Application of acoustic emission of the sound frequency range is under consideration. This range is of current interest for the diagnostics of the stability of mountain slopes, glaciers, ice covers, large technical constructions (bridges, dams, etc.) as well as for the detection of rock deformation anomalies preceding earthquakes. Acoustic sensors, which can be used to record and to determine the directivity of acoustic emission of the sound frequency range, are under consideration. The structure of the system for acoustic emission recording, processing and analysis is described. This system makes it possible to determine the direction to the acoustic emission source using one multi-component sensor. We also consider the algorithms for detection of acoustic emission pulses in a noisy background, and for the analysis of their structure using the Adaptive Matching Pursuit algorithm. A method for the detection of the direction to an acoustic emission signal source based on multi-component sensors is described. The results of application of sound range acoustic emission for the detection of the intensification of rock deformations, associated with earthquake preparation and development in the seismically active region of Kamchatka peninsula, are presented.