In this review, we will be comparing AE520 Mark II and AE520, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Acoustic Energy.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of AE520 Mark II and AE520 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | AE520 Mark II | AE520 |
|---|
| Brand | Acoustic Energy
United Kingdom · founded 1987 | Acoustic Energy
United Kingdom · founded 1987 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Dome | 1" dome with waveguide |
|---|
| Midrange | 5" | 5.2" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" carbon fibre cone | 4 x 5" carbon fibre cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 28-28k Hz | 30Hz - 28kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 200 watts | up to 300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 30.00kg / 66lbs | 30.00kg / 66lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 41.3" x 7.3" x 14.2"
1050.0 x 185.0 x 360.0mm | 44.5" x 7.3" x 12.6"
1130.0 x 185.0 x 320.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the AE520 Mark II and AE520 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* |
AE520 Mark II |
AE520 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Average |
(* 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 AE520 Mark II and AE520 are 3-way speakers.
AE520 Mark IIAE520
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
AE520 Mark II |
AE520 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
1 x 5.2-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
4 x 5-inch
|
AE520 Mark II features a 1.1" soft dome Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" carbon fibre cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 220Hz and 3.6kHz. On the other hand, the AE520 features a 1" carbon fibre dome with waveguide Tweeter, a 5.2" Midrange and 4 x 5" carbon fibre cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 373Hz and 2.8kHz.
Frequency Response
AE520 Mark II has a frequency range of 28-28k Hz whereas AE520 has a frequency range of 30Hz - 28kHz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the AE520 Mark II can go slightly deeper then the AE520's min frequency of 30Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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
AE520 Mark II and AE520 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. AE520 Mark II sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the AE520's is at 90 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the AE520 Mark II a more sensitive speaker compared to AE520, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
AE520 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas AE520 Mark II has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the AE520.
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 AE520 Mark II's and AE520's external dimensions. AE520 Mark II has external dimensions of 1050.0 x 185.0 x 360.0mm (41.3 x 7.3 x 14.2inch) whereas AE520 has external dimensions of 1130.0 x 185.0 x 320.0mm (44.5 x 7.3 x 12.6inch).
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.
AE520 Mark II needs about 13% more floor or shelf area. AE520 Mark II is 40mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. AE520 is 80mm 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 AE520 Mark II is approximately 666.0cm2 / 103.2inch2 and base area of the AE520 is approximately 592.0cm2 / 91.8inch2. The AE520 Mark II requires 13% more surface area than the AE520 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 AE520 Mark II weighs 30.00kg / 66lbs and the AE520 weighs 30.00kg / 66lbs.
Here is a comparison of how AE520 Mark II and AE520's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1050mm
vs
1130mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 Base Surface Area |
592cm2
vs
666cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Acoustic Energy AE520 Mark II |
Acoustic Energy AE520 |
| Brand |
Acoustic Energy |
Acoustic Energy |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 200 watts |
up to 300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
28-28k Hz |
30Hz - 28kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
4 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
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 |
5" |
5.2" |
| Crossover Frequency |
220Hz and 3.6kHz |
373Hz and 2.8kHz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1050.0mm (41.3") |
1130.0mm (44.5") |
| Width |
185.0mm (7.3") |
185.0mm (7.3") |
| Depth |
360.0mm (14.2") |
320.0mm (12.6") |
| Weight |
30.00kg (66lbs) |
30.00kg (66lbs) |
| 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 |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
A generation apart: AE520 Mark II is the newer design, against a 2019 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 (28Hz vs 30Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | A | AE520 Mark II is more sensitive (92dB vs 90dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | AE520 takes more power (300W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
A AE520 Mark II B AE520
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, AE520 Mark II is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.