Set Up and Installation Guide
Thank you for choosing Acoustic Energy Loudspeakers..
These pages will help you get the most out of your loudspeakers from installation, caring and registering for the extended warranty. Please bookmark this page, or keep the QR code accessible, for any future reference.
We recommend reading through the unpacking, setup and installation guide before installing your loudspeakers.
If you should encounter any issues then either contact your local retailer, distributor or Acoustic Energy direct.
Mat Spandl
Managing Director and Chief Design Engineer
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Unboxing Your Loudspeakers
You should always unpack the loudspeakers on a flat, level surface and allow plenty of room. Floorstanding speakers or subwoofers are best unboxed on the floor. Ensure the surface is clean and free from any objects that may cause the loudspeakers to mark or scratch.
Using a knife, blade or sharp implement break the tape seal along the top edges of the box.
Fold the flaps of the box to the side (for the AE1202 remove the 2 long pieces of polythene packing) and carefully roll the box over, until the open side is face down, taking care not to let the contents of the box fall out.
Carefully lift the box straight off, and place to one side.
stand / wall mount and centre channel loudspeakers
Remove the top polythene packaging. If the bag opening is at the top carefully cut or open the tape, pull the bag down and remove the loudspeaker. If the opening is facing down remove them from the packaging and place upright to find the opening.
Repeat the operation for the second unit.
floorstanding loudspeakers
Once the box is tipped on its side, remove the box. Remove the packaging from the open end, lift the bag to reveal the speaker. If the bottom shows then insert the floor spikes and turn upright. Remove the bag. Repeat for the second speaker. If the top of the speaker is showing drop the bag to the bottom and carefully turn the speaker upside down. Ensure the surface it is resting on is clean. Insert the spikes and rotate the speaker back to upright.
subwoofers
Follow the process for the stand-mount loudspeakers above. Take care to remove the box containing the mains lead. Remove the bag from the base of the subwoofer.
If being placed on a carpeted floor you should remove the rubber spike protectors, if on a hard floor keep these in place.
Remove the grilles to remove the grille protection sheet, there is no grille on the AE1082.
Please retain the boxes and internal packaging for future use.
Installation Guide
POSITIONING FOR A 2-CHANNEL STEREO SYSTEM
Depending on the loudspeaker and the room acoustics this should be taken as a general guide only.
For speakers that are rear ported we suggest keeping them at least 6” from a rear wall. To avoid reflections, you should also try and keep them away from side walls.
You should try and position the tweeter at ear height when you are seated in your listening position. For perfect acoustics you should sit at the third point of an equilateral triangle.
Speakers can also be turned (or toed) in depending upon room conditions.
For the best results we suggest trying various positions in your room.
How do I connect my loudspeakers to the amplifier?
With your amplifier turned off, connect speaker cables (not supplied) to the respective Positive (+) and Negative (-) terminals on the back for left & right channel outputs as shown. These are usually colour-coded Red (+) and Black (-). Connect the other end of the cables to the respective +/- terminals on each speaker, the left speaker channel being the one to your left as you face the speakers from your listening position.
Some speaker cables are fitted with 4mm metal pins which can be inserted directly into the terminals, others use spade connectors or bare wire; in which case unscrew the plastic caps (black & red) enough to either slot the spade in place or insert wire through the exposed hole in the brass terminal post. Once in place hand-tighten the plastic caps to ensure a firm connection, being careful to avoid any loose wires which could short-circuit the amplifier.
With wiring connected, turn on the amplifier with volume control set to minimum position, check that the correct source input is selected on the amplifier and begin playing music from your source. Slowly raise the volume to hear the music playing through the speakers, if nothing is heard re-check wiring as instructed previously.
Please refer to the diagram below:
Positioning the AE105 / AE307² Wall Mount Loudspeaker
The AE105 / AE307² can be mounted to a wall and can be positioned either vertically or horizontally. It is also suitable for mounting on a shelf or flush mounted in a bookcase. Optimum performance is achieved by mounting the AE105 / AE307² vertically and listening below the tweeter axis. Due to the way it has been designed, mounting them high on a wall either side of a screen and listening from a seated position around 0.5m below the tweeter axis will produce a very even, balanced sound.
The AE105 comes packed with a wall mount template (it can be downloaded here). This should be placed against the wall, levelled and the holes drilled to place the speaker upon.
Wall fixings are not provided, and Acoustic Energy and our agents are not responsible for any damage arising from using the incorrect fittings. For advice on the correct fixings please consult your builder or local DIY store.
Spike shoes and rubber feet
All floorstanding models are provided with floor protecting “spike shoes”. These are designed to protect hard or wooden floors from spike holes whilst still providing the same level of stability as using the spikes through carpet.
Running In
Your loudspeakers may benefit from a period of ‘running-in’. During this time, the stresses in the suspension system will relax and stabilise. Any running in period is dependent on many factors, and time can vary depending on how often and how loud you play your loudspeakers.
AE Active Installation Guide
Rear connections and controls
1. INPUTS
The AE Active has the option of receiving an audio signal on either an RCA or Balanced XLR input. The speakers are supplied with RCA cabling that should allow for their connection in most situations but some devices offer XLR outputs which are technically superior, so the AE Active has been equipped accordingly. For very long runs of cable, it is frequently better to use the XLR connection if you have the means to do so as this type of cabling is better suited to long transmission lengths.
Please note that any XLR cable used must correspond to the wiring of the connection on the AE Active, as marked on the rear panel.
Do not connect both inputs at the same time as this risks damage to the loudspeaker.
2. AUTO ON / OFF SWITCH
The AE Active is equipped with an auto on / off switch. When switched to ‘auto’ the loudspeaker will go into standby mode after 15 minutes of inactivity, the LED on the front will change to red. When moved to the ‘on’ position the speaker will be permanently on.
3. BASS AND TREBLE CONTROLS
The AE Active has a pair of adjustable controls for bass and treble. These allow for you to alter the response of the speaker in your room for best results.
The bass control adjusts between -2 and +2dB and is designed to help the speaker work more effectively relative to rear walls. If the speaker is close to a wall, the bass response will increase as a natural function of energy reflected off the wall and you can reduce the bass output to bring it back in line with the treble output.
The treble control adjusts between -2 and +2dB and is designed to help tailor the output of the AE Active depending on the furnishings of the room it is placed in. In a room with little in the way of furniture and bare walls, you may find that you need to reduce the treble output for an even response in room. Conversely, in very large or heavily furnished rooms, you may find that the speakers benefit from a boost to the treble output.
There are no right and wrong actions to the use of these controls and we would recommend you experiment and see what works best for you. As a fully active loudspeaker design, these trim controls have no detrimental effect on the sound quality.
4. VOLUME CONTROL
The AE Active is fitted with a volume control that adjusts the level between zero (no output) and max (full output). This volume control serves two purposes. If you are using the AE Active with a device that has no volume control, you can use it to adjust the level. You can also use the volume to limit the output of the AE Active relative to the volume control of the connected device. This means you can either ensure that a given level cannot be exceeded either for preference or, in extreme cases, to avoid damage to the speaker.
5. MAINS INPUT
This is the mains input to power the speaker. Always ensure you use a correctly certified IEC mains cable.
6. POWER SWITCH
The power switch is a two position unit that completely switches the AE Active off. If you are leaving the speakers inactive for a sustained period, they should always be switched off before doing so.
7. MAINS VOLTAGE SWITCH
The AE Active is fitted with a power supply that is able to operate on both a 100-120v and 220-240v mains supply. This switch is used to alter the speakers between these two voltages. The switch is protected by a cover to avoid accidental adjustment.
Connection and set up
The AE Active is designed to take an output directly from a piece of source equipment. It is possible to use a piece of equipment that has a fixed output and adjust the volume on the speakers themselves but the most effective results will be gained by using a device with a variable level output – commonly referred to as a preamplifier output. Recently, the number of items of source equipment that have volume controls and preamplifier outputs has increased considerably so there is a huge variety of possible sources for the AE Active. You can also use a dedicated preamplifier if you prefer which will allow for multiple pieces of source equipment to be used.
troubleshooting
DOWNLOADS
AE SUB Subwoofer Installation Guide
positioning
The AE SUB subwoofer is virtually omni-directional, so it can be positioned in almost any location in the same room. For the best performance in the ideal room the AE SUB should be positioned in a corner of the room or near a back wall. In certain circumstances the addition of a second AE SUB located in another position in the same room helps to achieve a more uniform bass.
The subwoofer should be installed using the four rubber feet or spikes with lock nuts, both supplied.
Once positioned correctly ensure space is left to the rest of the AE SUB since all operation switches are on the rear panel.
connections
Check that both your amplifier and subwoofer are switched off before connection. Failure to do so may result in damage to your amplifier or subwoofer. It is sometimes recommended that over-long low cost cables are used initially to facilitate experimentation with the positioning, and only then purchase and install using the final cable choice.
For use with amplifiers having a subwoofer output jack
Connect from the dedicated subwoofer line output on the amplifier to the line input(s) on the AE SUB (a single lead to either input or a ‘Y’ connector to both inputs may be used).
For use with amplifiers having a LFE output
Connect from the dedicated LFE subwoofer line output on the amplifier to the LFE input on the AE SUB using a single RCA – RCA cable.
For use with amplifiers having Line Level pre-amp jacks
The pre-amp outputs of your amplifier can be connected to the line-level inputs on the AE SUB. The line level outputs on the AE SUB are then connected back to the power amp (main) inputs on your amplifier.
For use with amplifiers without a dedicated subwoofer output
Connect the subwoofer via the ‘B’ or second speaker output. Be sure your receiver can run both ‘A’ and ‘B’ speakers simultaneously.
operation
1. Crossover Frequency Knob
Adjusts the balance at the crossover point between the bass (low frequencies) from the AE Sub and the main stereo front speakers.
