REPRODUCED FROM HIFICRITIC
Im pedance corection Thecros overdeployed intheAE320isanotherexam pleof the atention to detaillavished on thisdesign:the nom inal im pedance ofthe loudspeakeris8 ohm sand the cros over isdesigned with an im pedance corection circuitto ensure thatthe lowestim pedance drop (at150Hz)is held to 4.8 ohm s,with im pedance forthe m ostpartan easy 6 or7 ohm s.As such this is notbe a dem anding load forany m ainstream am plifier. W ith sensitivity quoted at a high 90dB/W ,they should be easy to drive with any decent am plifierin the 25-200W powerrange. The Listening Experience So m uch forthe thinking behind the AE320.Iwaskeen to hearwhatal thatdesign would m ean when Iactualy sat down to listen using m y curentam plifierofchoice,the Lyngdorf TDAI3400 (rated at 200W per channel into 8ohm s),and the excelentAudioquestRobin Hood speaker cables.The restofthe system consisted ofa Linn Sondek LP12 Klim ax and a Leem a Acoustics Sirius M usic server.I started in the Lyngdorf’s Bypas m ode,which m eantthat the Room Perfectcorection software wasnotused. I’d been told thatthe sam ple AE320s had nothad m uch running tim e before they were delivered so Isetthem to run forseveraldaysusing variousQ obuzplaylists,and tried to avoid spending tim e listening criticaly.HoweverIdid note asense ofm usicalityeven before the drive unitshad a
goodlooking walnut veneer over 18m m M DF panels, the cabinet using proprietary bracing technology trickled down from the com pany’s Reference Series, while its base is pre-loaded with what’s described as “an inertm as m aterial”. This adds dam ping to reduce cabinetcolourations,and also m ake the AE320 verystable,m eaning itdoesn’tneed a plinth, aiding the im pres ion ofslim nes . The speakercertainly feels very ‘planted’on its spikes on a carpeted hard floor:we have neither sm alchildren ordogs,butm ysense wasthatthe AE320s would be a safe choice where the listening space is som etim esshared with sm alercreatures. There are four drive units aranged verticaly: three 13cm m idrange and bas drivers,custom m ade forAcoustic Energy, and above those a 28m m alum inium tweeter.The m ain drivers are m ade ofa ceram ic/alum inium sandwich m aterial,with an ultra-shalow profile and a high-force long-throw m otorsystem , designed for im proved dispersion,extended bas slam and overal eficiency. The tweeter is capable of handling high powerlevelsbutwithlow resonancebehavior,and em ploysthe com pany’sW ide Dispersion Technologywaveguide. O nthebackpanelthereisapairofm ultiwaybinding postsnear the base and – abouthalfway up – a slot-shaped bas port tuned to 42Hz.M uch thoughthasgone into the design ofthis port,and its shape was chosen to help obviate the chufing sound that can give les wel considered port designs an audible and unwelcom e sound signature.
MUSICATHOME+ 39
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