August 2001 Reviewed by Roger Kanno	American Acoustic Develoment E Series Package 1 Home-Theater Speaker System

Description Model: E-30 speakers Price: $179 USD per pair Dimensions: 4.17"H x 4.17"W x 6"D Weight: 2.6 pounds each Model: E-8 powered subwoofer Price: $569 USD Dimensions: 13"H x 13"W x 13.19"D Weight: 27.6 pounds System Price: $929 USD (five E-30s and E-8 subwoofer) Warranty: One year parts and labor	Features (continued) Single 3.5" full-range aluminum-cone driver Available in maple or cherry laminate finishes Unique bayonet-type brackets for mounting Magnetically shielded 8" high-excursion cast-frame driver (E-8) 160W amplifier (E-8) Adjustable crossover (E-8) High- and low-level inputs and outputs (E-8) Phase switch (E-8) Power switch includes auto shut-off mode (E-8) Voltage selector (E-8)

Although you might not be familiar with new speaker manufacturer American Acoustic Development (AAD), you may be familiar with the creations of the company's head designer, Phil Jones, who has gained quite a reputation amongst audiophiles with his work at Acoustic Energy, Boston Acoustics, Platinum Audio, and Soliloquy. For such a young company, AAD offers a full range of loudspeakers -- from tiny subwoofer/satellite systems to very large floorstanders. Even their most expensive effort retails for only $3695 and most are priced under $1000, which is in line with their philosophy of "more for less."

The E-Series is a small system that consists of three satellite models, center-channel variants of two of the satellites, and both an active and a passive subwoofer. Many combinations are possible within this line, but I was provided with five E-30 satellites and the E-8 powered subwoofer. This configuration is referred to collectively as the E Series Package 1, and is package-priced at $929.

Man, are these things small!

The E-30 satellite speaker consists of a tiny enclosure that is just over 4" cubed (it is slightly deeper than its width or height) with a removable grille. It contains a 3.5" full-range aluminum driver and is said to have a frequency response of 130Hz to 20kHz. All of the E-series speakers are nicely finished in an attractive laminate that is available in either maple or cherry hues, with a silver front baffle that provides a refreshingly modern look that will suit most décors. These speakers are also surprisingly heavy and solid for their size and exhibit high degrees of fit and finish.

The E-8 subwoofer, in keeping with the E series, is a small, nicely finished speaker with the same silver front baffle as the satellites and an asymmetrically shaped hexagonal grille that covers the 8" driver, but exposes the front port and a portion of the front baffle. It is reported to have a 160W amplifier and is rated down to 25Hz with a continuously variable crossover from 40Hz to 160Hz. There are both high-level and low-level inputs and outputs as well as a power switch that can be set to auto on/off, and a 180-degree phase switch. The attention paid to the aesthetics and design of this sub and the quality of connectors and controls on the back panel are surprisingly good, and the build quality is as impressive as that of the satellites.

Setup and use

The E-30 satellites, and all the satellites in the E series for that matter, have a bracket that can be attached to a wall or to stands. The speakers simply slide onto the brackets in bayonet fashion via a slot that is built right into the back of the speakers. These are extremely quick and easy to use. I was provided with heavy-duty metal stands to use with both the front and rear speakers, which worked quite well, but I doubt that many people who purchase such inexpensive speakers will purchase stands for them. I therefore also placed the E-30s on top of some other speakers that I had in the room, as they might typically be used by placement on objects such as pieces of furniture like cabinets or wall units.

Because the E-30 satellites only go down to 130Hz, the crossover point to the subwoofer will be relatively high, making the system more sensitive to sub placement. The higher frequency of the crossover results in shorter wavelengths of sound (from the subwoofer) that lead to a greater susceptibility to phase anomalies (either cancellation or summation of sound waves) between the sub and satellites. After much experimentation, I ended up placing the subwoofer near the foot of one of the main speakers and setting the crossover to its highest point (160Hz). Moving the subwoofer by only a few feet could cause large suck-outs in the crossover region, so experimenting with placement and the phase switch is critical to getting a good blend with the satellites. I also toed-in the left and right front speakers by about 15 or 20 degrees to get the best imaging. I placed the surrounds approximately two feet above ear level and angled toward the listener, but also toward the rear wall to obtain some reflected as well as direct sound.

One troubling aspect of the E-30 satellites was that three of the plastic hex nuts on the binding posts broke while I was changing speaker cables. Although I changed the heavy-duty 12-gauge zip-cord-style cables from Ultralink several times, doing so was not excessive. It was only the red hex nuts that split neatly in two as I tightened them by hand.

How do they get all that sound out of those tiny little speakers?

The AAD speaker system spent all of its time during the review process connected to my reference budget receiver (if you can call a $1199 receiver a budget component), the Arcam AVR100, which is excellent on both movie soundtracks and music. Although the speakers could play quite loud without strain, the AADs are rated at a sensitivity of 87dB. This required the Arcam to be turned up to a very high level to achieve home-theater-approved sound levels.

