Audio T Verdict
The Acoustic Energy AE105 is a cleverly designed on-wall speaker that provides a considerable step up from television speakers and compact satellite systems without taking over the room.
Its shallow cabinet can be mounted vertically or horizontally, while the combination of an active 130mm driver and matching passive radiator gives it far more weight and scale than its 120mm depth might suggest.
Sold individually, the AE105 can be used as a stereo pair, centre speaker or surround channel. It is particularly useful where conventional standmount speakers would be impractical, although careful mounting and amplifier setup remain important.
Acoustic Energy AE105 On-Wall Speaker
The Acoustic Energy AE105 is a versatile passive two-way loudspeaker designed primarily for wall mounting.
Its slim enclosure measures only 120mm deep, allowing it to sit neatly beside or beneath a television without requiring floor stands or cutting large openings into the wall.
It can be mounted vertically or horizontally and may also be placed on a secure shelf, within a suitable bookcase or on sturdy furniture where wall mounting is not practical.
The AE105 can be used for two-channel television sound, a discreet stereo Hi-Fi system or as front, centre and surround speakers within a multichannel Home Cinema installation.
Sold Individually
The price shown is for one Acoustic Energy AE105 speaker.
Order two for a stereo pair or surround pair. A single speaker may be used as a centre channel within a suitable Home Cinema system.
Flexible Wall-Mounted Design
Conventional bookshelf speakers often require stands, deep shelves or furniture positioned some distance from the wall.
The AE105 is designed specifically for installations where floor space is limited or where a cleaner, less intrusive appearance is preferred.
Rear mounting plates allow the cabinet to sit close to the wall, while supplied spacers help provide the clearance required for the connections and mounting system.
A positioning template is also supplied to help establish the mounting points before the speaker is installed.
Suitable Applications
- Wall-mounted stereo speakers
- Improved television sound
- Front left and right Home Cinema channels
- Centre-channel speaker
- Side or rear surround speaker
- Bookcase or shelf installation
Supplied Installation Accessories
- Rear mounting plates
- Wall-positioning template
- Wall spacers
- Black magnetic grille
- Light grey magnetic grille
Vertical or Horizontal Mounting
The AE105 can be installed in either orientation, making it considerably more flexible than a conventional bookshelf speaker.
Acoustic Energy recommends vertical wall mounting for optimum performance, with the listening position at or below the tweeter axis.
This works particularly well when a pair is mounted either side of a television, including installations where the speakers must sit slightly above seated head height.
Horizontal mounting is useful when the AE105 is positioned beneath a screen as a centre speaker or where available wall space prevents vertical installation.
Use Suitable Wall Fixings
The correct wall plugs and fixings depend on whether the wall is constructed from brick, block, concrete, timber or plasterboard.
The complete fixing system must safely support the 4.7kg speaker. Seek professional installation advice where the wall construction or available fixing points are uncertain.
130mm Paper-Cone Mid/Bass Driver
The AE105 uses a 130mm doped paper-cone driver to reproduce the midrange and bass.
Its high-power, long-excursion motor system allows the cone to move through a useful distance while retaining control, helping the shallow cabinet produce satisfying volume and bass weight.
Paper combines relatively low mass with useful natural damping, allowing the driver to reproduce vocals and instruments smoothly before handing over to the tweeter.
The driver is closely related to the unit used throughout Acoustic Energy's 100 Series, helping the AE105 maintain a consistent tonal character when combined with matching floorstanding, standmount or centre speakers.
Passive Radiator Bass System
The AE105 has two visible 130mm cones, but only one is driven directly by the amplifier.
The second unit is a passive radiator. It has no voice coil or electrical connection and moves in response to changes in air pressure inside the cabinet.
This arrangement reinforces the lower frequencies without requiring the depth needed for a conventional reflex port.
It also allows the speaker to sit close to a wall without obstructing a rear-facing port.
One Driver Is Passive
The AE105 is a two-way speaker rather than a three-way or twin-woofer design.
One 130mm cone reproduces the midrange and bass, while the second operates as an acoustically tuned passive radiator.
