Value used. This is the 3rd pair I've bought. First was in the late 90s for a home cinema setup, I ended up giving them to a friend when I didn't have room for them anymore. He still uses them. I bought another pair in 2018 for £125, they're in my summer house which doubles up as a listening room. I bought another pair this year for £100! They're in my lounge serving the TV via a Denon CEOL. They seem to be under the radar as AE109s go for more used. My main pair are used with an Avid Ingenium, Ortofon 2M Blue, Rega MM Phono stage, Arcam A85, Acoustic Energy AE209. I read somewhere that the Arcam was used by the engineers when they were developing the speakers, so I waited for one of those to come along. And, they play very nicely together, on the whole the sound is great. With a great recording it all sings, bass is controlled and with the likes of Christine & The Queens appears to go quite low. I'm not constantly swapping gear in & out & haven't heard loads of other stuff, so I'm not going to get all flowery & claim that they're miles better than X or Y

I love them, but perhaps they sound a just a bit too polite in my system - that's probably more the amp than the speakers though. I have the treble turned up a bit to get the clarity I like, but I'm 53, so perhaps my ears aren't what they were. I'd like a system balance with a bit more vigour, but without being fatiguing. As much as I love the 209s there's always the itch to improve (until I splurge on some KEF LS50W) - it's a bit of a long shot (after all this time), but if anyone knows where I could get the capacitor etc. upgrades that have been suggested by other reviewers done I'd love to know.

Imaging and seperation, balanced sound, smooth treble, great timing with taut and stunningly deep but never boomy bass

Lack of air or treble extension for which the crossover capacitor upgrade is useful. Can be considered lack of transparency and holographic compared to well-built speaker such as Totem Arro which costs nearly twice as much.

Driven by just a 100W Cambridge Azur 540 receiver, Cardas hexlink 1/c and AFA Zeus power cables using Rotel RCD-971, the sound produced is superbly balanced with smooth unfatiguing highs and taut and coherent never boomy deep lows. Timing of the speakers is unbelievably accurate. For a more accurate timbral voicing and greater inner depth details and air, replace the stock croosover ceramic resistors to wirewound Mills and MKT caps to ICW capacitors(PX and SA range). These components really add wonders without altering the overall balance of the sound and soudstage is wider too with greater stereo imaging. Affordable upgrade to really make this pair of potential speakers to really bring out the best in AE design. Recommended as a keep or a 2nd hand buy though it's of an old model.

Similar Products Used:

NHT, Dynaudio, Monitor Audio, AE Aegis One

Very, very coherent taut bass and timing for this AE range. Emotive voicing and clarity but can be better with x-over upgrades.

Need at least 100W pure power to have that flow....
Quite lacking in transparency as compared to Totem Arro floorstand which I've tried.

Man do these floorstanders really outshine most others in their price range. Though it's an old model compared to newer model speakers from other brands, these are solidly build to perform floorstands. Drive them with just normal Cambridge Azur receiver, Cardas Hexlink i/c, AFA Zeus power cables and there you go.... emotions without the loss of tightness nor details. To get real airy highs and clear emotive vocals, replace the stock crossover caps to ICW (PX and SA) caps and resistors to 1% wirewound 12W Mills as mid-priced mass-produced speakers won't definitely come with great components. That's just about it. No regrets. Recommended 2nd hand buy though an old model speaker.

Similar Products Used:

Monitor audio floorstand, NHT floorstand, Dynaudio

Cabinets are rock solid. Slimline look and a well balanced sound.

Too heavy to move around !!!

I have owned these from new. I had AE200 before buying these. The main difference between AE200 and AE209 is the bass extension obtained from the lower cabinet. There is a good deep bass extension and is delivered gently alongside the clear midrange and treble. If you want a warm muggy sound do not go for these, as these are alloy drivers and sound flat. Hooked up with my Yamaha DSP-A2, AE200 and Aegis centre this makes a fab cinema sound. The MGM lion really comes to life and scares my 2 yr old everytime ! I would not trade these speakers exept for maybe a pair of B&W P5's.

