EXCELLENT Acoustic Energy AE300 HiFi Speakers REVIEW vs Bowers 606 EVO 4.2 RP600M Mega Test 6 /9
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- Опубліковано 26 лип 2024
- Welcome to Pursuit Perfect System
In this video is my REVIEW of the Acoustic Energy AE300 HiFi Stand Mount Speakers that cost £599
Available to buy here
www.acoustic-energy.co.uk/pro...
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I compare to the Klipsch RP600M • Different Proud Klipsc...
available to buy here geni.us/65HbBAV
To the Bowers & Wilkins 606 review here • Bowers & Wilkins 606 H...
available to buy here geni.us/ax7OXc
To the Wharfedale EVO 4.2 Review here • Wharfedale EVO 4.2 HiF...
available to buy here geni.us/BWvr64
To the Q Acoustics 3030i Review Here • "PERFECT" First HiFi S...
available to buy here geni.us/fnx3
To the SVS Prime BookShelf Speakers • Ultra "HONEST" SVS Pri...
available to buy geni.us/CS1QJ
To the Acoustic Energy AE300 • EXCELLENT Acoustic Ene...
To the Focal Chora 806 • Good "All-Round" Focal...
available to buy here geni.us/OpkHJr
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This is the sixth comparison review as part of a 9 speaker group test which you can find out all about here • HiFi Speaker MEGA-TEST...
There is a Sound Demo video for the SVS Prime speakers make sure you check that out as well
Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:53 Comparisons
1:21 First Impressions
2:57 In Room Measurements
3:48 Treble
6:36 Mid-Range Vocals
9:23 Bass
11:36 Sound Stage
14:43 Looks Build Quality
15:12 Price
16:06 Final Thoughts
My Reference Review HiFi System used to review these speakers is
Music Source Custom Built Audio PC featuring products from JCAT XE USB Card, Optimo 3 Duo Linear Power Supply, Signature Cables USB and SATA, Net Femto Network Card, JCAT Grounding Cable
• Building the ULTIMATE ...
• €500 vs €900 HIFI USB ...
• JCAT OPTIMO 3 DUO Line...
• NEW FLAGSHIP JCAT USB ...
Chord Electronics Hugo TT 2 DAC and PRE Amp
• Chord Electronics Hugo...
Chord Electronics Hugo M Scaler connected with Wave High Fidelity Cables
• Chord Electronics Hugo...
www.wavehighfidelity.com/stor...
Chord Electronics Etude Amplifier
chordelectronics.co.uk/produc...
Power IsoTek EVO 3 NOVA / IsoTek Genesis One
• NEW IsoTek EVO 3 NOVA ...
• IsoTek EVO3 Genesis On...
Power Cables Tellurium Q Silver, Silver Diamond
• Tellurium Q Silver Ult...
Analogue Cables Tellurium Q Statement RCA Phono and Speaker Cables
• Perfect HiFi Cables?? ...
Room Acoustics - All from GIK Acoustics gikacoustics.co.uk/
The subwoofers you can see are not on, they are not even plugged in but they are 4 REL HT/1508 Predator • 4 REL Acoustics PREDAT...
Chapters
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I am a Dirac Live Calibrator and come and out and setup systems for customers, if this is of interest please get in touch with me
terryellis@pursuitperfectsystem.com
www.pursuitperfectsystem.com/
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"mid-range and vocals Harbeth like", wow! That's high praise Terry. I'm intrigued, look forward to their AE's sound demo. Thanks
That is what they reminded me of a relaxed and organic sounding mids
Another great review, looking forward to the final outcome
Keep up the good work! Looking forward to final ranking 😎
Love the review.. just bought these here in Finland
Great review and have really enjoyed this small speaker mega test series!
Thanks! 👍
Grills off, what a lovely looking little speaker.
Thanks (y) for the excellent video & your positive feedback for Acoustic Energy AE 300s
Nicely done. Need to search this one out. Makes me wonder what going up the chain gives you. Harbeth like says a lot especially at their price point, and yes they are lovely looking speaker. Appreciate your efforts.
Harbeth like for their mid range delivery
After watching these bookshelf reviews, I finally decided on buying the AE309 floorstanding speakers.
No real info on AE speakers on youtube exept the videos from Pursuit Perfect System, so the closest I got to a review on the AE309 was this review on the AE300.
I had the AE100 bookshelf speakers back in the mid 90s, and they do play really sweet, but lack a bit of bass when playing loud, so the AE309 will be really interesting to hear.
I also got a SVS PB1000 for extra bass when watching movies, but for music, the AE309s will be doing all the work, no need to pollute the sound with a sub ;)
Thank you for a great channel, and really informative reviews =) Keep up the great work!
Did you get the AE 309 speakers ? What are your impressions of them?
@@sam66hazmal Worth every penny. Warm and very detailed sound. I use them for all kinds of music, movies and gaming.
