In this review, we will be comparing Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor and R-51M, 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-51M first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | GoldenEar Aon 3 | Klipsch R-51M |
|---|
| Brand | GoldenEar
United States · founded 2010 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | Folded Ribbon | 1" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 7" Polypropylene | 5.25" Copper-spun IMG |
|---|
| Frequency response | 38-35k Hz | 62-21k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 93 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 10-250 watts | Up to 85 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.82kg / 15lbs | 5.00kg / 11lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14" x 9" x 11-1/16"
356.0 x 229.0 x 281.0mm | 13.3" x 7.0" x 8.4"
338.0 x 178.0 x 215.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the GoldenEar Aon 3 and Klipsch R-51M 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-51M |
| 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.)
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 R-51M are 2-way speakers.
GoldenEar Aon 3Klipsch R-51M
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 |
Klipsch R-51M |
|
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 R-51M features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Copper-spun IMG Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1660Hz.
Frequency Response
Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor has a frequency range of 38-35k Hz whereas R-51M has a frequency range of 62-21k 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-51M's min frequency of 62Hz.
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 R-51M 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 R-51M's is at 93 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-51M a more sensitive speaker compared to GoldenEar Aon 3, 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 R-51M has a max power handling value of 85 watts RMS, 165 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 Single Gold Plated Binding Posts - 5-way type posts and R-51M has a Single Gold Plated Binding Posts - 5-way type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
GoldenEar Aon 3's 5-way post terminals
Klipsch R-51M's Single Gold Plated Binding Posts - 5-way terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor and R-51M 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 Klipsch R-51M'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-51M has external dimensions of 338.0 x 178.0 x 215.0mm (13.3 x 7.0 x 8.4inch).
GoldenEar Aon 3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 51mm wider, 18mm taller and 66mm deeper than Klipsch R-51M.
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-51M is approximately 382.7cm2 / 59.3inch2. The Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor requires 68% more surface area than the R-51M 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-51M weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs. This makes the Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor 36% heavier than the R-51M.
Here is a comparison of how Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor and R-51M'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-51M?
Here are the items that come with the R-51M:
- 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
85 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
62 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Passive Radiator |
two 8-inch side-mounted
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Sensitivity |
93 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
338mm
vs
356mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
382cm2
vs
643cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
359USD
vs
1200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
GoldenEar Aon 3 |
Klipsch Reference R-51M |
| Brand |
GoldenEar |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
10-250 watts |
Up to 85 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
93 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-35k Hz |
62-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
5.25" |
| 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 |
1660Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
356.0mm (14") |
338.0mm (13.3") |
| Width |
229.0mm (9") |
178.0mm (7") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
215.0mm (8.5") |
| Weight |
6.82kg (15lbs) |
5.00kg (11lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Wood-grain 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 |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - GoldenEar Aon 3 costs roughly 3.3x what Klipsch R-51M 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 62Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch R-51M is more sensitive (93dB vs 90dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | GoldenEar Aon 3 takes more power (250W vs 85W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Klipsch R-51M is easier to place; GoldenEar Aon 3 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| 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. Klipsch R-51M sits in a wider range (5 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Klipsch R-51M is cheaper - $359 against $1,200, about 70% less; arguably a different class. |
A GoldenEar Aon 3 B Klipsch R-51M
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?
GoldenEar Aon 3 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 3.3x the price. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Klipsch R-51M looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the GoldenEar Aon 3 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 62Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Klipsch R-51M much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate GoldenEar Aon 3 the better fit for a mid-size room, a large room and a very large room, and Klipsch R-51M for near-field listening and 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.