In this review, we will be comparing Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor and Aon 2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by GoldenEar.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of GoldenEar Aon 3 and GoldenEar Aon 2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | GoldenEar Aon 3 | GoldenEar Aon 2 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | Folded Ribbon | Folded Ribbon |
|---|
| Woofer | 7" Polypropylene | 6" Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 38-35k Hz | 42-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 10-250 watts | 10-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.82kg / 15lbs | 5.45kg / 12lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14" x 9" x 11-1/16"
356.0 x 229.0 x 281.0mm | 12" x 8" x 10-1/8"
305.0 x 204.0 x 258.0mm |
|---|
Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor and Aon 2 are members of GoldenEar's Aon series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
GoldenEar Aon Series
History
|
Model |
Body |
Frequency |
Sensitivity | Impedance | Woofer |
 |
GoldenEar Aon 3
|
Bookshelf |
38-35k Hz |
90 dB | 8Ω |
1 x 7"
|
 |
GoldenEar Aon 2
|
Bookshelf |
42-35k Hz |
89 dB | 8Ω |
1 x 6"
|
What size room are the GoldenEar Aon 3 and GoldenEar Aon 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 |
GoldenEar Aon 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.
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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor and Aon 2 are 2-way speakers.
GoldenEar Aon 3GoldenEar Aon 2
Woofer
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 |
GoldenEar Aon 2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 7-inch
|
1 x 6-inch
|
Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor features a " Folded Ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 7" Polypropylene Woofer. On the other hand, the Aon 2 features a " Folded Ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 6" Polypropylene Woofer.
Frequency Response
Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor has a frequency range of 38-35k Hz whereas Aon 2 has a frequency range of 42-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor can go slightly deeper then the Aon 2's min frequency of 42Hz.
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 and Aon 2 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Aon 2's is at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the GoldenEar Aon 3 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. 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 Aon 2 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 50 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 Aon 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
GoldenEar Aon 2's 5-way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor and Aon 2 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 GoldenEar Aon 3's and GoldenEar Aon 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 GoldenEar Aon 2 has external dimensions of 305.0 x 204.0 x 258.0mm (12 x 8 x 10-1/8inch).
GoldenEar Aon 3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 25mm wider, 51mm taller and 23mm 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 3 is approximately 643.5cm2 / 99.7inch2 and base area of the GoldenEar Aon 2 is approximately 526.3cm2 / 81.6inch2. The Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor requires 22% more surface area than the Aon 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 GoldenEar Aon 2 weighs 5.45kg / 12lbs. This makes the Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor 25% heavier than the Aon 2.
Here is a comparison of how Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor and Aon 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 GoldenEar Aon 2?
Here are the items that come with the Aon 2:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
Key-hole hanger
2 Screws
Owner's Manual
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
305mm
vs
356mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
526cm2
vs
643cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
GoldenEar Aon 3 |
GoldenEar Aon 2 |
| Brand |
GoldenEar |
GoldenEar |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
10-250 watts |
10-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-35k Hz |
42-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Tweeter Type |
Folded Ribbon |
Folded Ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
356.0mm (14") |
305.0mm (12") |
| Width |
229.0mm (9") |
204.0mm (8") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
258.0mm (10.2") |
| Weight |
6.82kg (15lbs) |
5.45kg (12lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
Yes |
Yes |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
26-28" |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Siblings in GoldenEar's Aon series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
A |
GoldenEar Aon 3 digs deeper - 38Hz against 42Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (90dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom |
A |
GoldenEar Aon 3 takes more power (250W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
GoldenEar Aon 2 is easier to place; GoldenEar Aon 3 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
A GoldenEar Aon 3
B GoldenEar Aon 2
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
GoldenEar Aon 3 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. Match it to your room: we rate GoldenEar Aon 3 the better fit for a large room and a very large room, and GoldenEar Aon 2 for a small room. In a large or open-plan room, GoldenEar Aon 3 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, GoldenEar Aon 2 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.