In this review, we will be comparing A1 and AE500, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Spendor and Acoustic Energy.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Spendor A1 and AE500 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Spendor A1 | AE500 |
|---|
| Brand | Spendor
United Kingdom · founded 1969 | Acoustic Energy
United Kingdom · founded 1987 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.87" | 1" dome with waveguide |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.91" | 5" carbon fibre cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-25k Hz | 45Hz - 28kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 84 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | up to 120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.99kg / 11lbs | 8.00kg / 17.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.1" x 6.5" x 7.3"
307.3 x 165.1 x 185.4mm | 12.2" x 7.3" x 10.2"
310.0 x 185.0 x 260.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Spendor A1 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* |
Spendor A1 |
AE500 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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 A1 and AE500 are 2-way speakers.
Spendor A1 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 |
Spendor A1 |
AE500 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.87-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.91-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
A1 features a 0.87" Tweeter and 1 x 5.91" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 4,200 Hz. 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
A1 has a frequency range of 55-25k Hz whereas AE500 has a frequency range of 45Hz - 28kHz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the AE500 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the A1's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
A1 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the AE500 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. A1 sensitivity is rated at 84 dB and the AE500's is rated at 87 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the AE500 a more sensitive speaker compared to Spendor A1, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
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 Spendor A1's and AE500's external dimensions. Spendor A1 has external dimensions of 307.3 x 165.1 x 185.4mm (12.1 x 6.5 x 7.3inch) whereas AE500 has external dimensions of 310.0 x 185.0 x 260.0mm (12.2 x 7.3 x 10.2inch).
AE500 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 19.9mm wider, 2.7mm taller and 74.6mm deeper than Spendor A1.
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.
AE500 needs about 57% more floor or shelf area. AE500 is 75mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall.
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 Spendor A1 is approximately 306.1cm2 / 47.4inch2 and base area of the AE500 is approximately 481.0cm2 / 74.6inch2. The A1 requires 36% less surface area than the AE500 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 Spendor A1 weighs 4.99kg / 11lbs and the AE500 weighs 8.00kg / 17.6lbs. This makes the AE500 60% heavier than the A1.
Here is a comparison of how A1 and AE500's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
5.91 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
307mm
vs
310mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
306cm2
vs
481cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
1499USD
vs
2300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Spendor A1 |
Acoustic Energy AE500 |
| Brand |
Spendor |
Acoustic Energy |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Sensitivity |
84 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-25k Hz |
45Hz - 28kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.91" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
carbon fibre cone |
| Tweeter Size |
0.87" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
dome with waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
4,200 Hz |
2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
307.3mm (12.1") |
310.0mm (12.2") |
| Width |
165.1mm (6.5") |
185.0mm (7.3") |
| Depth |
185.4mm (7.3") |
260.0mm (10.2") |
| Weight |
4.99kg (11lbs) |
8.00kg (17.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
Resonance Suppression Composite (RSC) |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
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 |
|
|
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | AE500 digs deeper - 45Hz against 55Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | AE500 is more sensitive (87dB vs 84dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Spendor A1 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Size | depends | Spendor A1 is easier to place; AE500 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | AE500 is cheaper - $1,499 against $2,300, about 35% less. |
A Spendor A1 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 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Spendor A1 the better fit for near-field listening; elsewhere the two are rated the same.
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.