{"id":225854,"date":"2024-04-14T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-14T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ecoustics.com\/articles\/audiophile-system-builder-4\/"},"modified":"2024-04-20T07:28:52","modified_gmt":"2024-04-20T07:28:52","slug":"audiophile-system-builder-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ecoustics.com\/articles\/audiophile-system-builder-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Acoustic Energy AE1 Active Loudspeakers: One of the Best Kept Secrets in Audio?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Reading Hi-Fi forums is bad for your health. Both mental and physical. They are to be avoided like political rallies and 2-day old falafel in the West Village. It is where people who have never designed anything in their lives find the courage to tell engineers with decades of experience that their products can\u2019t possibly work or that they don\u2019t sound as good as the product they created in their basement. I\u2019m 100% sure the people who designed the Acoustic Energy AE1 know what they\u2019re doing more than Bob. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is where know-it-alls turn friendly discussions about \u201cpassive\u201d loudspeakers vs \u201cactive\u201d loudspeakers into long-winded political diatribes; eventually pivoting to comments about your obvious ignorance due to your genocidal Zionist upbringing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That conversation still makes me laugh. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is precisely that Yiddishe Kop that makes me both practical and able to accept change as it pertains to a lot of things — including new technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is moments like those that make me turn off the computer and raise the volume on the AE1 active loudspeakers. If you\u2019re looking for \u201cpowered\u201d loudspeakers that will not be obsolete even in the world of smart and wireless loudspeakers, these really need to be on your audition list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All active loudspeakers are \u201cpowered\u201d by nature (some are even naughty ;-)) but not all powered loudspeaker are active. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Acoustic<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Acoustic Energy AE1 ($1,590) are active loudspeakers because they feature separate power amplifiers inside each loudspeaker; both the tweeter and midrange driver\/woofer have their own amplifiers, active crossovers, and do not require a connection to the other in order to work.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The AE1 feature 4 x 50 watt\/channel class AB power amplifiers and offer no form of DSP. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are tied to the sound of the power amplifiers but that\u2019s a very good thing in this case. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are not wireless loudspeakers, but they will work quite effectively in the context of a wireless digital streaming system. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Acoustic<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Each loudspeaker has its own volume control (there is no remote) on the real panel of each cabinet; the placement is somewhat awkward so just leave them turned all the way up and forget that they exist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s fine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each loudspeaker features both single-ended and balanced input jacks. I didn\u2019t find the difference between them enormous but if you have a pre-amplifier, network streamer, or DAC with balanced outputs \u2013 try them both and see which one sounds better to your ears. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Acoustic<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

You can also trim the treble\/bass response by +\/- 2dB with switches on the rear panel, which will matter if you decide to set them up on a credenza and close to the wall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acoustic Energy have built a very solid enclosure that is extensively braced and weighs a hefty 20 pounds each. When you pull these from their packaging, you know that you just purchased very well-made loudspeakers. The 12\u201dH x 7\u201dW x 10\u201dD cabinet is deceptively heavy and inert. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acoustic Energy offer the AE1 in Piano Black, Piano White, and Piano Walnut. The supplied pair came in Piano Walnut and they are one of the nicest looking loudspeakers I\u2019ve tried in many years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Acoustic<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sadly, a pair of the matching Piano Walnut stands were not available from the U.S. distributor, so I tried the AE1 on a pair of 24\u201d GHA iron stands and IsoAcoustics loudspeaker Aperta loudspeaker stands on a 30\u201d credenza. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 5-inch ceramic aluminum sandwich cone driver is a proprietary design and can handle being driven very hard \u2013 something I did quite often. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m more of a soft-dome tweeter guy, but the 1-inch aluminum dome tweeter has excellent extension, detail retrieval, and never sounds too bright; there was zero excessive treble energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From a tonal perspective, the AE1 are definitely on the neutral side. Nobody will call them warm sounding. Some people may find them a tad cool for their tastes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which is perfectly fine because you completely change how they sound based on your choice of pre-amp, source, or DAC. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are also very dynamic sounding loudspeakers that certainly like to reach out and touch you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bass response is first-rate with these active loudspeakers. Bass is tight, articulate, and I am inclined to believe the quoted 42Hz \u2013 28kHz (+\/- 6dB) frequency response. In a very large room, you might want to add a subwoofer, but I was more than satisfied in my office (35\u2019 x 13\u2019 x 9\u2019) listening space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bass response in my den listening room (16\u2019 x 13\u2019 x 9\u2019) was excellent with rock, electronica, and jazz recordings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re Putting the Band Back Together\u2026<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

So, where things get interesting with the Acoustic Energy AE1 is when you start building a system around them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re only interested in a single-source digital system where you will be streaming, there are a few options that make sense but I\u2019m going to make it easy by telling you to buy a Bluesound NODE streamer<\/a><\/strong> and control the volume through the app on your phone, tablet, or laptop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bluesound