The AAD E Series Package 1 speaker system does not cost much more than some speaker packages from mass-market manufacturers, but it sounds much better. The sound might not have been the most accurate that I have heard, but at less than $1000, there have to be sacrifices made somewhere. What these speakers offer as an overriding characteristic is an expansive soundstage with precise imaging that was especially impressive on movie soundtracks.

The huge wall of sound that these little speakers could produce with well-recorded soundtracks made for a very exciting movie-watching experience. Not only was the soundstage large, but sounds were well defined, precisely placed, and imaged smoothly across the three front speakers. The soundstage was not particularly deep, but it had enough depth to be quite credible. There was a small dip in the upper bass that I could not totally eradicate from my room. However, other than this slight anomaly, the bass was one of this system’s strengths. The E-8 subwoofer filled my mid-sized room with tight, potent bass that did not sound as if it were coming from such a diminutive sub/sat system. The E-30s also performed well as surrounds, providing good ambient envelopment from the sound reflected off the rear wall, as well as some directionality.

DVDs such as The Mummy: Ultimate Edition in DTS imaged all around with an aggressive surround presence. The wonderfully recorded orchestral score was spread widely across the front soundstage. The music was dynamic, with percussion and horns that were startling and very realistic. Gladiator was also expansive in its presentation, with the sweeping instrumentals and choral passages sounding clean and majestic -- just as they should. Because the vocals were at times slightly recessed, the AADs sounded their best when played at fairly high volumes, which provided the smoothest, most balanced sound. Even more impressive than the depth charges and gunfire in U-571 were the rolling seas all around the U-boat, which were reproduced with an excellent sense of envelopment and power as waves crashed over the vessel’s hull from all directions.

As good as the AAD system was on movies, when I switched over to two-channel music, the system’s limitations became apparent. On closely miked female vocals, such as Eva Cassidy’s renditions of "Fields of Gold" or "What A Wonderful World" from her album Live At Blues Alley [Blix Street G2-10046], her voice was powerful and expressive, but it exhibited a touch of sibilance. The bottom end was excellent on bass-heavy albums such as Madonna’s Ray Of Light [Warner CDW 46847], but the mild dip in the upper bass was more evident on such well-recorded CDs. The overall presentation of the bass, as well as the entire frequency spectrum, was on a par with a good pair of comparably priced floorstanders. This is quite a feat for such a small subwoofer and satellite speakers that are not much bigger than the size your fist. The Gladiator soundtrack [DECCA 289 467 094-2] may have been missing the lowest octave, but most of the microdynamics of the orchestra were reproduced nicely as well as the dynamics of the entire album, which range from barely audible passages up to the huge peaks during the crushing crescendos. While the AADs may have lacked ultimate refinement, they more than made up for this with bass quality and quantity, precise imaging, and a soundstage that spread from speaker to speaker -- and sometimes beyond.

Comparison

Near the end of my time with the AAD system, the Paradigm Cinema home-theater speaker system ($716 USD) arrived at my home. While I have not yet spent much time with this Paradigm setup, there are some characteristics that differentiate the two systems. The Paradigms seem to offer a smoother, more refined sound that reveals more detail in recordings. However, they do not spread out the image or have the expansive soundstage that the AADs exhibit. Lastly, the bass is certainly not as impressive with the Paradigm system, which is a testament to the E-8 subwoofer.

What you get with the AAD system that sets it apart from other speaker systems is an enormous soundstage and imaging that rivals anything in its price range. A second strength is its bass. While the low-frequency response is not totally smooth, it is tight, authoritative, and avoids most of the boominess that plagues many inexpensive speaker systems. These speakers are not the most subtle, but they are exciting to listen to and have a very high "fun" quotient.

Big sound does come in small packages

The AAD E Series Package 1 speaker system offers a lot of value and practicality. The E-8 subwoofer is especially impressive, with tons of tight bass being produced from a very compact enclosure. For those wishing for even more performance, AAD offers two larger E-series satellite speakers with multiple drivers, improved bass response, and presumably smoother sub/sat integration. On the other hand, an even more economical system can be configured by substituting the E-55 passive subwoofer for the powered E-8.

"Lifestyle" speaker systems such as the AAD E series often sacrifice function for form. While the E-30 satellites are downright minuscule, they still offer a high level of performance. They can be placed just about anywhere, yet they provide very "big," satisfying sound that is especially suited to home-theater applications. Those needing a small system priced attractively should audition the AAD E Series Package 1.

Manufacturer contact information

American Acoustic Development
2609 Discovery Drive
Raleigh, NC 27616
Phone: (919) 876-2571
Fax: (919) 876-2590

E-mail: info@aadsound.com
Website: www.aadsound.com 

• Go Back