Every once in a while a speaker comes along which resets the price/performance mark. The Acoustic Energy AE520 are just such speakers. Beautifully designed and finished with foot tapping, awe-inspiring presentation & control.

Also available in gloss black and walnut

The AE520 is the latest flagship model in Acoustic Energy’s AE 500 series, which is designed as their reference line. We wrote about the AE500 and AE509 in a blog last year - this is a wonderful development.

The Design - “This feels like the future..”

The cabinet is thicker with bracing points and a central sealed chamber that houses the D'Appolito MTM (mid-range Tweeter & mid-range driver) arrangement. The lower three drivers drive 2Hz lower than the AE509.

This is a full 3 way with the crossover at 373Hz handing over to the mid-range and 2,800Hz to the tweeter, with a sensitivity of 90dB, which means there are a lot of options to drive and match components.

The carbon fibre 25mm cones with a resin binder, are stiffer & lighter with great damping and tonal quality. Acoustic Energy have mastered getting the best out of this material over aluminium, paper or kevlar options - this feels like the future. The lower 3 cones are housed in a stiffer surround, allowing for a longer throw and solid control over those lower musical registers.

The tweeter is noticeably set back more in the cabinet than the AE509s, with a much deeper and flared lens dispersion housing. This allows the high frequencies to blend seamlessly with the mid-range, yet curiously, still very detailed with the positioning of cymbals and high hats for example.

The Setup

We paired the speakers with a Rega Planar 6 and Naim NDX 2 streamer for source, using Chord Odyssey X cable. We wanted to investigate the options for amplification. At around £3-4K, the Rega Aethos was our first choice - though along the way we found the Naim Supernait 3, ATC P2 and a full Naim 300 system proved that these speakers aren't afraid of exotic power.

Listening

Overall, these speakers are a leap forward - in one word - control. The balance is superb. Beautifully wide separation & deep sound stage, tight base and smooth clear crisp vocals. They never felt forced or over analytical or too clinical. No matter what the setup was, they seemed to soar with an immense sense of timing and natural presentation.

Book an audition, bring along some of your favourite music & experience the AE520s for yourself.

Post by: Max, James & Justin Audio-T Bristol

Be sure to keep up with what is happening in the Bristol store by following us on Instagram and Facebook.

Acoustic Energy are available at the following Audio T stores -