Sweet Sensation - Why Acoustic Energy's Dinky AE500 is Our Favourite Affordable Standmount Speaker!

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5 ай бұрын

Here's something the guys have been saving for a rainy day. For several years now, David and Mike have really rated Acoustic Energy's AE500, but haven't got round to saying so because there have been too many other toys in the attic! But finally the time is right to celebrate this absolute honey of a cheap standmount speaker - it's a seriously musical design.
Each episode of Hi-Fi Riff features Mike and David's unedited, unexpurgated views about all manner of weird and wonderful hi-fi designs. Business executive Mike has a wealth of knowledge from previous hi-fi retail experience, and David has written about hi-fi for thirty years. Now Editor-in-Chief of StereoNET, he's picked up a few things along the way.
So relax and enjoy some one-take hi-fi riffing - and please leave your comments below. And don’t forget to hit the Subscribe button, this one goes up to eleven!
The eighties-tastic title tune is called ‘UFO/Mike’s Jumper’, and used with the express permission of our old pal and rights holder Simon Lythe.
Listen to this episode as a podcast :podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh...
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Пікірлер: 102

@gdwlaw5549 5 ай бұрын

My girlfriend just walked into my office and asked me why i'm watching two middle aged men holding white boxes 🙂

@Hi-FiRiff 5 ай бұрын

Yes, watch Hi-Fi Riff instead please. Mike

@APT79 5 ай бұрын

I noticed David indulged in copious amounts of tweeter bothering in this riff. Lovely stuff.

@philipharrison5025 5 ай бұрын

I logged on to point out the same thing. A master of the two-finger massage, it would appear.

@davidp3096 5 ай бұрын

DAVID. Stop stroking the Musical fidelity tweeter 😅

@spandel100 Ай бұрын

I was cringing watching that 🤐

@JohnnyThomas-py3jv 5 ай бұрын

This video is a powerful reminder of the positive impact creators can have on society.

@jimfarrell4635 5 ай бұрын

Right now Revel Performa 3 M106s are widely on sale for £999, reduced from £2300. I think if I had a grand and was looking for a stand mount I would be seriously considering them. They actually measure well, and sound great. A rare combination. But I have a soft spot for AE and these look really nice.

@timbre7999 5 ай бұрын

Great to see companies like AE and ProAc still offering uncanny sound from small enclosures. Reminds me of the early 90's Monitor Audio Monitor One. That looked too diminutive to even work but they were actually awesome, especially when part of a true high-end setup. I expect the AE500 will be much like that in terms of shock and value for money.

@DaleWhitlam-ni5wp 5 ай бұрын

Great review, thanks, I think one of the speakers probably need a new tweeter now. Not heard these but heard a lot that cost around a thousand and my fav's are Dynaudio Emit 20's, they're terrific and can currently be had for around 600, tremendous value. Keep up the good work.

@timothyfreeseha4056 5 ай бұрын

One of my favorite riffs because there are many talented designs in what I assume is very competitive range. Thank you!

@neilgelowitz4737 5 ай бұрын

Great review. As a Canadian Acoustic Energy dealer, I think you described them very well. My favourite at this price point.

@gabrielbacca381 5 ай бұрын

why are they so expensive in Canada? $1050GBP =/= $2200 CAD !! More than twice in British pounds... while the exchange rate is only 1.7*GBP?

@neilgelowitz4737 5 ай бұрын

@gabrielbacca381 the Canadian retail is $1999, so that's not too bad at all. Importing is expensive. Take a look at North American brands and what they retail for in the UK and they'll be considerably higher than the straight exchange.

@MrVinylista 5 ай бұрын

@@neilgelowitz4737 Correct. US brands in the UK are very expensive, in relative terms. Even at the Canadian price, I'd say the AE500 still represents very good value.

@gabrielbacca381 5 ай бұрын

@@neilgelowitz4737 I have an Exposure amp here in Toronto, and yes I am familiar with the increase. $2000CAD is not bad but as I said stores here in Ontario and Quebec are offering them at $2200. That's a bit much. Where are you located? Do you ship to Ontario/Toronto?

@nakedbananas444 5 ай бұрын

Hey guys! This was really interesting! Great to see you talking about more affordable equipment! 🍌😍🍌

@oliverbeard7912 5 ай бұрын

Nice looking speakers those. Thanks as always.

