end electronics and sources to demonstrate their capabilities. Expect to spend $15,000 to $20,000 on a complete system here.
What CORINIUM Means
Cirencester, in the beautiful Cotswolds, Acoustic Energy’s hometown for more than 25 years, was an important outpost in Roman Britain. At that time it was the most important town outside of London. The Romans named it ‘CORINIUM’ and AE’s design team decided to name their most significant and impressive loudspeaker to date after their namesake.
From MD and Designer Mat Spandl: “The new CORINIUM is a loudspeaker that’s markedly more dynamic, more live sounding, and more musically involving than any previous generation of the product we’ve designed before. This has been achieved by developing brand new drive units, careful selection of crossover components, and creating an enclosure that’s both acoustically and aesthetically stunning.”
Tweeter
The new tweeter design incorporates a unique soft dome material that’s lighter than carbon fiber. This supports lower coloration and increases high-speed transients and detail.
Midrange & Bass Drivers
Building on the carbon fiber mid and bass drivers used in Acoustic Energy’s 500 Series, the new drive unit design was developed with an ultra-rigid version of the carbon fiber cone, driven by a long-throw voice coil.
In addition, the new carbon fiber cone and surround help provide tonal qualities with the most natural sound and realistic musical performance.
For the twin bass-only drivers, the extra cabinet width allowed the development of a brand new 165mm driver to deliver a bass alignment that combines weight, speed, and slam to produce a big, powerful, controlled, and natural low-frequency response.
Crossover
The 3-way crossover features high-quality components connected to the drive units using audiophile-grade internal wiring which features a patented arrangement of conductors to give the best possible musical detail and dynamic expression.
Cabinet
The new drive unit and crossover developments are housed in a beautifully curved, exquisitely finished inert enclosure.
The hybrid ‘Resonance Suppression Composite’ (RSC) cabinets boast a thickness of up to 45mm for optimal performance.
A 4-degree tilt improves the time alignment of sound to the listener, while the 6mm ultra-rigid aluminum front baffle firmly houses the drivers and isolates any cabinet resonances from the listening environment.
Specifications
- Speaker Type: Floorstanding
- Design: 3-way Bass reflex-loaded with curved RSC cabinet and aluminum baffle
- Tweeter: 1 X 29mm Soft dome
- Mid-Range Driver: 1 X 120mm Carbon Fibre cone
- Bass Drivers: 2 x 140mm Carbon Fibre cones
- Frequency Range: 32Hz – 30kHz (- 6dB) / 38Hz – 25kHz (-3dB)
- Sensitivity: 92dB/m/2.83v
- Power Handling: 200 watts
- Crossover Frequency: 260Hz / 3400Hz
- Impedance: 4 ohms
- Dimensions (HWD – inc. spikes): 1100 x 235 x 385 mm (43 x 9.25 x 15.2 inches )
- Weight: 40 kg (88lbs)
- Finishes: Real wood veneer (Tectona), Matte black, Matte white, and Metallic British Racing Green
Availability & Pricing
The Acoustic Energy CORINIUM loudspeaker is suitable for medium to large-sized listening environments and will be available at authorized retailers beginning in November 2023, from £6,000 per pair (US Price forthcoming).
For more information: acoustic-energy-corinium.co.uk
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