25mm Soft-Dome Tweeter
High frequencies are handled by Acoustic Energy's 25mm soft fabric-dome tweeter.
The tweeter uses a high-power neodymium motor and was developed alongside the 100 Series paper-cone driver to provide consistent integration through the crossover region.
Its soft-dome construction is designed to deliver clear detail while remaining smooth enough for films, television and longer music-listening sessions.
Wide Dispersion Technology
The tweeter is mounted within Acoustic Energy's Wide Dispersion Technology waveguide.
This shaped surround helps control how high-frequency sound spreads away from the speaker and assists the integration between the tweeter and mid/bass driver around the 3kHz crossover point.
Broad dispersion is particularly useful for a wall speaker, as the listeners may be spread across a sofa rather than seated in one narrow central position.
15mm HDF Cabinet
The slim enclosure is manufactured from 15mm High Density Fibreboard and uses carefully positioned internal bracing.
HDF provides useful mass and stiffness while allowing the external cabinet to remain compact.
The bracing helps reduce unwanted cabinet vibration, allowing more of the sound to come from the drive units rather than resonating panels.
Rounded cabinet edges and the slim magnetic grille help the speaker integrate neatly into a living room, media room or dedicated cinema.
Improving Television Sound
A pair of AE105 speakers can be mounted either side of a television and connected to a suitable stereo amplifier, streaming amplifier or AV receiver.
This provides greater clarity, scale and stereo separation than the small loudspeakers built into most televisions.
A system with HDMI ARC or eARC may also allow television volume to be controlled through the TV remote, depending on the connected amplifier.
The AE105 speakers themselves are passive and therefore cannot connect directly to a television without suitable amplification.
Front Left and Right Home Cinema Speakers
Two AE105 speakers can provide the main left and right channels in a compact Home Cinema installation.
Mounting them either side of the display creates a stable front soundstage without using floorstanding speakers or stands.
The speakers should normally be placed at a similar height and equal distance from the main listening position.
An AV receiver should be calibrated after installation so that channel level, distance and crossover settings match the room and connected subwoofer.
Using the AE105 as a Centre Speaker
A single AE105 can be mounted horizontally beneath or above a television and assigned to the centre channel of an AV receiver.
The centre speaker carries much of a film's dialogue and many centrally positioned effects, making clear placement and level adjustment particularly important.
Position the cabinet as close to the screen as practical and align it towards seated ear height where possible.
Acoustic Energy also produces the
AE107² dedicated centre speaker
,
which may be preferable where shelf space is available and a conventional centre-channel enclosure is required.
Surround-Speaker Use
The AE105's shallow cabinet and high sensitivity make it particularly well suited to side or rear surround duties.
Speakers can be mounted on the side or rear walls, typically above seated ear height and arranged symmetrically around the listening area.
Exact placement depends on the number of channels, room shape and recommendations provided by the AV receiver or surround format.
Audio T can help plan suitable positioning for 5.1, 7.1 or other supported speaker layouts.
Adding a Subwoofer
Acoustic Energy specifies bass extension down to 55Hz, which is strong for such a shallow cabinet but does not reproduce the lowest effects found in film soundtracks.
The
Acoustic Energy AE Sub
can provide the deeper bass required for Home Cinema effects and full-range music reproduction.
When using an AV receiver, the AE105 speakers should normally be configured as small speakers, with low bass redirected to the subwoofer at a suitable crossover frequency.
The optimum crossover will depend on placement, room acoustics and the capabilities of the complete system.
Amplifier Matching
The AE105 has a sensitivity of 91dB and a nominal impedance of 6O.
Its relatively high sensitivity allows useful volume levels from a wide range of good-quality stereo amplifiers and AV receivers.
Acoustic Energy specifies power handling of 120W, although amplifier quality, stability and clean power delivery are more useful guides than wattage alone.
Reduce the volume if the sound becomes strained, harsh or obviously distorted.
Speaker Connections
The rear terminals accept a single speaker-cable connection from a compatible amplifier or AV receiver.