@stevehollingbery9744 5 ай бұрын

Totally engrossing riff again. Cheers chaps.

@Ricky-cl5bu 5 ай бұрын

Great review

@chrisschneiders6734 Ай бұрын

Have had the ae 500 for some years now and it's very impressive for such a small speaker to sound so large.. the other thing is they like being played with so good volume..only seem to get better.

@razisn 5 ай бұрын

Since the topic of the MF A1 ability to drive speakers was brought up again, let me tell you my experience after using it for a few months. I own both this and the 230 watts per channel choke regulated MF M6sPRX Class A/B power amp. I'm using them to drive my Proac D2R standmounts + 2 REL subs in a space significantly larger volume wise than your average British listening room with a listening position about 4m (12ft) from the speakers. The Proacs are about as sensitive as the AE500 maybe even a bit less but they should be a somewhat easier load impedance wise. What I can say is that for 90% of the material I listen to and for 95% of the volume levels I listen at (and I live in a detached house with the neighbours far enough), the A1 can drive the speakers as well as the big amp can. I would confidently recommend the A1 as being able to drive most any 2-way standmount in any standmount appropriate room unless one needs to party (especially when copious amounts of alcohol are involved), or one is a headbanger or wants to listen to one's Mahler at concert room levels.

@Hi-FiRiff 5 ай бұрын

Excellent real-world comment. Thank you. Mike

@heartofcinema3454 3 ай бұрын

my next speaker in walnut. saving up right now for Feb birthday!.

@numptification 5 ай бұрын

Good review and album recommendations into the bargain.

@jeffstockton534 5 ай бұрын

My new favorite channel. I've already been to ebay for Creek Audio and Linn Kans.

@Hi-FiRiff 5 ай бұрын

Excellent! Let us know how you get on!

@razisn 5 ай бұрын

David, would you please let us know how much finger poking that tweeter dome can withstand before it deforms? I'm contemplating buying these for my 4 yr. old grandson.

@MrVinylista 5 ай бұрын

Haha! It certainly looks that way on the video but the dome itself is quite recessed into the surround, so the tweeter emerged unscathed!

@razisn 5 ай бұрын

@@MrVinylista Good for it! Next one might not be so lucky.. I couldn't take my eyes from your hand..

@tonyhodgkinson4586 5 ай бұрын

I bought the A1 actives after watching your review of them while they were on a deal, fantastic speaker for the money and have no right to sound as good as they do for the money.

@Hi-FiRiff 5 ай бұрын

Totally agree. What do you use them with? Mike

@tonyhodgkinson4586 5 ай бұрын

@@Hi-FiRiff My intention was for a second system, but they are so good they are connected with my Naim 272 pre/streamer, fantastic system, the better the source the better the result they can reveal what's downstream well.

@enrico-nx1ow Ай бұрын

These or PMC Prodigy 1? Very very nice review!

@martinrose2833 5 ай бұрын

This is getting strange , I'm an early adopter of the AE Coriniums predating the Riff review and now I discover that David owns the same Sony top loading X 3000 ES CD player that I owned for many years . David can I recommend the CEC TL5 belt drive CD Transport , it's stunning .

@Hi-FiRiff 5 ай бұрын

One recently sold for £500 on ebay... a veritable bargain! Mike

@martinrose2833 5 ай бұрын

A cec or a X3000 And I ran the CEC TL5 with a Sugden Dac4 spooky @@Hi-FiRiff

@markuspajonk7762 5 ай бұрын

Its time again to listen to Llody Cole! Thanks!

@Hi-FiRiff 5 ай бұрын

Absolutely! Mike

@gdwlaw5549 5 ай бұрын

what a coincidence! I am about to embark on a perilous journey to Nimes to audition them......

@Hi-FiRiff 5 ай бұрын

How did you get on? Did you get home safely?

@StukaUK 5 ай бұрын

Stop stroking the tweeter !

@kjbunnyboiler 5 ай бұрын

Evening gents👍👍

@Hi-FiRiff 5 ай бұрын

Evening Kjbb :-)

@Hi-FiRiff 5 ай бұрын

Hope you like this one :-)

@dustinrichardson3607 12 күн бұрын

Great review. Definitely moved these toward the top of my next pair list. I’ll be replacing my 18 year old Epos M5’s with a new bookshelf pair in the next year or two. Very interested in the Fink Team’s new Epos ES7N too - any chance you’ll be getting them in for review?