Bluesound NODE Music Streamer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The tonal balance of the NODE will add a layer of warmth to the sound and it\u2019s hard to beat the functionality of the NODE and access to almost every streaming service available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NODE is not as warm sounding as the discontinued Node 2i but it’s one of the best network streamers currently available and you can read more about how it performed in our recent review<\/a>. Needless to say, the Bluesound NODE will become a permanent part of my AE1 system in January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another solid option would be the new Cambridge Audio CXN100<\/a><\/strong> or MXN10<\/a><\/strong>; the CXN100 might actually be ideal for those only living in the digital streaming world and whom require a high-end source that will not be obsolete for years to come. The warmer tonal balance and ability to control the volume through the Cambridge streaming app make this a rathe ideal option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Cambridge
Cambridge Audio CXN100 Network Player<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Either wireless streamer<\/a> gets connected to the AE1 with one pair of interconnects (one cable to each loudspeaker so remember to think about distance from your equipment rack or credenza) and you\u2019re done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you follow the links to the other Audiophile System Builder articles in the series<\/a>, you can find some other streamers or streamer\/DAC combinations that I\u2019ve already tried with the AE1 that work very well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have more than one source; streaming, CDs, turntable \u2013 you will need to invest in a pre-amplifier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have to spend more money? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

WTF Reviewer Guy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look at it this way. The AE1 already include 4 excellent sounding solid-state class AB amplifiers so there is a cost savings there. You also don\u2019t require loudspeaker cables. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t need to go crazy on the pre-amplifier side; I can confidently recommend the Schiit Audio Saga+<\/a>, Freya+ or even something slightly over the top like the Pro-Ject Pre Box RS2 Digital Preamp w\/ DAC & Headphone Amp — which will run you almost $3,000 for a fully balanced tube pre-amplifier\/DAC that includes support for up to 32-bit\/768kHz files in PCM and DSD formats (up to DSD512) via USB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another option would be to find a used vintage McIntosh preamplifier with an internal phono preamp and go that route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are thinking about using only a turntable as a source, the EAR Yoshino PhonoBox (ordered with the preamp option) would be a smart option because it’s a fantastic phono preamp and the warm tonal balance will work perfectly with the AE1 loudspeakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pro-Ject Debut PRO<\/a> or Rega Planar 3 turntables would be excellent choices for this type of system, or you could use your existing table if you already have one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pro-ject
Pro-ject Debut Pro Turntable<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m one with the Force. The Force is with me. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The AE1 connects you to the music. I think that is their greatest strength. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first time I played Kraftwerk and Daft Punk through the AE1, I knew that they would not be leaving. They can sound effortless in the manner they present music depending on the recording. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pacing is a definite strength; music flows out of these relatively small 2-way loudspeakers with real drama. Drama is probably the wrong word for it \u2013 they have presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m more focused on tone, clarity, and pacing, but I think a lot of listeners will be impressed by their composure as you increase the volume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The AE1 sound perfectly fine at lower listening levels, and never lose control or sound congested if you raise the volume too high. A lot of high-end loudspeakers in their price range stumble if you drive them hard and with demanding tracks \u2013 the AE1 don\u2019t even flinch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They won\u2019t rattle the room, but you really feel your heart start to race when the music commands it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do not expect an enormous sounding soundstage, but everything is pretty solid in-between the loudspeakers and vocals can make you sit up and think that you\u2019re not alone in your space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vocals can also be slightly cool sounding if your DAC or pre-amp lean that way; detail might be phenomenal in this scenario, but I wouldn\u2019t trade greater tonal color for it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The more I listen to them \u2013 the more I feel that I\u2019ve only begun to scratch the surface of their capabilities and that makes them the basis for a fantastic sounding system for the long haul. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m not sure I would throw $5,000 pre-amplifiers and sources at them, but it\u2019s rather evident that they would never be embarrassed in such a scenario. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a number of DACs with their own volume control that could help simplify putting a system together with the Acoustic Energy AE1; Mytek, AudioQuest, NAD, iFi and Pro-Ject Audio Systems all offer components that would work well here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acoustic Energy has done a masterful job with these loudspeakers that have flown under the radar for far too long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expect to hear a lot about them because they are becoming a permanent part of my living room system.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pint<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Pint and Pickled Egg<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Acoustic Energy AE1 Active Loudspeakers <\/strong>($1,590\/pair at Sound Seller<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bluesound NODE Streamer<\/strong> ($499 at Amazon<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schiit Audio Saga+ <\/strong>($399 at SchiitAudio.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro-Ject Audio Systems Debut PRO Turntable<\/strong> ($999 at Crutchfield<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rega Planar 3 Turntable <\/strong>($1,395 at Turntable Lab<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Total System Price:<\/strong> $3,487 or $3,883<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related Reading: The $2,500 Audiophile System Builder<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Build a complete audiophile-grade stereo system around the Acoustic Energy AE1 Active Bookshelf Loudspeakers for under $4,000. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":89,"featured_media":225866,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"apple_news_api_created_at":"2021-09-09T08:07:06Z","apple_news_api_id":"9e481154-344f-4781-8b6d-06ef8bd1ae69","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2021-12-27T08:00:31Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQ==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AnkgRVDRPR4GLbQbvi9GuaQ","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"\"\"","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,63],"tags":[4772,5962,4773,4464,4774,4445,5964,4471,14452,4594,15624,4468,6598,4668,4381,5457],"class_list":{"0":"post-225854","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-articles","8":"category-home-audio","9":"tag-acoustic-energy","10":"tag-acoustic-energy-ae1","11":"tag-active-loudspeakers","12":"tag-affordable-audio","13":"tag-audiophile-system-builder","14":"tag-bluesound","15":"tag-bluesound-node","16":"tag-bookshelf-loudspeakers","17":"tag-featured","18":"tag-hi-fi","19":"tag-newsletter","20":"tag-pro-ject-audio","21":"tag-pro-ject-pro-turntable","22":"tag-rega-research","23":"tag-schiit-audio","24":"tag-vintage-mcintosh"},"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\nAcoustic Energy AE1 Active Loudspeakers: One of the Best Kept Secrets in Audio? - ecoustics.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Build a complete audiophile-grade stereo system around the Acoustic Energy AE1 Active Bookshelf Loudspeakers for under $4,000. 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White has been covering consumer audio, home theater, and A\/V since 1998, which means he has spent nearly three decades watching perfectly sensible products slowly evolve into more expensive versions of themselves with extra steps. His work has appeared in eCoustics, The New York Times, Gear Patrol, Digital Trends, JAZZIZ, Big Picture Big Sound, SoundStage, Enjoy the Music, and The Jerusalem Post, covering everything from high-end audio, home theater, movies, music, food, and the connected city. He\u2019s a certified ISF calibrator, a former Lead Copywriter, and a veteran of the quieter corners of threat engineering and cybersecurity, where nothing works without approval and someone is always asking about the TPS report. Academically, he holds a degree in Near Eastern Affairs with minors in Judaic Studies and Forensic Science. His worldview is shaped by history rather than theory: grandson of Holocaust survivors, descendant of Irgun founders, and named after an IDF tank commander killed during the Yom Kippur War. Born in Toronto, his upbringing ricocheted between Washington D.C., Chicago, Rockville, Northern Israel, Arkham Asylum, and a few other formative environments best discussed off the record, before settling in New Jersey, and South Florida\u2014because chaos, like mold, thrives in humidity and traffic. He was conceived at a drive-in movie (yes, really) and has since watched more than 5,733 films across eight countries, though he will still go to his grave insisting he waited only seven days, not eight, to see The Phantom Menace. When he\u2019s not writing, Ian collects vintage film posters, books, and an unreasonable amount of Star Wars, Detroit Red Wings and Washington Capitals memorabilia. 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White has been covering consumer audio, home theater, and A\/V since 1998, which means he has spent nearly three decades watching perfectly sensible products slowly evolve into more expensive versions of themselves with extra steps. His work has appeared in eCoustics, The New York Times, Gear Patrol, Digital Trends, JAZZIZ, Big Picture Big Sound, SoundStage, Enjoy the Music, and The Jerusalem Post, covering everything from high-end audio, home theater, movies, music, food, and the connected city. He\u2019s a certified ISF calibrator, a former Lead Copywriter, and a veteran of the quieter corners of threat engineering and cybersecurity, where nothing works without approval and someone is always asking about the TPS report. Academically, he holds a degree in Near Eastern Affairs with minors in Judaic Studies and Forensic Science. His worldview is shaped by history rather than theory: grandson of Holocaust survivors, descendant of Irgun founders, and named after an IDF tank commander killed during the Yom Kippur War. Born in Toronto, his upbringing ricocheted between Washington D.C., Chicago, Rockville, Northern Israel, Arkham Asylum, and a few other formative environments best discussed off the record, before settling in New Jersey, and South Florida\u2014because chaos, like mold, thrives in humidity and traffic. He was conceived at a drive-in movie (yes, really) and has since watched more than 5,733 films across eight countries, though he will still go to his grave insisting he waited only seven days, not eight, to see The Phantom Menace. When he\u2019s not writing, Ian collects vintage film posters, books, and an unreasonable amount of Star Wars, Detroit Red Wings and Washington Capitals memorabilia. He\u2019s a professional-grade foodie and former pizza maker whose loyalties lie with dim sum, biltong, curry, pizza, deli sandwiches, pho, and Korean BBQ. Weekends involve parenting, Shul, record digging, scribbling notes in his Hemingway-inspired shawl cardigan, rewatching movies he\u2019s already memorized, firing slapshots at the garage door like it\u2019s Game 7, and casting into the Atlantic Gulf Stream in search of dinner, clarity, and whatever\u2019s left of his moral compass.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/soundscreenandcuredjudgment\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/ian-d-white-969a48160\/"],"knowsAbout":["Fishing","cooking","writing","cleaning pots"],"knowsLanguage":["English","French","Hebrew"],"url":"https:\/\/www.ecoustics.com\/author\/ian-white\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ecoustics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/225854","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ecoustics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ecoustics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ecoustics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/89"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ecoustics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=225854"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.ecoustics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/225854\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ecoustics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/225866"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ecoustics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=225854"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ecoustics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=225854"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ecoustics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=225854"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}