Acoustic Energy AE500

STANDMOUNT LOUDSPEAKER

Think of brands famous for small loudspeakers, and Acoustic Energy is bound to ping up on the radar. Its iconic AE1 from the late eighties pretty much made the case for the existence of the breed. Coming bang up to date, the AE500 that’s before you has little in common with this icon in technical terms, aside from its clear philosophical approach.

Despite being relatively affordable, this is one of the most technologically interesting standmounts in its price range due to its use of carbon fibre in both the mid/bass driver cone and the dome tweeter. This means big weight savings – the former is only half as heavy as its predecessor. The AE500 mates a small 125mm mid/bass to a 25mm tweeter, via a simple crossover made up of good quality components.

The reflex-loaded cabinet is conventionally shaped, but uses the company’s Resonance Suppression Composite material – in effect, constrained layer damping. Its panels are 18mm thick and there’s a choice of piano gloss white or black, and American walnut wood veneer finishes, plus a magnetic grille is supplied. Its rear-firing slotted reflex-port enables it work when positioned up close to rear walls. It’s quoted 87dB/1W/1m sensitivity into 6ohm loads is decidedly average compared with its piers.

Sound quality