The very new, very beautiful Acoustic Energy AE100² is a radical re-working of what was already one of our favourite little entry-level bookshelf loudspeaker. When the folks at Acoustic Energy told us their plans, we didn’t quite believe them. But guess what? They’ve only gone and done it!

Acoustic Energy AE100²

The AE100² has been designed with a view to achieving high sound pressure levels from a small enclosure. This is obtained principally through the use of a 130mm paper mid-bass drive unit built around an ultra-high force, long throw motor system. Bass performance is augmented by a slot shaped duct allowing for a considerable cross-sectional area while negating the issues of air turbulence, chuffing and distortion.

A 25mm soft dome tweeter featuring Acoustic Energy’s Wide Dispersion Technology completes the driver compliment and is housed within a 15mm HDF cabinet. Taking design cues from the award-winning 500 Series and finished in a choice of satin white, satin black or walnut vinyl veneer finishes. The AE100² looks great and performs really well placed on speaker stands or bookshelves.

The rear also sports a set of nice chunky, gold plated 4mm banana sockets that will accept a plug a spade or even (god forbid) a bare wire speaker cable. As we know, the plugs are normally the better way to connect them as you tend to get more of a metal to metal surface area contact than any other method, but why not contact us if you want to discuss this more.

**Nice chunky holes to stick plugs ‘n’ things in!**

Let’s get to listening

On to the fun bit then! To put them to the test I played a selection of tracks from the brand new and totally excellent album that goes under the intriguing title of ‘As Long As The Light’ from Michael Rother and Vittoria Maccabruni. Now any of you familiar with your Krautrock will recognise this man who is among the most influential artists in rock, experimental, and electronic music. He has a long and illustrious history with a long list of great bands and artists including Kraftwerk, Neu, Harmonia and Brian Eno.

The interplay between Rother’s electronics, psychedelic guitar melodies and harmonies and Maccabruni’s gloomy skittering loops, soundscapes and breathy ethereal vocals over these eight tracks is mind boggling to behold. Indeed there are times when you can hear elements of all those legendary bands that Rother has been a part of. The pair make interesting, challenging, and occasionally beautiful music together. If you are a fan of electronica of the gorgeous variety then this is for you. As Long As The Light is nailed on to be one of the albums of the year. It also happens to be a very lovely recording too. Out now to Stream and buy on CD but for vinyl copies, we have to wait until Record Store Day 2022! Oh well, whatever, never mind.

The little AE100² portrayed the soundstage as being big, open and detailed, to an extent not normally associated with a loudspeaker of this size and at this price! The sense of space around all the instruments and voices was such that if you close your eyes the speakers will simply disappear and the music is left hanging in the air in front of you…..I even got goosebumps!

To wrap things up…

So, all in all a great looking and fine sounding little design, small but perfectly formed. Who said you have to spend lots of money to get a big sound from small boxes?

But why take my word for it? Contact your local store to arrange a demonstration today.

Thanks for reading.

Andy, Jon and Farid - Audio T Cheltenham Store.

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Acoustic Energy can be found at the following Audio T stores