In this review, we will be comparing Aon 2 and RP-500M, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from GoldenEar and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of GoldenEar Aon 2 and Klipsch RP-500M first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
GoldenEar Aon 2 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- " Folded Ribbon Tweeter
- 6" Polypropylene Woofer
- 42-35k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:10-200watts
- Weight:5.45kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 305.0" x 8" x 10-1/8"( 305.0 x 204.0 x 258.0mm )
Klipsch RP-500M Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter
- 5.25" Cerametallic Woofer
- 48-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 93 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 75watts
- Weight:5.40kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 343.0" x 6.8" x 9.4"( 343.0 x 173.0 x 241.0mm )
What size room are the GoldenEar Aon 2 and Klipsch RP-500M 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* |
GoldenEar Aon 2 |
Klipsch RP-500M |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Good |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
No way |
(* 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the GoldenEar Aon 2 and Klipsch RP-500M compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Aon 2 and RP-500M are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
GoldenEar Aon 2 |
Klipsch RP-500M |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Aon 2 features a " Folded Ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 6" Polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the RP-500M features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Cerametallic Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1500Hz.
Frequency Response
Aon 2 has a frequency range of 42-35k Hz whereas RP-500M has a frequency range of 48-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Aon 2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the RP-500M's min frequency of 48Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Aon 2 and RP-500M have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Aon 2 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the RP-500M's is at 93 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-500M a more sensitive speaker compared to GoldenEar Aon 2, 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. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Aon 2 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas RP-500M has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 125 watts less than the Aon 2.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Aon 2 features Single binding posts type posts and RP-500M has a Single binding posts type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
GoldenEar Aon 2's 5-way post terminals
Klipsch RP-500M's Single binding posts terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Aon 2 and RP-500M 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
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare GoldenEar Aon 2's and Klipsch RP-500M's external dimensions. GoldenEar Aon 2 has external dimensions of 305.0 x 204.0 x 258.0mm ( 12 x 8 x 10-1/8inch) whereas Klipsch RP-500M has external dimensions of 343.0 x 173.0 x 241.0mm ( 13.5 x 6.8 x 9.4inch) .
Klipsch RP-500M is 31mm narrower and 17mm less deeper than GoldenEar Aon 2 but it is also 38mm taller.
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 GoldenEar Aon 2 is approximately 526.3cm2 / 81.6inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-500M is approximately 416.9cm2 / 64.6inch2. The Aon 2 requires 26% more surface area than the RP-500M which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.