@Hi-FiRiff 2 күн бұрын

I hope so! Mike PS am listening to a very nice pair of B&W bookshelf at the moment!

@Lovelacewatkins139 5 ай бұрын

They are huge towards my neat ministra 😊

@Hi-FiRiff 5 ай бұрын

Love the Neats too! Mike

@alanjacobs9216 5 ай бұрын

I love AE speakers, but.........Microdisney and Scritti Politti in the same video?! That's musical heaven. Try Scritti's "Anomie and Bonhomie" from 1999 for another brilliant recording that will test those speakers to the max.

@Hi-FiRiff 5 ай бұрын

Absolutely!!!

@scribemoles 5 ай бұрын

Great review. But how do they compare to the AE1 Actives?

@Hi-FiRiff 5 ай бұрын

Million dollar question! I love the actives personally. An outstanding all in one package. Mobile phone + Chord Mojo + AE1 Actives = massive bang for buck Hi-Fi. Mike

@G8YTZ 5 ай бұрын

You might like to reflect on the fact that these loudspeakers in real terms cost the same as Realistic minimus 7s did in the late 1970s. Also a pair of brand new LS3/5s were selling for £200 in Comet in the late 1970s. I judge inflation not by official numbers, but by the cost of beer. If you went into a GrandMet owned pub in the late 1970s, a pint of bitter cost 32p. All you have to do is divide today’s beer price in a pub by 32p to get the inflation factor.

@razisn 5 ай бұрын

Cost of beer is hugely influenced by taxation which is in itself influenced by prevailing social norms, so no it's not a good metric.

@Hi-FiRiff 5 ай бұрын

Excellent "Yard" stick (see what I did there?) Mike

@G8YTZ 5 ай бұрын

Arf Arf... 🙂@@Hi-FiRiff

@andrewcrossley2448 3 ай бұрын

Had mine for just under a year (in white), on white SolidSteel stands and each connected to its own REL TZero mk 3. Stands make a big difference. Chose the 500s over their bigger brother 509s for better imaging. Try Dylan’s Man in a Long Black coat streamed in hires. Amazing. I use a Marantz 8006 amp, as my main love is classical, and the three tone controls help. Hats off to Audio T for coming out to install it all. Of course with the dual subs you can ‘get church organs’ out of it….😊

@Hi-FiRiff 3 ай бұрын

The REL is a cool sub - I have one myself :-) Mike (will try the Dylan track - thank you).

@martinrose2833 5 ай бұрын

Dear viewer don't fondle or tweak your tweeters at home unless they are 'safe 'carbon fibre .

@michaelbooth6007 5 ай бұрын

How would the AE500'S compare to my Cambridge Aeromax 6's I wonder? Which model would you choose?

@MrVinylista 5 ай бұрын

Great question. Not really comparing like for like. Both have their strengths. Aero 6 is still a fabulous cheap used bargain.

@bjk6994 5 ай бұрын

Nice shirt Dave 😂

@MrVinylista 5 ай бұрын

Thanks. I do try to make an effort, sartorially.

@Hi-FiRiff 5 ай бұрын

When? Mike

@robertmarshall7712 2 ай бұрын

I had these for a bit. They were better than some of the similarly priced rivals I've tried but lacked any real sparkle and didn't sound special in any way. And by sparkle I don't mean attention grabbing treble but they just lacked that ability to really draw you in to the music.

@seankasabuske1986 2 ай бұрын

How are they for quiet listening? I live in an apartment and listen at modest volumes in a small room.

@spandel100 Ай бұрын

I use an Arcam Alpha 7 amp from the 90's.I lift the volume dial hardly off the zero and I get all the music.Excellent for quite listening.

@1jhnpennington 4 ай бұрын

With £1000 and in a decently damped 22ft x 12ft room with a powerful amp (listening position about 12 feet from speakers), would you go for these or the AE309?

@upitshak 3 ай бұрын

Any thoughts about the soundstage?

@spandel100 Ай бұрын

I have these...soundstaging is excellent.

