In this review, we will be comparing Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor and R-41M, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from GoldenEar and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of GoldenEar Aon 3 and Klipsch R-41M 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 )
Klipsch R-41M Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter
- 4" Copper-spun IMG Woofer
- 68-21k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:50watts
- Weight:3.20kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 287.0" x 5.7" x 7.8"( 287.0 x 146.0 x 200.0mm )
What size room are the GoldenEar Aon 3 and Klipsch R-41M 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 |
Klipsch R-41M |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Good |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
No way |
(* 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 Klipsch R-41M 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
Both Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor and R-41M are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
GoldenEar Aon 3 |
Klipsch R-41M |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 7-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor features a " Folded Ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 7" Polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the R-41M features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 4" Copper-spun IMG Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1730Hz.
Frequency Response
Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor has a frequency range of 38-35k Hz whereas R-41M has a frequency range of 68-21k 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 R-41M's min frequency of 68Hz.
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 R-41M have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 90 dB.
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 R-41M has a max power handling value of 50 watts RMS, 200 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 Single Gold Plated Binding Posts type posts and R-41M has a Single Gold Plated Binding Posts type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
GoldenEar Aon 3's 5-way post terminals
Klipsch R-41M's Single Gold Plated Binding Posts terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor and R-41M 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
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 Klipsch R-41M'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 Klipsch R-41M has external dimensions of 287.0 x 146.0 x 200.0mm ( 11.2 x 5.7 x 7.8inch) .
GoldenEar Aon 3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 83mm wider, 69mm taller and 81mm deeper than Klipsch R-41M.
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 Klipsch R-41M is approximately 292.0cm2 / 45.3inch2. The Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor requires 120% more surface area than the R-41M 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 Klipsch R-41M weighs 3.20kg / 7lbs. This makes the Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor 113% heavier than the R-41M.
Here is a comparison of how Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor and R-41M'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 Klipsch R-41M?
Here are the items that come with the R-41M:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles (installed) 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Quick Setup Guide Important Safety Instructions Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
50 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
68 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
two 8-inch side-mounted
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
287mm
vs
356mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
292cm2
vs
643cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
GoldenEar Aon 3 |
Klipsch Reference R-41M |
| Brand |
GoldenEar |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
10-250 watts |
50 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-35k Hz |
68-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Copper-spun IMG |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Folded Ribbon |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
1730Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
356.0mm (14") |
287.0mm (11.3") |
| Width |
229.0mm (9") |
146.0mm (5.7") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Weight |
6.82kg (15lbs) |
3.20kg (7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
Yes |
Keyhole |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
26-31" |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |