Acoustic Energy are the latest speaker manufacturer to produce an anniversary edition of one of their classic units from yesteryear. But does reworking the past always pay dividends?

The fact that so many hi-fi manufacturers have such long and illustrious heritages provides them with rich pickings when it comes to which of their classic products deserves the anniversary relaunch treatment.

In recent years, the Rega Planar 3 50th Anniversary turntable, Dynaudio Special 40s speakers, Triangle Magellan 40th Anniversary speakers and the Wharfedale Linton speakers are all successful products that draw on the proud heritage of these manufacturers.

The new Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary speakers in gloss walnut

Not to be outdone, Acoustic Energy recently launched the AE1 40th Anniversary standmount speakers. These little speakers are based on the hugely successful AE1, which were launched in 1987 and helped establish the company’s reputation as a manufacturer of high-quality speakers.

The original AE1 delivered a scale of sound, dynamics and bass that, as very compact speakers, they really had no right to possess. The AE1 redefined expectations of what high-quality bookshelf speakers could do and influenced small speaker manufacture for decades to come.

Their aluminium drivers, ultra-rigid cabinets and high power-handling capabilities gave them a detailed, fast sound. Their flat response rate made them sound like studio monitors, with breathtaking clarity.

The original AE1 speakers were launch in 1987

It’s a brave move to mess with such a legacy. But it is safe to say that, in the AE1 40th Anniversary, Acoustic Energy have produced another gem.

In Portsmouth we have been listening to the AE1 Anniversaries for a few weeks now and are mightily impressed. In demos they have performed well, with customers universally impressed and even surprised by their sonic talents.

Such is our confidence in the £1,499 AE1 Anniversaries that we have included them in demos against speakers costing considerably more, even twice as much.

The AE1 40th Anniversary speakers also come in gloss black

The detail and the genuinely surprising dynamics from these little boxes is compelling, as is their ability to disappear, leaving just a wide soundstage. They are fast and agile, just like the originals, and this gives them an inherently toe-tapping, musical presentation.

Bass is exceptionally tight and fast and, while there are obvious limitations to how low a speaker of this size can physically go, you never get the feeling the bass is lacking. It is just superbly integrated.

The phrase giant killers is over-used, but we think it is a fair tag to apply to the AE1 Anniversaries.

Out with the old?

To an extent, yes. The AE1 Anniversaries differ considerably in terms of components and construction from the originals.

The key updates are:

A bespoke 29mm aluminium dome tweeter with a larger voice coil. An improved rear chamber increases dynamic range and lowers distortion.
An upgraded mid/bass driver with a 125mm spun and hard-anodised aluminium cone. This delivers a greater radiating area, higher efficiency, and stronger control than the original.
A new low-order crossover, inspired by the luxury “Signature” model, uses premium components for a natural midrange, punchy dynamics, and musicality tailored more for modern home listening than strict studio neutrality.
Improved cabinet construction with ten layers of high-gloss or walnut veneer finish, a cabinet stiffened with RSC™ bracing, which is designed to replicate the tonal properties of the old concrete-lined designs without the weight.

New components mean upgraded performance but while retaining the original character

Acoustic Energy’s engineers are said to have approached the Anniversary project like conservationists, seeking to preserve what made the AE1 great while improving what could be improved. Yet the over-riding mission was to preserve the essential character of the original.

The result is a loudspeaker that balances the essential character of the original AE1s with the uprated performance that has become possible thanks to almost 40 years of technological development and know-how in speaker construction.

Rave reviews

Early reviews and accolades for the AE1 40th Anniversary Edition reflect its success in walking that tightrope between past and present.

The Ear’s Editor’s Choice Award praised it as “a magnificent love letter to the original,” noting that it still behaves like an AE1 but with enhanced performance that invites you to play your music louder and longer.

Hi-Fi News called the speakers “Outstanding,” highlighting their combination of speed, articulation, and room-filling capability in a compact form factor.

These views chime with our opinions here in the Portsmouth store. Acoustic Energy seem to have not only rebooted a near 40-year-old hi-fi classic but, in doing so, may well have created a new classic.

Specs at a glance

While raw numbers don’t tell the whole story, they underline how serious this speaker is:

Frequency Response: 50 Hz – 45 kHz (+/– 6 dB)
Sensitivity: 87 dB/m/2.83 V
Nominal Impedance: 6 Ω
Power Handling: 150 W
Drivers: 29 mm tweeter & 125 mm aluminium mid/bass
Cabinet: RSC™ braced with twin reflex ports

Conclusion

The AE1 40th Anniversary are up against stiff competition like the spendor A1.2 speakers

The market for very small standmount speakers tends to be dominated by entry-level products offering good quality sound for reasonable prices.

The AE1 Anniversaries are certainly not entry level. At £1,499 they compete with some serious standmounts like the ATC SCM11, Bowers & Wilkins 707 S3 and 706 SE Anniversary, Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G and Spendor A1.2, and even some floorstanders like the DALI Opticon 6 Mk2 and the Monitor Audio Silver 200 7G.

In our experience they easily hold their own against similarly priced competition and, as our customers have testified to in demos, even against speakers costing many hundreds of pounds more.

The AE1 40th Anniversary speakers are available to demo now at the Portsmouth store. To arrange a demo, pop in, email us at portsmouth@audio-t.co.uk or call 02392 663604.

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