In this review, we will be comparing Studio 89 and AE500, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Monitor Audio and Acoustic Energy.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Studio 89 and AE500 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Studio 89 | AE500 |
|---|
| Brand | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 | Acoustic Energy
United Kingdom · founded 1987 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | MPD III (folded ribbon) | 1" dome with waveguide |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 4.25" RDT III | 5" carbon fibre cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 48-60k Hz | 45Hz - 28kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-300 watts | up to 120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.60kg / 16.7lbs | 8.00kg / 17.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13-3/8" x 6-3/16" x 14-3/16"
340.0 x 157.0 x 361.0mm | 12.2" x 7.3" x 10.2"
310.0 x 185.0 x 260.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Monitor Audio Studio 89 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* |
Monitor Audio Studio 89 |
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 Studio 89 and AE500 are 2-way speakers.
Monitor Audio Studio 89 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 |
Monitor Audio Studio 89 |
AE500 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4.25-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
Studio 89 features a " MPD III (folded ribbon) Tweeter and 2 x 4.25" RDT III Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz. 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
Studio 89 has a frequency range of 48-60k Hz whereas AE500 has a frequency range of 45Hz - 28kHz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the AE500 can go slightly deeper then the Studio 89's min frequency of 48Hz.
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
Studio 89 and AE500 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Studio 89 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the AE500's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the AE500 a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Studio 89, 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.
Studio 89 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas AE500 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Studio 89.
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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Studio 89 and AE500 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 Monitor Audio Studio 89's and AE500's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Studio 89 has external dimensions of 340.0 x 157.0 x 361.0mm (13-3/8 x 6-3/16 x 14-3/16inch) whereas AE500 has external dimensions of 310.0 x 185.0 x 260.0mm (12.2 x 7.3 x 10.2inch).
AE500 is 30mm shorter and 101mm less deeper than Monitor Audio Studio 89 but it is also 28mm wider.
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 Monitor Audio Studio 89 is approximately 566.8cm2 / 87.9inch2 and base area of the AE500 is approximately 481.0cm2 / 74.6inch2. The Studio 89 requires 18% 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 Monitor Audio Studio 89 weighs 7.60kg / 16.7lbs and the AE500 weighs 8.00kg / 17.6lbs. This makes the AE500 5% heavier than the Studio 89.
Here is a comparison of how Studio 89 and AE500's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
60k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
4.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
310mm
vs
340mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
481cm2
vs
566cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1499USD
vs
2500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Monitor Audio Studio 89 |
Acoustic Energy AE500 |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
Acoustic Energy |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
50-300 watts |
up to 120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
48-60k Hz |
45Hz - 28kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.25" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
RDT III |
carbon fibre cone |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
MPD III (folded ribbon) |
dome with waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2400Hz |
2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
340.0mm (13.4") |
310.0mm (12.2") |
| Width |
157.0mm (6.2") |
185.0mm (7.3") |
| Depth |
361.0mm (14.2") |
260.0mm (10.2") |
| Weight |
7.60kg (16.7lbs) |
8.00kg (17.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/High gloss, veneer or satin paint |
Resonance Suppression Composite (RSC) |
| Available Colors |
High Gloss Black, High Gloss White |
Piano Gloss Black, Piano Gloss White, American Walnut wood veneer |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
|
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
|
These sit in different price classes - Monitor Audio Studio 89 costs roughly 1.7x what AE500 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | AE500 digs deeper - 45Hz against 48Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Monitor Audio Studio 89 takes more power (150W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | AE500 is easier to place; Monitor Audio Studio 89 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | AE500 is cheaper - $1,499 against $2,500, about 40% less; arguably a different class. |
A Monitor Audio Studio 89 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $1,001 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.