In this review, we will be comparing Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor and Q150, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from GoldenEar and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of GoldenEar Aon 3 and KEF Q150 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 )
KEF Q150 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 11th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
- 51-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:10-100watts
- Weight:5.60kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 303.0" x 7.0" x 10.9"( 303.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm )
What size room are the GoldenEar Aon 3 and KEF Q150 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 |
KEF Q150 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Bad |
(* 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 KEF Q150 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 3 Bookshelf Monitor and Q150 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
GoldenEar Aon 3 |
KEF Q150 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 7-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor features a " Folded Ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 7" Polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the Q150 features a 1" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor has a frequency range of 38-35k Hz whereas Q150 has a frequency range of 51-28k 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 Q150's min frequency of 51Hz.
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 and Q150 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 Q150's is at 86 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the GoldenEar Aon 3 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q150, 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 Q150 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 150 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 Post type posts and Q150 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
GoldenEar Aon 3's 5-way post terminals
KEF Q150's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor and Q150 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.
KEF Q150 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 KEF Q150'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 KEF Q150 has external dimensions of 303.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm ( 11.9 x 7.0 x 10.9inch) .
GoldenEar Aon 3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 49mm wider, 53mm taller and 3mm deeper than KEF Q150.
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 KEF Q150 is approximately 500.4cm2 / 77.6inch2. The Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor requires 29% more surface area than the Q150 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.