@razisn 5 ай бұрын

I own an original pressing vinyl of that Scritti Politti record. It should be in very good condition since I have always hated it so it was played about thrice. Are you interested in buying it? It will cost you though mainly because of the hassle of having to go into the garage and move lots of old furniture to reach my stash of vinyl.

@Hi-FiRiff 5 ай бұрын

Yes please. Mike

@jamesschneider3828 5 ай бұрын

How would you compare them to the B&W 606s3? These definitely look better.

@MrVinylista 5 ай бұрын

I'd say these are considerably better to the 606 S3. Indeed, they're closer to being rivals to the 707 S3, and I still prefer the AE. The 707 is brighter, more upfront but less refined.

@spandel100 Ай бұрын

@@MrVinylista B&W can be headache inducing...they have a very tizzy signature.I have the AE's...they are warm and lovely to listen to.

@Ricky-cl5bu 5 ай бұрын

£500 to £1000 for a good bookshelf is a nightmare

@korling99 5 ай бұрын

i could get 12-20 pairs of those minimus speakers for the price of those

@razisn 5 ай бұрын

Have you thought about what you would do with those 20 pairs?

@MrVinylista 5 ай бұрын

@@razisn In a post nuclear holocaust world, those speakers would become a new form of currency, I am sure.

@andrewlittleboy8532 5 ай бұрын

Where did the new video go? AKAI R2R?

@robertleitch2016 5 ай бұрын

I believe it was pulled owing to objections to Mike and Dave appearing in blackface, in an attempt to reflect the attitudes and preoccupations of the time.

@andrewlittleboy8532 5 ай бұрын

@@robertleitch2016what, Seriously? Unusual for yt to act so quickly, it was only up a few hours if that, I never even had time to watch it. I guess yt are still reeling after losing face to 'pianogate at St. Pancreas'. Maybe they can upload it elsewhere so tye rest of us who understand a joke can watch it?

@Hi-FiRiff 5 ай бұрын

@robertleitch2016 Priceless!

@Hi-FiRiff 5 ай бұрын

We decided to get is serviced and do a proper Riff on it when it is working as it should be. Mike

@007soedal 5 ай бұрын

I tried the Microdisney track you recommended. Are you kidding me? It sucked!

@Hi-FiRiff 5 ай бұрын

Ah well, never mind. I get it's not for everyone. Mike

@007soedal 5 ай бұрын

No, but keep the recommendations coming. I have liked a few of your earlier tips 🙂@@Hi-FiRiff

@cremersalex 5 ай бұрын

Looking at the frequency response measurements, these speakers are not for me (and my tinnitus).

@michaelevans7015 5 ай бұрын

Give them a try. I'm a T sufferer too and they still sound sublime.

@spandel100 Ай бұрын

I have the worst tinnitus...dozens of tones including insects.I have these speakers and they are not in any way causing any problems.Though I do prefer my Ruark Talisman 2's though...which are extremely warm and silky.I know your suffering.

@spandel100 Ай бұрын

@@michaelevans7015 Yes agreed.

@ducmoto1975 5 ай бұрын

more enjoyable than the ls50?

@spandel100 Ай бұрын

Yes...less sharp sounding.LS50 have metal in their drivers.Not good if you like relaxing beautiful sound.

@hoobsgroove 5 ай бұрын

So you could say you don't like them much then😊

@robertleitch2016 5 ай бұрын

Good Rift, but aren't we overdue something that both of you think is absolutely bobbins, and have to say so in a tactful and constructive way?

@Hi-FiRiff 5 ай бұрын

We should start reviewing David's car collection then. Mike

@Colin.T. 2 ай бұрын

My girlfriend just walked into my office and asked me why i'm watching A TERRIBLE TOUPEE

@Hi-FiRiff Ай бұрын

Sorry about that. Must try harder. Mike 😁

@AlexMitchell-sj4sb 2 ай бұрын

Cheap speaker at £1050? Ok, that is neither cheap nor budget.

@spandel100 Ай бұрын

They should say relatively inexpensive rather.I have these.paid half price because they were a couple of months used.Still had the plastic on the badges.Second hand and run in can be easier on the pocket.

@AlexMitchell-sj4sb Ай бұрын

@@spandel100 true yes