For classical music, and detailed vocals like Black Rose, Fink or Bjørk, they are perfect. Type O Negative can not be played to loud either, and RTJ, The Roots, Outcast and other rap/hip hop artists they deliver all the bass I need, and the only time I use the subwoofer is when i watch movies.
With 165w on each channel, I was a bit worried this new-years party, with several drunk friends playing DJ with my stereo, but the speakers survived without any damage, and those guys played them a lot louder than I had ever done before.
So, all in all, the only other pair I would consider in this prize range would be the Wharfdale floor speakers,
but those are at least 1 size bigger.
AE speakers are always the smallest ones among their competition, but always deliver a bigger sound than expected.
@@TooLF8th thank you for your reply I will need to take my amplifier to thr local Hifi shop and see how well the match with these speakers, thanks again
@@sam66hazmal I have used both NAD and Yamaha on them, and prefer Yamaha since NAD itself is a bit warm, while Yamaha has a crisper sharper sound. 40w NAD drove the speakers easily, and the 80w Yamaha as well, but the Yamaha I use now with 165w channels are perfect for me. It gives that little extra punch and girth when playing loud.
Good luck, please give us an update if you end up buying the speakers. 🙂
Am loving this mega test of speakers, thanks! Looking forward to final video and the conclusions you draw from this exercise. Will you be awarding a 'best' speaker pair? ;)
That is not going to be easy because of the significant differences in what your money gets you but, that was my original plan so Yes that is still the plan
@@PursuitPerfectSystem a tough task indeed and fraught with danger as you can't please 100% of the people 100% of the time! I'm sure it will be entertaining and insightful as always.
Hi Terry! I have really been enjoying the stand mount series. The AE300's have an awesome cabinet finish. Not a bad price tag at all. I have been following Acoustic Energy on Instagram. They make some beautiful speakers. Hope we can get a big distributor here in the US.
Thanks for following & for your positive feedback!
Glad you liked them. I was blown away by them at their price point. Would love to try the floor standing 309
Yes I can imagine the extra bass from a floorstander version of the same speaker would make for a barn stormer
@@PursuitPerfectSystem there's a pair on eBay I'm so tempted but I scared my wife will kill me😂
@@openears8914 I think of all the speakers you could surprise her with these are the ones least likely to leave you with bruised testicles
@@PursuitPerfectSystem 😂
I have a pair of 309s and you were right - they are barnstormers. Subtle, reserved barnstormers, but barnstormers all the same. You’re also right about them having a Harbeth-like quality to the sound as well. I’ve had some P3ESRs in the past and the overall sound is very similar.
Proper toe-in implies "on-axis" listening that ensures you are hearing the frequency response intended by the manufacturer. It also minimizes reflections that interfere with the precision of the stereo image. If you listen to a speaker off-axis, the response will be rolled off and the amount of reflected sound reaching your ears increases, often smearing the stereo image. The human auditory system evolved over millennia for survival, hearing a twig break in the distance, our ancestors could localize on where that danger was so they could run the other direction. As long as that direct sound is not being reflected off other surfaces, humans are pretty good at localizing the source of a sound. When listening in stereo, the same rule applies, aim the speakers directly at your listening position and you'll hear much more precise imaging. It also ensures both channels arrive at your ears simultaneously, a critical goal for stereo playback. To get a sense of how the recording sounds with no reflections, I always start with sealed headphones, then try to achieve that same clarity in-room with proper toe-in and distance, if you sit too far away from the speakers, you'll hear a lot more reflected sound than the direct sound of the recording. I'm the US dealer for AE, Essence For Hi Res Audio and have loved this brand since the early 90's, by far my favorite dynamic speakers.
I don't know if manufacturers would be on-board for it but a video comparing one brand's product line in the same format would be interesting to see (hear) what you as you go up in budget.
That would be an interesting thing to do, what does more money spent get you. Thanks for the suggestion
Quite fancy a pair of these speakers, I will shortly be moving house and will have a dedicated ‘man cave’ to enjoy my music, the intended partners will be a Rega 3, Marantz CD50SE running through an Arcam Alpha 8 amp. Now this kit is a bit old but until the kids moved out my gear has been in storage for more years than I can to remember, anyone have any thoughts on how these baby speakers will fit with my set-up? I am enjoying the series a lot, you do a good job of getting your enthusiasm across which is great. Once lockdown is over I will be trying to book an audition down at my local dealer but I am pretty much sold at the moment.
I love this series and look forward to each addition. I only listen to my two-channel system, in the sweet spot about 20% of the time. I wonder which of these speakers has the best vertical and horizontal dispersion for people like me that are constantly walking around my large listening room. I use subwoofers, so bass is not an issue with small speakers for me.
