(4 customer reviews)

Acoustic Energy AE1 Active / pr.

$ 1,999.00

At a Glance

The AE1 Active brings the original AE1’s studio-grade precision into a modern self-powered design. No external amplifier required. Just connect your preamp, streamer, DAC, or mixing console and play.

Designed for high-resolution home listening or nearfield studio work, AE1 Active delivers the trademark AE speed, transparency, and imaging — now with perfectly matched Class A/B power and active crossover control.

Category:
 

Description

Key Features

  • True Active Design — Dual Class A/B amplifiers per speaker with fully active filter networks.

  • Pure Piston Ceramic-Aluminum Midbass — Legendary AE driver tech: fast, clean, low distortion.

  • New WDT Waveguide Tweeter — Wide, even dispersion; better room integration and direct-to-reflected-sound balance.

  • XLR + RCA Inputs — Integrates with preamps, streamers, DACs, studio gear.

  • User-Adjustable HF & LF Trim — Tailor the speaker to your room or desktop.

  • Slotted Rear Port — High output bass with reduced turbulence and port noise.

  • Ideal for Home or Studio — Designed for accuracy, dynamics, and low fatigue.


The Essentials

Why Active?

In the AE1 Active, the amplifier sits after the crossover, so each driver gets exactly the frequencies it is designed to reproduce — and nothing else.

Benefits include:

  • Higher performance vs. passive speakers of the same size

  • Perfect amplifier/driver matching

  • More detail, speed, and control

  • Superior dynamic headroom

For the listener, that means plug-and-play excellence with no guessing about the ideal amp pairing. AE has solved the system matching at the design stage.


Technology That Matters

WDT Tweeter + Waveguide

Acoustic Energy’s Wide Dispersion Technology uses a precision waveguide that controls how the tweeter interacts with your room.
Result:

  • Wider high-frequency coverage

  • Narrower low-treble dispersion for constant directivity

  • More sound reaches your ears directly, minimizing reflections and distortion

Ceramic-Aluminum Driver

AE’s proprietary metal-cone driver brings:

  • Fast transient speed

  • Tonal accuracy

  • High output without breakup

  • Deep, tight bass response

The latest slotted port design increases surface area, lowers turbulence, and extends usable bass in smaller rooms.


Inputs & Controls

  • Balanced XLR for pro gear

  • Unbalanced RCA for home audio

  • LF Trim: ±2 dB

  • HF Trim: ±2 dB
    Easily tune the sound for placement on stands, desktops, or consoles.


Use Cases

  • High-end 2-channel systems with a separate DAC/preamp

  • Desktop/nearfield monitoring

  • Vinyl setups with phono preamp → AE1 Active

  • TV and streaming systems wanting high-fidelity without an AVR


Finish Options

  • Piano Gloss Black

  • Gloss Walnut Veneer 
    All finishes use AE’s multi-layer lacquer process for a luxurious, durable surface.

What They’re Saying

Stereonet UK — Michael Evans (April 2021)
“A baby powerhouse delivering a seriously grown-up sound. Astonishing value for money, beautifully made, and timeless in quality.”


SoundStage Simplifi — Gordon Brockhouse (September 2021)
“Speed, agility and transparency with a vast soundstage and razor-sharp imaging. Dynamic, effortless, and able to play loudly without compression.”


Hi-Fi Critic UK — Martin Collums (July 2017)
“Capable, musical, entertaining and clearly great value… a Best Buy rating is clearly appropriate.”


Hi-Fi Choice UK (June 2017)
“Natural power, pace and perspective. Dynamic, tactile, tightly focused, with beautifully balanced tonality.”

Specifications

(2) 50 watt Linear Power supply Class A/B amplifiers per speaker
Active 4th order minimum phase crossover
Fully analogue architecture
Adjustable volume control on each speaker
Proprietary Acoustic Energy aluminium dome tweeter optimised for wide bandwidth and low distortion
Wide Dispersion Technology (WDT) waveguide for enhanced room integration
+/- 2dB treble adjustment and +/- 2dB bass cut for precise system integration
Inputs: RCA and balanced XLR input connections
Mains voltage: Switchable 110/240V
Frequency response: 40Hz-25kHz +/-6dB
Safety certification: CE EN55013/20
Dimensions: 12″ (300mm) H x 7″ (185mm) W x 10″ (250mm) D; 35 lbs/pr
Finishes: Piano Black, Piano White and High Gloss Walnut real veneer finish.

4 reviews for Acoustic Energy AE1 Active / pr.

  1. Hi-Fi Choice UK, June 2017

    “No hype or exaggeration—just natural power, pace, and perspective. Dynamic, tactile, tightly focused, with beautifully balanced tonality and a stereo arc that expands beyond the walls.” Hi-Fi Choice UK, June 2017

  2. Stereoplay Germany, August 2017

    “Neutral like a monitor yet playful, agile, and homogeneous. For this price, an absolute killer. Sound quality: Top Class. Price/Quality: Outstanding.” Stereoplay Germany, August 2017

  3. AVForums, August 2017

    “The immediacy of the AE1 Active is genuinely invigorating… score it a 9 out of 10.” AVForums, August 2017

  4. Brian Lorde, UK Audiophile Oct 2017

    “An excellent product. The sound is ama​zing and replaced a very highly rated passive system. Extremely good value for money.” Brian Lorde, UK Audiophile Oct 2017

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