In this review, we will be comparing AE1 40th Anniversary and 706 S2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Acoustic Energy and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary and B&W 706 S2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary | B&W 706 S2 |
|---|
| Brand | Acoustic Energy
United Kingdom · founded 1987 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Dome | 1" Decoupled Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" ceramic-coated aluminium | 6.5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-45k Hz | 50-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 150 watts | 30-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.00kg / 15.4lbs | 8.05kg / 17.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11.6" x 7.1" x 9.4"
295.0 x 180.0 x 240.0mm | 13.5" x 7.8" x 11.9"
340.0 x 200.0 x 301.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary and B&W 706 S2 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary |
B&W 706 S2 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both AE1 40th Anniversary and 706 S2 are 2-way speakers.
Acoustic Energy AE1 40th AnniversaryB&W 706 S2
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary |
B&W 706 S2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
AE1 40th Anniversary features a 1.1" aluminium Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" ceramic-coated aluminium Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz. On the other hand, the 706 S2 features a 1" Decoupled Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer.
Frequency Response
AE1 40th Anniversary has a frequency range of 50-45k Hz whereas 706 S2 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
AE1 40th Anniversary is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the 706 S2 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. AE1 40th Anniversary sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the 706 S2's is rated at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the B&W 706 S2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
AE1 40th Anniversary can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas 706 S2 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the AE1 40th Anniversary.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary
Cabinet Type and Port Position
AE1 40th Anniversary has a front firing port whereas 706 S2 has a rear firing ports. Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to B&W 706 S2 with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary's and B&W 706 S2's external dimensions. Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary has external dimensions of 295.0 x 180.0 x 240.0mm (11.6 x 7.1 x 9.4inch) whereas B&W 706 S2 has external dimensions of 340.0 x 200.0 x 301.0mm (13.5-inch x 7.8-inch x 11.-inch).
B&W 706 S2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 20mm wider, 45mm taller and 61mm deeper than Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
B&W 706 S2 needs about 39% more floor or shelf area. B&W 706 S2 is 61mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. B&W 706 S2 is 45mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary is approximately 432.0cm2 / 67.0inch2 and base area of the B&W 706 S2 is approximately 602.0cm2 / 93.3inch2. The AE1 40th Anniversary requires 28% less surface area than the 706 S2 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary weighs 7.00kg / 15.4lbs and the B&W 706 S2 weighs 8.05kg / 17.7lbs. This makes the 706 S2 15% heavier than the AE1 40th Anniversary.
Here is a comparison of how AE1 40th Anniversary and 706 S2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary
What's in the Box of B&W 706 S2?
Here are the items that come with the 706 S2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Two-piece foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Jumper-straps
- Manual
- Bowers & Wilkins brochure
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
45k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
295mm
vs
340mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
432cm2
vs
602cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| General |
Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary |
Bowers & Wilkins 706 S2 |
| Brand |
Acoustic Energy |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 150 watts |
30-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-45k Hz |
50-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
ceramic-coated aluminium |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Decoupled Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2800Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
295.0mm (11.6") |
340.0mm (13.4") |
| Width |
180.0mm (7.1") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
240.0mm (9.4") |
301.0mm (11.9") |
| Weight |
7.00kg (15.4lbs) |
8.05kg (17.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
RSC constrained-layer HDF/bitumen, ten-coat high gloss |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
High Gloss Walnut,High Gloss Black |
Rosewood, Gloss Black, Satin White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
A generation apart: Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary is the newer design, against a 2017 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (50Hz vs 50Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | B&W 706 S2 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary is easier to place; B&W 706 S2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | B&W 706 S2: bi-amping. B&W 706 S2 sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($1,999 vs $1,999 a pair). |
A Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary B B&W 706 S2
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
B&W 706 S2 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. Match it to your room: we rate Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and B&W 706 S2 for a mid-size room and a large room. In a large or open-plan room, B&W 706 S2 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Acoustic Energy AE1 40th Anniversary is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.