Reference Series

The whole design history of Acoustic Energy begins with the AE1 launched in 1987. Since then there has always been an AE1 in the range and in 2006, the original AE1 returned to production. This complements our Reference range of speakers which have been designed to combine everything we know about loudspeaker design into products that are the very best we have ever made.

As such, the Reference range uses our specially developed Constrained Layer Damping cabinet to provide as inert a structure as possible for the drivers. The drivers themselves are no-compromise designs employing aluminium for the bass and midbass units and a 32mm ring radiator tweeter for exceptional frequency response and extremely low distortion.

Finished in a range of premium finishes, the three strong Reference line-up is able to meet the most demanding of expectations while delivering exceptional aesthetics and user friendliness and whilst representing the pinnacle of Acoustic Energy speaker design.

AE1 Classic

The ultimate mini-monitor.

It’s 30 years since the AE1 Reference first wowed reviewers and became the audio-industry benchmark for compact loudspeaker design. To celebrate the AE1 was relaunched in 2006 in its completely original form. Designed from the outset as a semi-professional monitor, painstaking attention to detail in the design and construction of cabinets, crossovers and baffles ensure the new AE1 Classic reproduces complex, dynamic material as faithful as the award winning original.

Despite its diminutive size the AE1 Classic offers the soundstage, depth and breadth of much larger loudspeakers thanks to its innovative metal drivers and reflex ported cabinet. The extremely rigid design and high power handling creates a sophisticated blend of clarity, speed and dynamics that once again sets the standard for small box loudspeakers in both the studio and the home.

SPECIFICATIONS

Bass/Mid Driver: 110mm ceramic sandwich aluminium cone, 32mm edge-wound voice-coil
Tweeter: 25mm magnesium alloy dome
Crossover: Symmetrical third order at 3kHz
Power Handling: Compatible with amplifiers rated at up to 200 watts into 8 Ohms
Frequency Response: 70Hz – 22kHz ±3dB
Sensitivity: 86dB for 2.83V at 1m
Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms
Total Harmonic Distortion: Typically less than 0.3%, 200Hz to 20kHz
Power Compression: Less than 1dB for 16dB gain at 250Hz
Dimensions: 295 x 180 x 255mm (HxWxD)
Weight: 7.5kg (single, unpacked)
Finishes: Piano Black

AE1 Classic Limited Edition

In celebration of the final production run of one of the UK’s most iconic loudspeakers, there will be a limited edition final production run of the award winning AE1 Classic loudspeaker. Just 100 numbered pairs of the AE1 Classic Limited Edition speakers have been produced.

In addition to the luxurious Piano gloss, each unit is finished with gold plated bolts and feature a matching gold plated Limited Edition plaque with serial and edition numbers on the back of each speaker.

Famed for its acoustic design based on the original AE1, the AE1 Classic LE will retain the same instantly recognisable twin front ported cabinet, spun aluminium cone and 25mm magnesium alloy dome tweeter and offer the same sweet, detailed and engaging sound. The decision to end the life of this highly renowned audio gem is derived from some of the bespoke parts no longer being made available to AE.

SPECIFICATIONS

Reference 1

The Reference 1 was launched in 2011 incorporating all our technological expertise in speaker design.

With the Reference Series we’ve sought to improve upon every aspect of current speaker design to create a true, balanced, dynamic, wide-bandwidth and minimal colouration loudspeaker.

Cabinet: Constrained laminate layer construction for maximum resonance damping. A specially designed 7mm MDF/3mm high density rubber/5mm MDF sandwich material is used throughout the cabinet enclosure to minimise resonance and external cabinet noise.

Bass Driver: Huge underhung motor assembly for maximum linear accuracy and control. The motor system comprising twin-wound aluminium voice-coils is thermally bonded to the aluminium cone for absolute minimum distortion and long-throw pistonic accuracy.

Tweeter: The now well-established Vifa Ring-radiator tweeter is used here in our own custom, upgraded specification. Coupled to our DXT® Lens assembly for improved in-room response and dispersion matching to the bass driver, this is one of the finest tweeters in use today.

