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.
GoldenEar Aon 3 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- " Folded Ribbon Tweeter
- 7" Polypropylene Woofer
- 38-35k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:10-250watts
- Weight:6.82kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 356.0" x 9" x 11-1/16"( 356.0 x 229.0 x 281.0mm )
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Woven Aramid-Fiber Woofer
- 44-35k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:up to 120watts
- Weight:7.40kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 375.0" x 7-3/4" x 11-5/16"( 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the GoldenEar Aon 3 and ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 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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Drivers
Both Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor and Debut 2.0 B6.2 are 2-way speakers.
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.
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 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. 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 3 Bookshelf Monitor can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the 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.
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 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
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 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.