In this review, we will be comparing AE320 and Concord, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Acoustic Energy and KLH. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of AE320 and KLH Concord first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the AE320 and KLH Concord compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that AE320 is a 3-way design whereas the Concord is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
AE320 |
KLH Concord |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.2-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.2-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
AE320 features a 1.1" aluminium dome with waveguide Tweeter , a 5.2" Midrange and 2 x 5.2" ceramic aluminium sandwich Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 380Hz and 3400Hz. On the other hand, the Concord features a 1" anodized aluminum Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
AE320 has a frequency range of 35Hz - 30kHz whereas Concord has a frequency range of 28-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the Concord can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the AE320's min frequency of 35Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
AE320 and Concord have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. AE320 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Concord's is at 94 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the KLH Concord a more sensitive speaker compared to AE320, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
AE320 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Concord has a max power handling value of watts RMS, 200 watts less than the AE320.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare AE320's and KLH Concord's external dimensions. AE320 has external dimensions of 1000.0 x 175.0 x 260.0mm ( 39.4 x 6.9 x 10.2inch) whereas KLH Concord has external dimensions of 1026.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm ( 40-3/8 x 8-5/16 x 14-15/16inch) .
KLH Concord is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 37mm wider, 26mm taller and 120mm deeper than AE320.
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 AE320 is approximately 455.0cm2 / 70.5inch2 and base area of the KLH Concord is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The AE320 requires 44% less surface area than the Concord 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 AE320 weighs 26.00kg / 57.2lbs and the KLH Concord weighs 20.45kg / 45lbs. This makes the AE320 27% heavier than the Concord.
Here is a comparison of how AE320 and Concord's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of KLH Concord?
Here are the items that come with the Concord:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Spike feet (w/ locking nut attached)4 Protective discs4 Rubber feetPort plugManualATTENTION! note
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1000mm
vs
1026mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
455cm2 (175x260mm)
vs
805cm2 (212x380mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
94 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.2 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
1000USD
vs
2699USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Acoustic Energy AE320 |
KLH Concord |
| Brand |
Acoustic Energy |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 200 watts |
up to 225 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
94 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
35Hz - 30kHz |
28-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.2" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
ceramic aluminium sandwich |
Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome with waveguide |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.2" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
380Hz and 3400Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1000.0mm (39.4") |
1026.0mm (40.4") |
| Width |
175.0mm (6.9") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
260.0mm (10.2") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
26.00kg (57.2lbs) |
20.45kg (45lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
high density MDF |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Piano Gloss White, Piano Gloss Black, Real Walnut wood veneer |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
10 Years |