2. Sub Level Volume Control Knob
Adjusts the volume level output of the subwoofer, allowing you to balance the volume of the AE Sub to blend in with your main stereo speakers. Turning the knob clockwise increases the volume level and turning it anti clockwise decreases the volume level.
3. Auto Power Indicator
The auto function places the subwoofer in ‘standby’ mode (red light). The subwoofer is automatically turned on when a signal is detected (green light).
4. Phase indicator
The normal setting for the phase switch would be the 0° position. Switching to 180° will change the subwoofer phase and vary the tonal quality of the bass, which is also dependent on the location of the AE Sub relative to your main stereo speakers.
5. Input / Line In (RCA)
Used to connect the subwoofer to the pre-out socket on the amplifier.
6. LFE In (RCA)
Used to connect the dedicated LFE subwoofer line output on the amplifier.
7. High Level Inputs
Used to connect to amplifier speaker outputs.
8. Power Input
Connect the cord (supplied) to a 110-120v or 220-240v AC mains power outlet.
9. Power Switch
Use the switch to turn the power on / off.
how to use the controls
How to use the SUB VOLUME CONTROL knob, CROSSOVER FREQUENCY knob and PHASE switch.
The VOLUME CONTROL, FREQUENCY knob and PHASE switch can be adjusted to match the condition of the listening room and/or the characteristics of the left and right speakers.
Due to the positioning of the subwoofer in the room and the associated room boundaries along with the available bass response from the existing speakers, the actual settings on the subwoofer control panel will vary considerably.
The SUB VOLUME CONTROL and the CROSSOVER FREQUENCY knobs should be used together when setting the correct bass response required. For example, raising the volume level will also raise the effective system crossover point, while reducing the volume has the converse effect of lowering the frequency range of the subwoofer. This is caused by the way the various responses and outputs blend together in the listening environment.
Initially set the crossover frequency fairly low, e.g. 50-60Hz, and use the volume control knob on the sub to set the low bass level required, When the correct balance is almost achieved, the crossover level and volume level maybe adjusted together to fine tune the sound and achieve the cleanest, most extended and suitably powerful bass.
The ideal is for a seamless blend of extended low bass from the subwoofer leaving the clean upper bass response of the stereo system largely undisturbed.
Front Speaker
Crossover
Phase
Sub Level
Large Speaker
40 – 60Hz
Normal 0°
Medium Speaker
60 – 80Hz
Normal 0°
Small Speaker
80 – 100Hz
Normal 0°
Caution
An excessive input level to the subwoofer may impair the sound quality or damage the unit. Do not increase the output of the amplifier to a high level while the low frequency level is enhanced by the amplifier’s tone control or loudness control.
SAfety
Please read all operating and safety instructions before use retaining them for future reference. Adhere to all warnings on the product or in this manual.
Power Sources
The subwoofer should only be connected to a power supply of the type described on its rear panel. If you are not sure consult your dealer or a qualified electrician.
Power Cord
Power supply cords should be routed so as not to be walked on or caught under or against items.
Ventilation
To ensure reliable operation and to prevent the subwoofer from overheating, ensure good ventilation. Do not cover the subwoofer and do not place closer than 10cm from walls or soft furnishings. Do not use in a built-in installation unless proper ventilation is provided.
Water and Moisture
The subwoofer should not be used near water, i.e. near a wash-bowl, basin, in a wet basement or swimming pool area.
Temperature
The subwoofer may not function correctly at extremely low or freezing temperatures. The Subwoofer should also be kept away from heat sources such as radiators or other electrical equipment that produces heat, including other amplifiers.
Electric Shock
Care should be taken so that objects are not inserted in connectors or other apertures and that liquid does not spill into the enclosure. Do not insert objects into the reflex port. Never attempt to dismantle the subwoofer as serious electric shock might occur if the internal parts are touched.
Cleaning
Unplug the subwoofer from the wall power outlet before cleaning. Use only a clean, dry cloth. Do not use cleaners, liquids or solvent based preparations to clean the cabinet.
Smells
If an abnormal smell or smoke is detected, immediately turn the power off and unplug the subwoofer from the wall power outlet.
Care For Your Loudspeakers
Cabinet veneers should be treated like all high-quality furniture. Routine dusting with a soft cloth is recommended. Do not apply any aerosol sprays directly as they could damage the drive units. Dust can be removed by use of a soft brush or other suitable domestic duster.
On some models the delicate high frequency (tweeter) dome is protected by a metal cover, care should be taken not to dislodge the magnetic fixing whilst dusting.
Do not expose the cabinets to damp, widely fluctuating temperatures or direct sunlight as the appearance and performance may suffer. Avoid contact with rough or abrasive surfaces or materials.
When not in use it is recommended to replace the clothe grilles to help prevent accidental damage.