Similar Products Used:

Mordaunt Short MS40i. B&W DM580. Both overpowering in bass and size.

Cabinets are rock solid. Slimline look and a well balanced sound.

Too heavy to move around !!!

I have owned these from new. I had AE200 before buying these. The main difference between AE200 and AE209 is the bass extension obtained from the lower cabinet. There is a good deep bass extension and is delivered gently alongside the clear midrange and treble. If you want a warm muggy sound do not go for these, as these are alloy drivers and sound flat. Hooked up with my Yamaha DSP-A2, AE200 and Aegis centre this makes a fab cinema sound. The MGM lion really comes to life and scares my 2 yr old everytime ! I would not trade these speakers exept for maybe a pair of B&W P5's.

Similar Products Used:

Mordaunt Short MS40i. B&W DM580. Both overpowering in bass and size.

AE 209's are simply fantastic speakers , I listened to missions and tanoys including Rogers and the AE109's but the 209 was just right for me , the treble is not too bright and vocals well balanced and has a nice controlled bass too. I had a choice of colours to chose from Ash Black, cherry wood and Rose wood finsh , I bought mine in the Rose wood fininsh look great sound super. I'd definitly recommend. I am using them mainly as part of my AV set up. Sony STRDB 940 , Sony DVD DVP305, SOnt SLVE 725 Video recorder. My front centre is a mission ageis centre and it blends is well with the 209's rears i am using mission dipoles 77 which are surprising big sounding ! anyways AE 209 good ..very good ! happy listening ....

AE 209's are simply fantastic speakers , I listened to missions and tanoys including Rogers and the AE109's but the 209 was just right for me , the treble is not too bright and vocals well balanced and has a nice controlled bass too. I had a choice of colours to chose from Ash Black, cherry wood and Rose wood finsh , I bought mine in the Rose wood fininsh look great sound super. I'd definitly recommend. I am using them mainly as part of my AV set up. Sony STRDB 940 , Sony DVD DVP305, SOnt SLVE 725 Video recorder. My front centre is a mission ageis centre and it blends is well with the 209's rears i am using mission dipoles 77 which are surprising big sounding ! anyways AE 209 good ..very good ! happy listening ....

Bought this after numerous recommendations from friends who say this is a giant killer with the right partnering. I have to say the AE209 is the Jewel in Acoustic Energy;s crown. And a mighty affordable one at that. Considerably cheaper than their top of the line stuff but with more natural voicing and very good build to boot.The 209''s have a very nice pace and rhytym and are not bogged down by overblown bass. Hearty recommendation if you are looking for floorstanders with big, refined sound. I know someone who has done a subtle modification in internal wiring and a better cap upgrade that brings it an extra dose of resolution and subtle shadings and inflections in voices.But thats another $100 quid worth and something that should only be done after the warranty.

Similar Products Used:

Vienna acoustics Mozart II Dynaudio Audience 122

I have to say the Ae209 is the Jewel in Acoustic Energy;s crown. And a mighty afforadble one at that. Considerably cheaper than their top of the line stuff but with more natural voicing and very good build to boot.they have a very nice pace and rhytym and are not bogged down by overblown bass. Hearty recommendation if you are looking for floorstanders with big, refined sound.

superbly finished in Rosewood :), metal base plate adds to a luxury feel. Sound Sound Sound

Needs a long time to break in woofers, typically 3-4 mths, afterwhich I noticed a superb cohesion between the drivers

Driven By a Primare A10,the AE209''s sounded the most coherent in my 10ft x12 ft room, the SF grand pianos sounding wooly in the bass and hazy in the treble. I would give the Sonus Fabers a Five star for the looks but I bought the AE''s because of the sound. Soundstage is expansive and detailed, the treble is extended without being bright The AE 209s is voiced slightly on the warm side of neutral adding an analogue grainless lilt to vocals. Highly recommend that anyone looking fora spkrs with excellent bass coupled to smooth unfatiguing highs to have an audition.

Similar Products Used:

Diapason Karis, B+W 605 S2, Sonus Faber Grand Piano