A British Hi-Fi Maker’s New Loudspeakers Promise Elite Sound for Less

The loudspeakers have been completely redesigned and integrated with reference-quality tech.

Acoustic Energy 300 Series loudspeakers (2025)

Published January 21, 2025

·

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

Acoustic Energy is a British loudspeaker maker best known for its legendary AE1 bookshelf speakers, which were originally released in 1987 and are well-regarded for their dynamic and wide sound, at a relatively affordable price. (The company now sells an active version of these speakers: the AE1 Active.)

Today, the company sells a variety of loudspeakers — ranging from its entry-level 100 series (which start at a few hundred bucks) to its reference-grade 500 series and Corinium lines (which can cost upwards of eight grand) — and they all share a similar ethos, promising great sound for less.

This week, Acoustic Energy released the next generation of its mid-range 300 Series of loudspeakers, which have been “completely redesigned” and harness technologies from its higher-end loudspeaker lines.

According to the brand, the new 300 Series deliver “unprecedented levels of performance and value.”

Acoustic Energy 300 Series Loudspeakers (2025)

Brand new acoustics

Acoustic Energy released its original 300 Series back in 2018 — they promised a middle ground between the company’s entry-level 100 Series and reference 500 Series.

Its new 300 Series has a completely new acoustic and aesthetic design. In fact, the brand claims not a single component from the original 300 Series to the new 300 Series has been shared.

Each of the loudspeakers in the new 300 Series sports an all-new mid-woofer which is crafted with a paper-and-coconut-husk blend. According to the brand, the new mid-woofer “delivers a smooth, natural and refined response, embodying warmth and clarity while retaining the punch and pace of our old aluminium cone.”

Borrowed high-end tech

In addition to the new mid-woofer, each 300 Series loudspeaker also features a new soft-dome tweeter that was derived from its Corinium project — AE’s three-year process of developing its highest-end Corinium floorstanding speakers.

According to the brand, this tweeter delivers “open, delicate and natural high frequencies” that tonally match with the new mid-woofer.

Additionally, each 300 Series loudspeaker’s cabinet construction features the company’s RSC (Resonance Suppression Composite) technology. This is the same advanced tech featured in its high-end 500 series and promises to significantly reduce vibrations and distortion.

The three loudspeakers

AE’s new 300 Series consists of four different loudspeaker models. There’s the AE300² stand-mount loudspeakers, along with two floorstanding loudspeakers, the three-way AE309² and four-way AE320². And finally, there’s the AE307² center-channel loudspeaker for those building out a home theater system.

All the new 300 Series loudspeakers will come in a matte finish — which is an easy way to tell the difference from the original 300 Series, all of which had a high-gloss finish. They will be available in walnut, black or white.

At the time of writing, it’s unknown exactly when AE’s new 300 Series will be released in the US — they’ll be available in the UK starting this coming February. The speakers will start at around $800 (or £649) and go up to around $2,460 (or £1,999).