Hi Mark, I havent really been testing the speakers like that to give you an answer on that one mate sorry - thanks for watching and for the kind comment
@@PursuitPerfectSystem Their sweet spot is pretty narrow actually.
They play perfect for one person sitting in his/her favorite spot, but as others have said: If you are really going to focus on listening to the music, you are going to sit still, so no problem as long as you don`t plan to invite a few friends.
But I have never had a problem walking around pretending to multitask while enjoying the music, so the loss of sound outside the sweet spot is not really a problem in my opinion.
Best speaker investment I have ever made. 😁👌
Ive came back because i forgot to say, great review terry , i have a small room and i think the AE300 would be a perfect fit.
But ive also just burst out laughing watching another review, John Darko reviewing the Nad Masters M33 ,
especially when he was talking about Dirac , and calling a good friend of his that works in that field, a certain terry to help him set up Dirac in his room , hahaha brilliant.
Thanks, I spent a couple of days working with John Darko for his M33 review and showed him what Dirac is all about when you know what your doing with it :)
Best looking of the speakers so far.
I think they have a white advantage but the finish quality is outstanding which sets them off too
Pursuit Perfect System speakers always look quite fresh in gloss white true but I generally prefer gloss black. I think it’s down to the curving of the cabs that sets them off at the price point. I reckon if you put the B&W drive units in to the AE cabs you’d have the real winner in the looks dept. - if you ever feel like branching out in to a diy channel 😂
@@Mingchops haha :)
Nice review Terry. Liked the way you measure all your speakers and comment on how the sound is altered by frequency response. One featured you didn't comment on was the foam driver surrounds. If it follows the same pattern as my AE2's it will perish over time Lost money on those because of it!
That is not something I considered although I did spot it and it seemed different. Can you replace the drivers in the AE2??
@@PursuitPerfectSystem The drivers can be replaced or, more affordably, refoamed (Wembley Loudspeakers very good at this if you're in the UK). The foam is used because of the aluminium driver - when hard-anodised like this they are very stiff and therefore very pistonic, the character doesn't alter with volume so accuracy is maintained. The trade-off being a strong cone break-up around 5.5kHz (paper, for example, breaks up more smoothly but earlier and more in the operating band), foam manages this "spike" far better than rubber, hence the surround. The original drivers from the AE1/2 were usually good for 10-15 years depending on environment, if very humid maybe less, very dry more but nowadays the UV coatings are far better so there should be little issue for the lifespan of the speaker. :)
@@The_Jimrod Thanks James for all this info
@@The_Jimrod The foam actually lasted about eight years. I did speak to Wilmslow Audio at the time and they said they could replace the drivers but advised me to cut my losses because of the high cost of replacement drivers ( from Acoustic Energy ).
@@mikebooth8858 Yeah they're expensive drive units - hand spun aluminium is a bit labour intensive, refoaming is around £30 a drive unit I think. 8 years would be about the minimum for those older ones, bit unlucky there!
Hi I have a Project Debut iii s TT/Marantz PM6005 and would like to know if these AE's could be a good match considering they would be the most expensive component by a fair margin. I have a small room so huge bass is not what I'm after. The sweet treble that you describe sounds right up my street in terms of taste, I like a sound that doesn't shout at me and can be good for extended listening.
The only concern is they have to be pointed at an angle to achieve a more 3-D soundstage, otherwise they sound flat? I had a Quad S-2 for a trial period which displayed that flatness as well and it just couldn't draw me in emotionally, whether pointing straight into the room or angled. While it was very refined and focused, it was the flatness of the soundstage I didn't like. I have become accustomed and appreciative of speakers that can display a degree of 3-Dness, pointed straight into the room to widen the sweet spot and remains tonally coherent as you move around. I get these from Focal 807Ws and would consider a speaker with these qualities to achieve a smaller form factor. Considered Cantons but don't know what I would be gaining/losing at various price points and they are still large enough to not make it an appreciable difference in size. I can live with the Focals, heck they're great, just a bit large but play nice with various amps (class a/b as well as d). An overall great performer.
The Acoustic Energy AE300 if nothing else is making me consider the Acoustic Energy AE1 Active Speaker. Just don't want speakers I have to toe in much if at all. I like the idea of a good active speaker with a dac that is good enough to act as a pre with a couple of sources (CD/TV/streaming perhaps). Less bulk.
Would these be a winner if they had more bass or equivalent bass as the others? Have you heard the Acoustic Research Reference 1s or 3s for instance?
👍🏽 but it Looks like you just missed out on the new Elac Uni-Fi 2.0 bookshelf speakers 😏
Thanks for the great review! Would these speakers work as computer speakers in a home office? I tried cheaper Audio Pro A26 speakers but their standard hissing white noise was too much for me at a close distance. I enjoy streaming wide range of music. Thank you in advance if you happen to find time to reply :-)
Yes I think they would bear in mind they are not powered or active so will need an amplifier and source and dac etc
hi mate. i'm looking for monitors who can be used either in passive and active mode. i have a nice tube amplifier that i use to listen for lp or cd players and i would like to have also the possibility to use them connected to my m-audio fast track for home roecording. i mean does this kind of monitars exist first of all? thanks a lot
Thanks for the review Terry, think I am going to get some because of this. Quick question, what do you mean by 'aggressive towing'?
