In this review, we will be comparing GoldenEar Aon 2 and Elysian 2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from GoldenEar and Wharfedale. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of GoldenEar Aon 2 and Wharfedale Elysian 2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the GoldenEar Aon 2 and Wharfedale Elysian 2 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the GoldenEar Aon 2 and Wharfedale Elysian 2 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that GoldenEar Aon 2 is a 2-way design whereas the Elysian 2 is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Driver |
GoldenEar Aon 2 |
Wharfedale Elysian 2 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
27x90mm-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6-inch |
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 8.5-inch
|
GoldenEar Aon 2 features a " Folded Ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 6" Polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the Elysian 2 features a 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 1 x 8.5" Coated Fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 360Hz and 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
GoldenEar Aon 2 has a frequency range of 42-35k Hz whereas Elysian 2 has a frequency range of 35-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the Elysian 2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the GoldenEar Aon 2's min frequency of 42Hz.
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
GoldenEar Aon 2 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Elysian 2 which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Elysian 2 can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 89 dBdB.
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.
GoldenEar Aon 2 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas GoldenEar Aon 2 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the Elysian 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
Elysian 2 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. GoldenEar Aon 2 has a 5-way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
GoldenEar Aon 2 has a rear firing port whereas Elysian 2 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale Elysian 2's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to GoldenEar Aon 2 with its rear-firing port.
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 Wharfedale Elysian 2'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 Wharfedale Elysian 2 has external dimensions of 700.0 x 334.0 x 462.0mm ( 27.5 x 13.1 x 18.1inch) .
Wharfedale Elysian 2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 130mm wider, 395mm taller and 204mm deeper than GoldenEar Aon 2.
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 Wharfedale Elysian 2 is approximately 1543.1cm2 / 239.2inch2. The GoldenEar Aon 2 requires 66% less surface area than the Elysian 2 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 GoldenEar Aon 2 weighs 5.45kg / 12lbs and the Wharfedale Elysian 2 weighs 30.50kg / 67.1lbs. This makes the Elysian 2 460% heavier than the GoldenEar Aon 2.
Here is a comparison of how GoldenEar Aon 2 and Elysian 2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of GoldenEar Aon 2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of GoldenEar Aon 2:
Bookshelf loudspeaker
Key-hole hanger
2 Screws
Owner's Manual
What's in the Box of Wharfedale Elysian 2?
Here are the items that come with the Elysian 2:
Stand-mount loudspeaker Grille 2 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed) User Manual
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
Passive Radiator |
two 6-1/2
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
Height |
305mm
vs
700mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
526cm2 (204x258mm)
vs
1543cm2 (334x462mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
898USD
vs
6996USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Woofer Size |
8.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
General |
GoldenEar Aon 2 |
Wharfedale Elysian 2 |
Brand |
GoldenEar |
Wharfedale |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
10-200 watts |
25-250 watts |
Sensitivity |
89 dB |
89 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
Frequency Response |
42-35k Hz |
35-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
6" |
8.5" |
Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Coated Fiberglass |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Foamed Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
- |
27x90mm" |
Tweeter Type |
Folded Ribbon |
AMT (Ribbon) |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
6" |
Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
360Hz and 2900Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
305.0mm (12") |
700.0mm (27.6") |
Width |
204.0mm (8") |
334.0mm (13.1") |
Depth |
258.0mm (10.2") |
462.0mm (18.2") |
Weight |
5.45kg (12lbs) |
30.50kg (67.1lbs) |
Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
Available Colors |
Black |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
Mounting Bracket |
Yes |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
26-28" |
16-22" |
Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 years |