Maintain the same polarity throughout the system, connecting positive to positive and negative to negative.
Switch the amplifier off before connecting or changing cables and ensure that no loose strands can bridge the terminals.
Cable routing should be planned before the wall-mounting positions are finalised, particularly where cables will be concealed inside the wall.
Shelf and Bookcase Placement
The AE105 may also be used on a stable shelf or within a sufficiently open bookcase.
Its passive-radiator design avoids the need to leave space behind a rear reflex port, making it more accommodating than many conventional bookshelf speakers.
The cabinet should remain secure, level and clear of objects that could obstruct the drive units.
Avoid placing the speaker loosely against glass, lightweight shelves or furniture that vibrates during playback.
Black, White or Walnut
The Acoustic Energy AE105 is available in Black, White or Walnut vinyl veneer.
Each speaker is supplied with both black and light grey slim magnetic grilles, giving a choice of appearance to suit the cabinet finish, wall colour or television installation.
The grilles can be removed carefully when the exposed drive-unit arrangement is preferred.
Key Features
- Compact passive on-wall loudspeaker
- Sold individually
- Two-way speaker design
- Suitable for vertical or horizontal mounting
- Can also be used on a shelf or in a bookcase
- Suitable for stereo television sound
- Can be used as front, centre or surround speaker
- 130mm doped paper-cone mid/bass driver
- High-power long-excursion driver motor
- 130mm passive radiator
- 25mm soft fabric-dome tweeter
- Neodymium tweeter motor
- Wide Dispersion Technology waveguide
- 3kHz crossover frequency
- 15mm HDF cabinet construction
- Carefully tuned internal bracing
- 91dB sensitivity
- 6O nominal impedance
- 120W power handling
- Only 120mm deep
- Rear mounting plates included
- Wall-positioning template included
- Wall spacers included
- Black and light grey magnetic grilles included
- Available in Black, White or Walnut
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the AE105 sold as a pair?
No. The Acoustic Energy AE105 is sold individually. Two speakers are required for stereo or a surround pair.
Is it an active speaker?
No. The AE105 is passive and requires connection to a suitable stereo amplifier or AV receiver.
Can it be mounted horizontally?
Yes. The AE105 can be installed vertically or horizontally, although Acoustic Energy recommends vertical positioning for optimum performance.
Can one AE105 be used as a centre speaker?
Yes. A single speaker can be mounted horizontally beneath or above a television and connected to the centre channel of an AV receiver.
Can it be used for surround sound?
Yes. Its compact wall-mounted design is well suited to side or rear surround-channel use.
Are wall brackets included?
Rear mounting plates, a positioning template and wall spacers are supplied. Appropriate fixings must be selected for the construction of the wall.
Can it be placed on a shelf?
Yes. The AE105 may be used on a secure shelf or in a suitable open bookcase where wall mounting is not practical.
Why does it have two large cones?
One is the active mid/bass driver. The second is a passive radiator that reinforces low-frequency output without requiring a conventional reflex port.
Does it need a subwoofer?
It can be used without one, but a subwoofer is recommended where deeper film effects or full-range bass reproduction are required.
Which finishes are available?
The AE105 is available in Black, White and Walnut vinyl veneer.
Which grilles are included?
Each speaker is supplied with both a black and a light grey slim magnetic cloth grille.
Can Audio T install the speakers?
Audio T can advise on speaker positioning, wall construction, system matching, AV receiver configuration and professional installation options.
Why Buy From Audio T?
- Experienced Hi-Fi and Home Cinema specialists
- Clear advice on the quantity required for your system
- Stereo, centre and surround-system planning
- Amplifier and AV receiver matching
- Advice on vertical and horizontal positioning
- Wall-construction and mounting guidance
- Speaker-cable planning and termination
- Television ARC and eARC system advice
- AV receiver crossover and channel setup
- Subwoofer matching and integration
- Professional installation options
- Home demonstrations may be available where suitable
- Ongoing system and setup support
Contact your local Audio T store
to discuss the ideal AE105 layout, amplification and installation for your room.