The original AE1 was Acoustic Energy’s first speaker and, to a large extent, remains its most iconic product. The fierce-looking compact standmounter first appeared on the market in 1987. It was an astonishingly ambitious design for a startup company to produce, with its technically advanced all-metal driver array, obsession with avoiding thermal compression and rock-solid build. A textured black finish suggested that the AE1’s primary purpose may have been studio use, but audio enthusiasts didn’t wait to hijack the product, and we’re glad they did.
The original sold for just below £700 back then, which was considered outlandishly expensive for something that was barely bigger than a size 11 shoebox. However, doubters were quickly convinced by the speaker’s blend of excellent detail resolution, strong dynamics and surprisingly potent bass performance. These were small speakers that could easily give physically larger price rivals a bloody nose, and usually did.
