In this review, we will be comparing Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor and Debut 2.0 B6.2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from GoldenEar and ELAC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of GoldenEar Aon 3 and ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | GoldenEar Aon 3 | ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 |
|---|
| Brand | GoldenEar
United States · founded 2010 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | Folded Ribbon | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 7" Polypropylene | 6.5" Woven Aramid-Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 38-35k Hz | 44-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 10-250 watts | up to 120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.82kg / 15lbs | 7.40kg / 16.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14" x 9" x 11-1/16"
356.0 x 229.0 x 281.0mm | 14.8" x 7-3/4" x 10-9/16"
375.0 x 195.0 x 268.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the GoldenEar Aon 3 and ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 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:
| Listening Environment* |
GoldenEar Aon 3 |
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
(* 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 Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor and Debut 2.0 B6.2 are 2-way speakers.
GoldenEar Aon 3ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
GoldenEar Aon 3 |
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 7-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor features a " Folded Ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 7" Polypropylene Woofer. On the other hand, the Debut 2.0 B6.2 features a 1" Cloth Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woven Aramid-Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor has a frequency range of 38-35k Hz whereas Debut 2.0 B6.2 has a frequency range of 44-35k 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 Debut 2.0 B6.2's min frequency of 44Hz.
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
Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Debut 2.0 B6.2 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Debut 2.0 B6.2's is rated at 87 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the GoldenEar Aon 3 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2, 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. 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 Debut 2.0 B6.2 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
Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor features 5-Way post type posts and Debut 2.0 B6.2 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
GoldenEar Aon 3's 5-way post terminals
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor has a rear firing port whereas Debut 2.0 B6.2 has a front firing ports. ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to GoldenEar Aon 3 with its rear-firing port.
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 GoldenEar Aon 3's and ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2's external dimensions. GoldenEar Aon 3 has external dimensions of 356.0 x 229.0 x 281.0mm (14 x 9 x 11-1/16inch) whereas ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 has external dimensions of 375.0 x 195.0 x 268.0mm (14.7 x 7.6 x 10.5inch).
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 is 34mm narrower and 13mm less deeper than GoldenEar Aon 3 but it is also 19mm 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 3 is approximately 643.5cm2 / 99.7inch2 and base area of the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 is approximately 522.6cm2 / 81.0inch2. The Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor requires 23% more surface area than the Debut 2.0 B6.2 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 3 weighs 6.82kg / 15lbs and the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 weighs 7.40kg / 16.3lbs. This makes the Debut 2.0 B6.2 9% heavier than the Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor.
Here is a comparison of how Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor and Debut 2.0 B6.2'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 3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
Key-hole hanger
2 Screws
Owner's Manual
What's in the Box of ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2?
Here are the items that come with the Debut 2.0 B6.2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- Operating Instructions
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
44 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Passive Radiator |
two 8-inch side-mounted
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
356mm
vs
375mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Base Surface Area |
522cm2
vs
643cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
400USD
vs
1200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
GoldenEar Aon 3 |
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 |
| Brand |
GoldenEar |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
10-250 watts |
up to 120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-35k Hz |
44-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Woven Aramid-Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Folded Ribbon |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
356.0mm (14") |
375.0mm (14.8") |
| Width |
229.0mm (9") |
195.0mm (7.7") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
268.0mm (10.6") |
| Weight |
6.82kg (15lbs) |
7.40kg (16.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Ported |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
Yes |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
24-28" |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
These sit in different price classes - GoldenEar Aon 3 costs roughly 3x what ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | GoldenEar Aon 3 digs deeper - 38Hz against 44Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | GoldenEar Aon 3 is more sensitive (90dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | GoldenEar Aon 3 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | 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 | Sealed vs Ported. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 is cheaper - $400 against $1,200, about 67% less; arguably a different class. |
A GoldenEar Aon 3 B ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
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, ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 costs about about 3x the price% 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 44Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate GoldenEar Aon 3 the better fit for a large room and a very large room, and ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 for a small 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.