In this review, we will be comparing GoldenEar 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 Bookshelf Monitor and Wharfedale Elysian 2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the GoldenEar Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the GoldenEar Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor and Wharfedale Elysian 2 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that GoldenEar 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.
| Driver |
GoldenEar Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor |
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
|
GoldenEar 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
GoldenEar 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 GoldenEar Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor's min frequency of 38Hz.
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
GoldenEar Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
GoldenEar Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor
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
GoldenEar 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. GoldenEar 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 Bookshelf Monitor a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale Elysian 2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
GoldenEar Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor
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.
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
Elysian 2 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. GoldenEar Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor has a 5-way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
GoldenEar Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor's 5-way post terminals
Wharfedale Elysian 2's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
GoldenEar 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 Bookshelf Monitor with its rear-firing 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 Bookshelf Monitor's and Wharfedale Elysian 2's external dimensions. GoldenEar Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor 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 Bookshelf Monitor.
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 Bookshelf Monitor is approximately 643.5cm2 / 99.7inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Elysian 2 is approximately 1543.1cm2 / 239.2inch2. The GoldenEar 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 Bookshelf Monitor weighs 6.82kg / 15lbs and the Wharfedale Elysian 2 weighs 30.50kg / 67.1lbs. This makes the Elysian 2 347% heavier than the GoldenEar Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor.
Here is a comparison of how GoldenEar 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
GoldenEar Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor
What's in the Box of GoldenEar Aon 3 Bookshelf Monitor?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of GoldenEar 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 (229x281mm)
vs
1543cm2 (334x462mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 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 |