Loudspeakers

While AE’s 29mm anodised alloy dome tweeter has an extended 47kHz response (–6dB re. 10kHz) this follows a vigorous (+13dB) breakup just outside the audioband at 24.5kHz [CSD waterfall, Graph 2 and pink shaded area, Graph 1]. The ‘BBC-esque’ dip through the mid/presence [again, see Graph 1], coupled with the +3.5dB lift at 20kHz prior to that dome mode, results in ±3.9dB and ±3.8dB response errors, respectively. Pair matching is a fair 1.0dB, largely a function of the bass/mid than treble drivers, while the speaker’s off-axis uniformity is superb – a 15° toe-in/out producing a mere 0.4dB change in response [blue trace]. The grille, however, produces a further exaggeration – a 5dB dip at 4.2kHz [grey trace] – so should be removed for critical listening.

Sensitivity is closer to 83.7dB/1kHz (and 82.9dB from 500Hz- 8kHz) than the optimistic 87dB specification, so do not expect stadium levels from this compact enclosure. However, there’s a beneficial trade-off here in bass extension, amplifier loading and, unexpectedly, distortion which remains very low at <0.5% (80Hz-8kHz, re. 90dB SPL/1m). The AE1’s dual ports are tuned to a not unreasonable 60Hz and the almost inevitable pipe mode (at 1.07kHz and 2.14kHz) is held to –11dB, this being better (lower) than expected. The cumulative, diffraction-corrected bass extension is a creditable 50Hz (–6dB re. 200Hz), exactly as specified by Acoustic Energy, and achieved without saddling the partnering amp with a punishing load. The AE1’s minimum impedance is 5.1ohm/214Hz and the toughest EPDR is a not-very-tough 2.6ohm/140Hz, ensuring this little speaker is a good match for most budget amps. PM

Hi-Fi News Measured Specifications:

Sensitivity (SPL/1m/2.83V – 1kHz/Mean/IEC)	83.7dB / 82.9dB / 81.6dB
Impedance modulus: minimum & maximum (20Hz–20kHz)	5.14ohm @ 210Hz 23.9ohm @ 2.18kHz
Impedance phase: minimum & maximum (20Hz–20kHz)	–42°@ 111Hz +42° @ 928Hz
Pair matching/Resp. error (200Hz–20kHz)	1.0dB / ±3.9dB / ±3.8dB
LF/HF extension (–6dB ref 200Hz/10kHz)	50Hz / 48.0kHz / 46.9kHz
THD 100Hz/1kHz/10kHz (for 90dB SPL/1m)	0.35% / 0.15% / 1.0%
Dimensions (HWD) / Weight (each)	295x180x240mm / 7kg