In this review, we will be comparing 606 S2 AE and Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Bowers Wilkins and GoldenEar.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 606 S2 and GoldenEar Aon 3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | B&W 606 S2 | GoldenEar Aon 3 |
|---|
| Brand | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 | GoldenEar
United States · founded 2010 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Decoupled Double Dome | Folded Ribbon |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Continuum | 7" Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 52-28k Hz | 38-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-120 watts | 10-250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.90kg / 15.2lbs | 6.82kg / 15lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13-5/8" x 7-1/2" x 12-13/16"
347.0 x 191.0 x 326.0mm | 14" x 9" x 11-1/16"
356.0 x 229.0 x 281.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the B&W 606 S2 and GoldenEar Aon 3 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
B&W 606 S2 |
GoldenEar Aon 3 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both 606 S2 AE and Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor are 2-way speakers.
B&W 606 S2GoldenEar Aon 3
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
B&W 606 S2 |
GoldenEar Aon 3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
606 S2 AE features a 1" Aluminum Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer. On the other hand, the Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor features a " Folded Ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 7" Polypropylene Woofer.
Frequency Response
606 S2 AE has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz whereas Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor has a frequency range of 38-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 606 S2 AE's min frequency of 52Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
606 S2 AE and Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 606 S2 AE sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor's is at 90 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the GoldenEar Aon 3 a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 606 S2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas 606 S2 AE has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 130 watts less than the Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
606 S2 AE features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor has a 5-way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
B&W 606 S2's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
GoldenEar Aon 3's 5-way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 606 S2 AE and Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare B&W 606 S2's and GoldenEar Aon 3's external dimensions. B&W 606 S2 has external dimensions of 347.0 x 191.0 x 326.0mm (13-5/8 x 7-1/2 x 12-13/16inch) whereas GoldenEar Aon 3 has external dimensions of 356.0 x 229.0 x 281.0mm (14 x 9 x 11-1/16inch).
B&W 606 S2 is 38mm narrower and 9mm shorter than GoldenEar Aon 3 but it is also 45mm deeper.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the B&W 606 S2 is approximately 622.7cm2 / 96.5inch2 and base area of the GoldenEar Aon 3 is approximately 643.5cm2 / 99.7inch2. The 606 S2 AE requires 3% less surface area than the Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The B&W 606 S2 weighs 6.90kg / 15.2lbs and the GoldenEar Aon 3 weighs 6.82kg / 15lbs. This makes the 606 S2 AE 1% heavier than the Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor.
Here is a comparison of how 606 S2 AE and Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of B&W 606 S2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 606 S2 AE:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Two-piece foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- Manual
- Bowers & Wilkins brochure
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of GoldenEar Aon 3?
Here are the items that come with the Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
Key-hole hanger
2 Screws
Owner's Manual
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
347mm
vs
356mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
622cm2
vs
643cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
999USD
vs
1200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Passive Radiator |
two 8-inch side-mounted
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition |
GoldenEar Aon 3 |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
GoldenEar |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-120 watts |
10-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.7 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
52-28k Hz |
38-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
Continuum |
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
- |
| Tweeter Type |
Decoupled Double Dome |
Folded Ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
347.0mm (13.7") |
356.0mm (14") |
| Width |
191.0mm (7.5") |
229.0mm (9") |
| Depth |
326.0mm (12.8") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
6.90kg (15.2lbs) |
6.82kg (15lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Matte Black, Matte White, Oak, Red Cherry |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
Yes |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: B&W 606 S2 is the newer design, against a 2012 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | GoldenEar Aon 3 digs deeper - 38Hz against 52Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | GoldenEar Aon 3 is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | GoldenEar Aon 3 takes more power (250W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Sealed. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | A | B&W 606 S2: bi-amping. B&W 606 S2 sits in a wider range (5 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | B&W 606 S2 is cheaper - $999 against $1,200, about 17% less. |
A B&W 606 S2 B GoldenEar Aon 3
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: GoldenEar Aon 3 measures better, B&W 606 S2 costs about about 20% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 52Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper B&W 606 S2 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate B&W 606 S2 the better fit for a small room, and GoldenEar Aon 3 for a large room and a very large room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.