Description
Key Highlights
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Slim, elegant tower design for medium to large rooms
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MTM driver layout for wide, coherent imaging
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Carbon fiber tweeter & dual mid/bass drivers
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RSC cabinets with aluminum outriggers for stability
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Multiple global awards, including Diapason d’Or
The Sound
Open, balanced, and dynamic. The AE509 fills larger spaces with ease while retaining the delicacy and transparency of its stand-mount sibling. Imaging is precise, vocals are forward without being etched, and bass is taut and extended without boom. It’s a confident, room-friendly tower with a very refined voice.
What They’re Saying
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“Diapason d’Or” — France
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“Best of 2021” — Audiograde
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Highly Recommended — Hi-Fi Critic
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“Best Buy” — The Ear
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10 Stars — Hi-Fi Voice
The Essentials
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Design: 2-way slim-line tower, MTM layout
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Tweeter: 25mm carbon fiber dome with WDT waveguide
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Mid/Bass: Dual 125mm carbon fiber drivers with 35mm coils
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Cabinet: RSC composite eliminates resonance & vibration, with rear slot port
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Stability: Solid aluminum outrigger bars
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Finishes: Piano Gloss Black, American Walnut
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Performance: Transparent highs, dynamic mids, extended bass authority
Chris Kelly, Hi Fi Critic Sept 2022, Highly Recommended –
“Starting with the 2022 reissue of the Beach Boys three-CD Best Of: Sounds of Summer… As a lifelong Beach Boys fan, I was startled and delighted with how immediate and real these wonderful old songs sounded, and through the AE509s I was able to hear little details which I’d never picked up on before. “
“If you are in the market for a new pair of loudspeakers, the Acoustic Energy AE509s really should be on your ‘must audition’ list – at this price I think they’ll trounce much of the competition.” Chris Kelly, Hi Fi Critic Sept 2022, Highly Recommended
JR, Audiophile Consumer, Feb 2022 –
“I recently purchased a pair of AE509 floor standing speakers because I was intrigued by the carbon fiber drivers. Since I did not have direct access to a distributor, I took a gamble and bought them sight unseen and without audition. My gamble paid off big. The carbon fiber midbass drivers reveal new levels of detail to bass guitars and the like. The midrange is exceptionally clear and full-bodied, and the soundstage is incredible–especially considering my less-than-optimal listening space.
The carbon fiber tweeter is a marvel and sounds like no other. It eschews the sparkle of metal (and some textile) tweeters in favor of an extremely smooth and balanced presentation that conveys every bit of detail without a hint of sibilance. I can toe these speakers in directly to the listening position for the best stereo imaging and enjoy extended listening sessions at high volume without a hint of fatigue. Without question, these speakers simply sound incredible and made me an instant fan of Acoustic Energy.” JR, Audiophile Consumer, Feb 2022
Lee Dunkley, Audiograde Magazine Dec 2021 –
AE509 – Audiograde – Recommended and Best of 2021 Award!
“There’s a smoothness to the way this speaker presents music and a complete lack of harshness to its delivery, sounding refined and engaging even at high volume levels. I suspect that the level of treble clarity is a result of the carbon fibre material used in the tweeter and its finesse is applauded.” Lee Dunkley Audiograde Dec 2021
Geoffrey Van Houweart, Alpha Audio Netherlands, March 2020 –
“Floorstanders in this price range rarely deliver this kind of tight, punchy bass that holds up even during complex passages. The bass is gorgeous and quite addictive. We didn’t see that coming.“
“The Acoustic Energy AE509 are funky speakers! We couldn’t describe it any better.”
“Deus with “A bar under the sea” is an album with a flawless production, every song starts quietly and gets busier towards the end, a tried and tested recipe with this Belgian top band. Once again the reproduction by the AE509 is just right. A nice amount of weight to the guitars and when things get more complex the AE509 has no problem handling it.”
“Pop music, electronics and jazz go great on these speakers and even classical music works great. The AE509 is a true all-rounder.”
