Acoustic Energy AE2 40th Anniversary Edition Bookshelf Speakers

Stock expected October 2026

By popular demand Acoustic Energy are producing, for a limited time, a highly exclusive version of our famous AE2 loudspeaker in full 40th Anniversary specification.
 
Building on the unprecedented success of the AE1 40th Anniversary Edition, the AE2 model uses the same newly developed woofer and tweeter drive units from the AE1. The AE2 40th Anniversary derives from the legacy of the highly renowned flagship ‘AE2 Signature’ model of the 1990’s.  The same technological refinements from the AE1 have been used to update the performance to today’s level, along with aesthetic detail sympathetic to the original.
 
Sonically Acoustic Energy have upscaled the sound of the AE2 40th Anniversary with more bass extension and headroom, translating to lower midband distortion with greater transparency at typical listening levels. Matching the tonal characteristics and punchy dynamics of the smaller AE1 within the confines of the offset M-T-M driver layout, the AE2 cabinet required the addition of strategically placed steel plates to match the lower colouration of the AE1 and boast the same out-of-the-box audio quality… upscaled.
 
Like the AE1 40th Anniversary the AE2 is aimed at the purist audiophile. Low order, minimalist crossovers result in a ‘live’ fast sound, forgoing technical niceties and paper specifications to drill down to the heart of the music. It’s a music lovers’ speaker first and foremost.
 
The AE2 picks up where the AE1 leaves off in terms of out put, suiting rooms larger than around 25m^2. It offers the scale and authority of a small floor standing loudspeaker with the very low cabinet colouration, 3D imaging and ease of placement of a stand mount speaker.

Tweeter
Featuring a new larger 29mm voice coil, it supports a slightly larger aluminium dome to lower distortion. Like the original it’s ferrofluid cooled and damped.

Drivers
A new woofer has been developed to specifically match the characteristic sound of the original. The new cone is slightly larger, conforming to modern 125mm woofer standards, whilst the greater radiating area offers slightly higher efficiency, lower distortion and the ability to move more air. The cone itself is further strengthened by a thick, hard anodised ceramic layer coating on both sides.

Crossover
Drawing inspiration from the luxury ‘Signature’ version of the original speaker, the crossover uses low order filters and high-quality components to achieve a very natural ‘live’ dynamic sound. It has a warm natural midrange, good bass weight for its size, forgiving high frequencies and exceptional punch throughout its operating range.

Cabinet
Coated in ten layers of high gloss black paint or walnut wood veneer, the cabinet has been tuned to match the characteristic sound of the original AE2. The cabinet has also been upgraded to include our RSC material and internally we’ve added strategically placed steel plates to match the lower colouration of the AE1.

Specification

Tweeter: 29mm anodised aluminium dome
Mid / Bass Driver: 2 x 125mm spun / hard anodised aluminium cone
Frequency Range: 35Hz – 45kHz (+/- 6dB)
Sensitivity: 88dB/m/2.83v
Power Handling: 200w
Crossover Frequency: 2.2kHz
Impedance: 6 Ohms
Design: 2 way
Cabinet: 18-32mm RSC™ constrained layer HDF/bitumen construction, braced, strategically lined with 3mm Steel plates, triple reflex-ported
Grilles: Cloth, magnetic fit
Dimensions: 385 x 235 x 315 mm (HWD)
Weight: 14.5kg (each)
Finishes: High Gloss Walnut and High Gloss Black