British hi-fi brand Acoustic Energy has brought back one of its classic loudspeakers for a limited 40th anniversary release. The new AE2 40th Anniversary Edition revives the brand’s larger AE2 standmount speaker in what the company calls a “highly exclusive” limited run.
First launched in 1988, the original AE2 arrived as the bigger sibling to Acoustic Energy’s AE1. It was later discontinued in the early 2000s, but Acoustic Energy says it is now bringing the speaker back by popular demand.
The new AE2-40 follows last year’s AE1 40th Anniversary Edition, which reworked Acoustic Energy’s original 1987 bookshelf speaker with updated drivers and a more premium cabinet. This new model takes a similar approach, but with a larger cabinet and a second woofer.
Acoustic Energy says the AE2-40 uses the same newly developed woofer and tweeter drive units as the AE1 40th Anniversary, but pairs the tweeter with two 125mm mid/bass drivers. The result is a two-way, triple reflex-ported standmount speaker designed to deliver more bass, headroom and scale than the smaller AE1-40.
The company says the speaker is aimed at purist audiophiles, with minimalist crossovers designed to deliver a fast, live sound. It also claims the AE2-40 offers the scale and authority of a small floor-standing speaker, while keeping the easier placement and lower cabinet colouration of a standmount design.
The cabinet has also been upgraded with Acoustic Energy’s RSC material and strategically placed steel plates to reduce unwanted colouration. Buyers can choose between high gloss black paint and walnut wood veneer finishes.
Acoustic Energy debuted the AE2 40th Anniversary at the North West Audio Show 2026 in England. Availability is expected by the end of the year, with pricing set at €2,799 per pair, or roughly $3,200.
US pricing and availability have not yet been announced. But for Acoustic Energy fans, this looks like a rare chance to buy a modern version of one of the brand’s cult standmount speakers.