In this review, we will be comparing Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor and Elysian 2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from GoldenEar and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of GoldenEar Aon 3 and Wharfedale Elysian 2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | GoldenEar Aon 3 | Wharfedale Elysian 2 |
|---|
| Brand | GoldenEar
United States · founded 2010 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | Folded Ribbon | 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 6" |
|---|
| Woofer | 7" Polypropylene | 8.5" Coated Fiberglass |
|---|
| Frequency response | 38-35k Hz | 35-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 10-250 watts | 25-250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.82kg / 15lbs | 30.50kg / 67.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14" x 9" x 11-1/16"
356.0 x 229.0 x 281.0mm | 27.5" x 13.1" x 18.1"
700.0 x 334.0 x 462.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the GoldenEar Aon 3 and Wharfedale Elysian 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 |
Wharfedale Elysian 2 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Average |
(* 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor is a 2-way design whereas the Elysian 2 is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
GoldenEar Aon 3Wharfedale Elysian 2
MidrangeWoofer
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 |
Wharfedale Elysian 2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
27x90mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 7-inch
|
1 x 8.5-inch
|
Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor features a " Folded Ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 7" Polypropylene Woofer. On the other hand, the Elysian 2 features a 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter, a 6" Midrange and 1 x 8.5" Coated Fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 360Hz and 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor has a frequency range of 38-35k Hz whereas Elysian 2 has a frequency range of 35-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the Elysian 2 can go slightly deeper then the Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor's min frequency of 38Hz.
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 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Elysian 2 which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Elysian 2 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Elysian 2's is rated at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the GoldenEar Aon 3 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale Elysian 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 250 watts RMS, though Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor is rated 10-250 watts and Elysian 2 25-250 watts.
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
Elysian 2 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor has a 5-way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
GoldenEar Aon 3's 5-way post terminals
Wharfedale Elysian 2's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor has a rear firing port whereas Elysian 2 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale Elysian 2's bottom-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
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 Wharfedale Elysian 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 Wharfedale Elysian 2 has external dimensions of 700.0 x 334.0 x 462.0mm (27.5 x 13.1 x 18.1inch).
Wharfedale Elysian 2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 105mm wider, 344mm taller and 181mm deeper than GoldenEar Aon 3.
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 Wharfedale Elysian 2 is approximately 1543.1cm2 / 239.2inch2. The Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor requires 58% less surface area than the Elysian 2 which gives it a small advantage 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 Wharfedale Elysian 2 weighs 30.50kg / 67.1lbs. This makes the Elysian 2 347% heavier than the Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor.
Here is a comparison of how Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor and Elysian 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 Wharfedale Elysian 2?
Here are the items that come with the Elysian 2:
- Stand-mount loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)
- User Manual
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
22k 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 |
 Height |
356mm
vs
700mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
643cm2
vs
1543cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1200USD
vs
6996USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
8.5 inches
vs
7 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
GoldenEar Aon 3 |
Wharfedale Elysian 2 |
| Brand |
GoldenEar |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
10-250 watts |
25-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-35k Hz |
35-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
8.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Coated Fiberglass |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Foamed Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
27x90mm" |
| Tweeter Type |
Folded Ribbon |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
360Hz and 2900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
356.0mm (14") |
700.0mm (27.6") |
| Width |
229.0mm (9") |
334.0mm (13.1") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
462.0mm (18.2") |
| Weight |
6.82kg (15lbs) |
30.50kg (67.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
| Mounting Bracket |
Yes |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
16-22" |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 years |
These sit in different price classes - Wharfedale Elysian 2 costs roughly 5.8x what GoldenEar Aon 3 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 | B | Wharfedale Elysian 2 digs deeper - 35Hz against 38Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (90dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | GoldenEar Aon 3 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (250W vs 250W). |
| Size | depends | GoldenEar Aon 3 is easier to place; Wharfedale Elysian 2 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 | B | Wharfedale Elysian 2: bi-amping. Wharfedale Elysian 2 sits in a wider range (6 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | GoldenEar Aon 3 is cheaper - $1,200 against $6,996, about 83% less; arguably a different class. |
A GoldenEar Aon 3 B Wharfedale Elysian 2
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?
Wharfedale Elysian 2 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 5.8x the price. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - GoldenEar Aon 3 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Wharfedale Elysian 2 appeals to you. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale Elysian 2 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, GoldenEar Aon 3 is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, GoldenEar Aon 3 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.