These features wrapped into a compact, elegant design and luxuriously finished with real piano ebony lacquer mark the new Reference Series as the pinnacle of current small loudspeaker design.

SPECIFICATIONS

Bass/Mid Driver: 110mm underhung magnet, twin voice coil assembly
Crossover: Ultra short signal path 2nd order crossover at 2khz
Frequency response: 45Hz – 40kHz @ +/-3dB
Power handling: Amplifiers rated up to 200 watts into 8 Ohms
Sensitivity: 87db for 2.83V at 1m
Nominal impedance: 6 Ohms
Total harmonic distortion: Less than 0.3% 200Hz to 20kHz
Dimensions: 310 x 190 x 280mm (HxWxD)
Weight: 10.5kg (single, unpacked)
Finish: Piano ebony or piano black

Reference 2

The Reference 2 is a completely new model for 2011 incorporating all our technological expertise in loudspeaker design.

With the Reference Series we’ve sought to improve upon every aspect of current speaker design to create a true, balanced, dynamic, wide-bandwidth and minimal colouration loudspeaker.

Bass Drivers: Twin, long-throw motor assembly drivers for maximum linear accuracy and control. The motor system comprising twin-wound aluminium voice-coils is thermally bonded to the aluminium cone for absolute minimum distortion and long-throw pistonic accuracy.

These features wrapped into a compact, elegant design and luxuriously finished with real piano ebony lacquer mark the new Reference Series as the pinnacle of current small loudspeaker design.

SPECIFICATIONS

Tweeter: 32mm ring-radiator tweeter with DXT™ waveguide
Bass/Mid Drivers: Twin 110mm ‘pure piston’ aluminium cones with twin-wound aluminium voice-coils
Crossover: Ultra short signal path 2nd order crossover at 2Khz
Frequency Response: 40Hz – 40kHz @ +/-3dB
Power Handling: Amplifiers rated up to 250Watts into 8 Ohms
Sensitivity: 88db for 2.83V at 1m
Nominal Impedance: 6 Ohms
Total Harmonic Distortion: Less than 0.3% 200Hz to 20kHz
Dimensions: 395 x 255 x 310mm (HxWxD)
Weight: 14Kg (single, unpacked)
Finish: Piano Ebony or Piano Black

Reference 3

The Reference 3 incorporates all our technological expertise in loudspeaker design.

With the Reference Series we’ve sought to improve upon every aspect of current speaker design to create a true, balanced, dynamic, wide-bandwidth and minimal colouration loudspeaker.

Bass Drivers: Twin long-throw motor assembly drivers for maximum linear accuracy and control. The motor system comprising twin-wound aluminium voice-coils is thermally bonded to the aluminium cone for absolute minimum distortion and long-throw pistonic accuracy.

Mid Driver: Huge underhung motor assembly for maximum linear accuracy and control. The motor system comprising twin-wound aluminium voice-coils is thermally bonded to the aluminium cone for absolute minimum distortion and long-throw pistonic accuracy.

These features wrapped into a compact, elegant floorstanding design and luxuriously finished with real piano ebony lacquer mark the new Reference Series as the pinnacle of current loudspeaker design.

SPECIFICATIONS

Mid Driver: 110mm underhung magnet aluminium cone
Bass Drivers: Twin 130mm ‘pure piston’ aluminium cones with twin-wound aluminium voice-coils
Frequency response: 33Hz – 40kHz @ +/-3dB
Power handling: Amplifiers rated up to 300 watts into 8 Ohms
Maximum SPL: 116dB
Sensitivity: 90db for 2.83V at 1m
Nominal impedance: 6 Ohms
Total harmonic Distortion: Less than 0.3% 200Hz to 20kHz
Dimensions including plinth: 990 x 260 x 360mm (HxWxD)
Weight: 32kg (single, unpacked)
Finish: Piano ebony or piano black