Toe in pointing the speakers quite directly at you. That is how I liked them
@@PursuitPerfectSystem Got it, cheers!! That's the way I like it too.
It looks like you traded in your black Wharfedale Evos for the walnut. Good call. :)
The blacks weren't mine the walnut maybe they are will have to wait and see - well spotted though
Would love to see how these compare to the new ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 Loudspeakers?
Distro User would love that. Im looking to upgrade my ub5 slim. Maybe to these as i need more relaxed speakers.
Another great review! Interesting, Acoustic Energy, not a manufacturer that’s been on my radar!
Out of interest, do you think all the characteristics of these speakers would be true of there smaller brothers, say the RP500’s/607’s etc?
Hi Thanks very much, I wouldn't like to guess on that one, because it would be a pure guess sorry
Your comment doesn't really make sense, Leigh. Smaller brother to the AE300 would be the AE100 - the speakers you list are completely different brands so you wouldn't call them 'brothers'.
Mr B duh! 🤣
A couple points. 1) You review these speakers with little break in time. Some speakers are terrible straight out of the box. Tannoy and Fyne are good examples. 2) Apparently these are not sold in the US. I checked their website and it says the nearest dealer is 4435 miles away in Scotland.
I agree with you in an ideal world and normally I spend a lot of time with a bit of kit before doing a review for it, one of the big positives of this big group test is having all the speakers here at once, however a big negative is the workload and time constraints of that workload - if I did a speaker review a month for 9 months I wouldn't get through much else because I cant change anything and keep the reviews fair. So time is against me but I am giving equal time to each speaker as I can
If you are interested in buying Fyne speakers contact them and see whom they can suggest to sell you some, that is the only thing I can think of in case their website is not up to date
@@PursuitPerfectSystem Fyne speakers are available in the US, however, at this point in time the Acoustic Energy are not.
@@stevec3526 Hi Steve, we've two smaller distributors / dealers in the US at the present time: www.soundseller.com/collections/acoustic-energy and www.essenceelectrostatic.com/product/acoustic-energy-ae300-stand-mount-bookshelf-speaker-pr/ they should be showing on the website, we'll look into why you can't see them.
I wonder how the AE300 compares with a twenty year old AE aegis one? They look quite similar.
The Aegis one is not really bad as always what we are doing. Always fair value for money. But time is going on. I think personally its more dynamic & crisp because of better driver/tweeter for the money.
@@markuspajonk7762 I'm using it with tube cdp and amp, and sounds only slightly inferior to ls35a for sgd200. All other price equivalents like kef, bnw, wharf, tannoy can't compare. Fast, open and neutral, electrostatic-like. Using chord oddysey 2 and furukawa silver interlinks. Aegis evo one bass better, but high deficient.
@@markuspajonk7762 I bought on the basis of audioreview.com. of 85 users, 80 gave it a 4 to 5 rating, and they were being honest.
@@2mikelim thats probably in some areas of the world a problem: You can't listen before buying so its really good to have a site like audioreview
Would be interesting to see how the AE 500 does
One day soon I will let you know ;)
@@PursuitPerfectSystem :) Hope very soon. I like your style of reviewing.
@@markuspajonk7762 thank you very much :)
Save the best for last. Focal Chora 806 :)
They are coming next :)
Nice. I am very interested in that review.
so no sibilance??? 😀
Check the sound demo video
Sadly, in America these cost $1,100. I could buy three pair of Klipsch 600's and still have change left over.
You can only listen to one pair of speakers at a time and the ones you enjoy more matters more otherwise you will end up buying new speakers again and spending more money. It’s always the way
@PursuitPerfectSystem It's higher price makes it much more of a risky purchase for me. I have nowhere within 200 miles to audition them. Even after auditioning speakers at store, I sometimes get home and they do not sound as good. I am thinking the Dynaudio Evoke 20 would be a better purchase for me, as I can buy them for $500 more.
@@Victrola777 yeah evoke 20 are great for that price more “exciting” and bassier than these
@PursuitPerfectSystem Would you personally buy the ae300 or the 500's?
@@Victrola777 500 are much better
Speakers need running in. You cannot judge speakers until that's done.
Even your background music is naff!
Maybe my videos are not for you then, lots of others for you to go and enjoy - no hard feelings from me
It's only background music. Stop being a little bitch. Man has good production quality and knows his shit.
Lol what a complete troll comment. 😂
You can't please all the people all the time...
shush up