Acoustic Energy AE509 Walnut (Pair)

The handsome AE509 is the more living room-friendly model of the two floorstanding loudspeaker designs in Acoustic Energy’s flagship 500 series. Showcased at The Bristol Hi-Fi Show in 2019, the top-tier series introduces carbon fibre drivers to the Gloucestershire-based loudspeaker specialist’s continuously evolving portfolio.  

The company believes that the lightweight material delivers a step up on pistonic power and precision over its ceramic/aluminium drivers. Its low weight to strength ratio brings improved driver self-damping and the material has been used in mid and bass driver designs elsewhere. Acoustic Energy is one of a few to also use it in the design of its 25mm dome tweeter. This decision presumably helps to achieve cohesive voicing between the tweeter and the dual 125mm drivers in the AE509’s two-way, mid-tweeter-mid/bass (MTM) configuration.  

Super structure

At the time of launch, 500 Series designer and managing director Matt Spandl commented: “We have spent considerable time developing the carbon fibre transducers and perfecting our unique cabinet technology. The results have been proven and I’m confident we’ve developed a new flagship range with exceptional sound, build and value.” 

The new series introduced the AE500 standmount priced at £1,050 (£1,250 with dedicated stands) and AE509 floorstander at £2,400. The range has since been bolstered by the AE520 floorstander introduced last year priced at £3,650 – an imposing 1.13m tall six-driver arrangement in a three-way configuration offering greater power handling. 

Lust for life

The AE509 claims 175W power handling and is suitable for medium to large-sized listening spaces. It feels understated in my living room and I love the eye-catching lustre of the black high-gloss finish and the way the slim, modern styling contrasts gracefully with the decor of my home. White piano gloss and American walnut wood veneer finishes are also available.  Texture and light

Acoustic Energy is one of the first to choose carbon fibre as the material for a dome tweeter

Removing the cloth grille held in place by magnets hidden beneath the surface of the front baffle reveals twin 125mm drivers at the top section of the cabinet. Each driver has a 35mm voice coil and a metal dust cap. One driver is located above the 25mm tweeter (with surrounding waveguide), and the other below. The texture of the carbon fibre cones shimmer under my living room lights and the overall aesthetic is one of understatement, with no flashy accents to unbalance the speaker’s style.  

The 18mm-thick cabinet is a three-layer composite sandwich construction comprising MDF and rubber. The resonance reducing technique evolved from the company’s Reference Series and requires less internal bracing. A bass reflex slot port sits at the top of the rear baffle helping to make the AE509 unfussy about placement, making it flexible enough to be sited within close proximity to boundary walls.  

The crossover circuitry is housed in a carefully tuned separate 3l box section at the base of the cabinet. The AE509’s frequency response is quoted at 32Hz – 28kHz (+/- 6dB) with the handover between mid/bass and tweeter drivers at 2.9kHz. Speaker impedance is rated at 6ohm. 

Standing strong 

The aluminium bracing at the base of the cabinet incorporates four large spikes to aid floor decoupling and reduce room interaction. This also widens the speaker’s footprint to help stabilise the cabinet’s slightly top-heavy proportions.