“It easily integrates into your room and looks fantastic doing so. The price is more than fair and the finish is impeccable. Everything about this loudspeaker is just right. So be sure to consider the Acoustic Energy AE509 when you’re looking in this price range. Alpha Approved!” Goeffrey Van Houwaert Alpha Audio Netherlands, March 2020
Trevor Butler, EAR Magazine, Dec 2020 –
“In the AE509 we have one of the best mid-priced floor-standers around. They offer not only impressive sonic performance and build quality but also astonishing value for money with a three-year guarantee for the ‘just in case’. These are great all-rounders, as happy with speech recordings as with orchestral pieces, baroque as with solo instruments, rock as with pop. This design possesses a meatier bass than its rivals and is worthy of a personal audition to satisfy medium to large room requirements. AE have achieved excellent driver integration here to produce a foot-tapping sound with transient speed which its rivals will jealously admire. I am looking forward to other AE models in a similar vein in the months and years to come. Here is a model that should be on any serious audiophile’s shortlist”. Trevor Butler, EAR Magazine, Dec 2020
Dave Martin, Audiophile Consumer, Oct 2020 –
“Here is what I think of the AE509: The sound is fantastic. The AE509 fit and finish is superb. Warm, fast and excellent rendering of instruments. Female vocals are glorious. Seem perfectly made for jazz ensembles. Dynamic and powerful with no strain and no tizzy top end. These are just great speakers. Pairs well with my MastersounD Box integrated tube amp that puts out 35 class A watts. Thanks Bob I couldn’t ask for more.” Dave Martin, Audiophile Consumer, Oct 2020
Robert O. Audiophile in the UK, April 2020 –
“Originally owned a pair off superb Acoustic Energy reference 1s and wanted to upgrade to floorstanders.
I use Naim Amplification
I demoed at home—-
DALI RUBICON 6 – Good bottom end and superb treble, Weak recessed midrange, nicely finished cabinets.
SPENDOR D7 – Thin unengaging Sound, analytical, excessive treble, bland and plain designed cabinets.
SPENDOR A7 – More musical than D7, better integrated treble, thin sound, bland and plain designed cabinets.
WHARFEDALE EVO 4.4 – Smooth warm airy, but a little dull with some loss of finer details, issues with cabinet quality
FOCAL ARIA 926 – Bright forward, sibilance with tweeter, gave me a headache, defects in cabinet finish.
I initially short demoed the AE509s at a hi fi dealer and wasn’t impressed, they sounded OK but nothing special.
After trying out all the other speakers mentioned here plus others at various dealers, I decided to give the AE509s another chance but with a home demo and was glad I did.
Initial impressions of the AE509s are of a muscular rhythmic warm and lush delivery.
Bottom end is tight and powerfully expressive and really delivers. Detail retrieval is excellent.
Bags of dynamic and fast rhythmic drive, a real musical and transparent sounding speaker that excites and keeps you engaged with the music.
Even with fast paced heavy metal the AE509s never lose track of pace and speed, or become confused and congested.
Vocals are lush, well presented and clearly placed perfectly at the centre of a wide soundstage.
Individual Instruments are superbly isolated and given plenty of space within the soundstage.
Focus, Depth and timbre of instruments are life like and beautifully surprising.
Not the type to have that sometimes, short lived initial wow at the dealers demo room, definitely an extended home audition speaker.
AE509 CONCLUSION–
Exciting, Muscular and powerful, Fast, controlled with perfect focus and soundstaging, Superbly Priced and elegantly finished. an absolute bargain and IMO easily bettered speakers well over their price range in both sound quality and cabinet finish.” Robert O. Audiophile in the UK, April 2020
Hi Fi Choice UK, Jan 2020 –
“I love the AE509’s clean, detailed, fast, adrenaline fuelled sound, combined with a high degree of refinement and superb sense of sophistication.” Hi Fi Choice UK, Jan 2020
Hi Fi Voice, Czech Republic Jan 2020 –
“The AE509’s are simply entertaining speakers that are easy to listen to and are one of the most exciting solutions in its price range.” Hi Fi Voice Magazine, Czech Republic Jan 2020