In this review, we will be comparing AE500 Mark II and AE500, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Acoustic Energy.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of AE500 Mark II and AE500 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | AE500 Mark II | AE500 |
|---|
| Brand | Acoustic Energy
United Kingdom · founded 1987 | Acoustic Energy
United Kingdom · founded 1987 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Dome | 1" dome with waveguide |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" carbon fibre cone | 5" carbon fibre cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-26k Hz | 45Hz - 28kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 120 watts | up to 120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.50kg / 16.5lbs | 8.00kg / 17.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.2" x 7.3" x 10.6"
310.0 x 185.0 x 270.0mm | 12.2" x 7.3" x 10.2"
310.0 x 185.0 x 260.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the AE500 Mark II and AE500 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* |
AE500 Mark II |
AE500 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Bad |
(* 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 AE500 Mark II and AE500 are 2-way speakers.
AE500 Mark II AE500
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
AE500 Mark II |
AE500 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
AE500 Mark II features a 1.1" soft dome Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" carbon fibre cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3.2kHz. On the other hand, the AE500 features a 1" carbon fibre dome with waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 5" carbon fibre cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz.
Frequency Response
AE500 Mark II has a frequency range of 45-26k Hz whereas AE500 has a frequency range of 45Hz - 28kHz.
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
AE500 Mark II is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the AE500 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 87 dBdB.
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.
AE500 Mark II and AE500 have the same power range of up to 120 watts.
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.
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 AE500 Mark II's and AE500's external dimensions. AE500 Mark II has external dimensions of 310.0 x 185.0 x 270.0mm (12.2 x 7.3 x 10.6inch) whereas AE500 has external dimensions of 310.0 x 185.0 x 260.0mm (12.2 x 7.3 x 10.2inch).
AE500 Mark II has the same height and width with AE500. On the other hand, with a thickness of 270.0mm, it is 10mm deeper.
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.
Near-identical footprints.
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 AE500 Mark II is approximately 499.5cm2 / 77.4inch2 and base area of the AE500 is approximately 481.0cm2 / 74.6inch2. The AE500 Mark II requires 4% more surface area than the AE500 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 AE500 Mark II weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs and the AE500 weighs 8.00kg / 17.6lbs. This makes the AE500 7% heavier than the AE500 Mark II.
Here is a comparison of how AE500 Mark II and AE500's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
481cm2
vs
499cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Acoustic Energy AE500 Mark II |
Acoustic Energy AE500 |
| Brand |
Acoustic Energy |
Acoustic Energy |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 120 watts |
up to 120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-26k Hz |
45Hz - 28kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
carbon fibre cone |
carbon fibre cone |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
dome with waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3.2kHz |
2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
310.0mm (12.2") |
310.0mm (12.2") |
| Width |
185.0mm (7.3") |
185.0mm (7.3") |
| Depth |
270.0mm (10.6") |
260.0mm (10.2") |
| Weight |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
8.00kg (17.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
Resonance Suppression Composite (RSC) |
| Available Colors |
Piano Gloss White,Piano Gloss Black,American Walnut wood veneer |
Piano Gloss Black, Piano Gloss White, American Walnut wood veneer |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
A generation apart: AE500 Mark II 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 (45Hz vs 45Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | AE500 Mark II is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (120W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
A AE500 Mark II B AE500
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?
AE500 Mark II has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does.
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.