Dutch distributor Viertron has announced that the new AE2 Anniversary loudspeaker is officially entering production.
According to Viertron, the new AE2 Anniversary is expected to arrive in the Netherlands in September or October. From that point onward, the speakers will be available in both Walnut and Piano Black finishes.
So what exactly is the AE2? Manufacturer Acoustic Energy explains: “Building on the unprecedented success of the AE1 40th Anniversary Edition, the AE2 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 1990s. 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.”
Reduced Cabinet Colouration
Acoustic Energy continues: “Sonically we 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. According to the manufacturer, minimalist low-order crossover networks contribute to a fast, lively and direct sound. “It places less emphasis on technical specifications on paper and more on what truly matters: the music itself. This is, above all, a loudspeaker for music lovers.”
In terms of output capability, the AE2 builds upon the strengths of the AE1 and is particularly well suited to rooms larger than approximately 25 square metres. “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.”
Finally, Acoustic Energy notes: “By popular demand we are producing a highly exclusive, limited quantity of our famous AE2 loudspeaker in full 40th Anniversary specification.” In other words, if you are interested, you may want to move quickly.
The AE2 has a recommended retail price of €2,799 per pair.