GoldenEar Aon 3 Bookshelf Speaker - Piano Black - Each

A Pyramid That Sounds Bigger Than It Looks

The Aon 3 is GoldenEar's mid-size standmount, a truncated pyramid about 14 inches tall wrapped in black cloth with a gloss top. It carries a 7-inch cast-basket mid/bass driver with a multi-vaned phase plug, GoldenEar's High-Velocity Folded Ribbon tweeter, and an 8-inch planar radiator in each side. It is sold one speaker at a time.

There is no port. The two passive radiators load the 7-inch driver and couple bass energy to the room, which is how a cabinet this size reaches into the low 40s. The tapered shape means no two walls are parallel, which reduces internal reflections.

The Same Tweeter as the Towers

The HVFR tweeter is an air-motion transformer that squeezes air out of a pleated film rather than pushing it. GoldenEar uses the same design across its Triton towers, so the Aon 3 shares the family's airy, wide-dispersion treble.

The Numbers, and What They Ask of You

GoldenEar quotes 40 Hz to 25 kHz typical, with the bass at minus 6 dB at 66 Hz anechoic. Sensitivity is 88 dB at 2.83 volts into a 4 ohm nominal load, and recommended amplification is 10 to 250 watts. Choose an amplifier that is comfortable into 4 ohms.

How Much Room It Takes

Each cabinet is 9 inches wide, 14 tall and 11 deep, and weighs 15 pounds. GoldenEar's founder insisted on 30-inch stands, and SoundStage! found 26 to 28 inches acceptable. Because the radiators fire sideways, give each cabinet a little clearance to the sides.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Chris Martens, writing for Hi-Fi+ on December 19, 2012: "The GoldenEar Aon 3 is a brilliant standmount that could easily pass for a far more expensive speaker than it actually is."

Doug Schneider, SoundStage! Hi-Fi, June 1, 2012: "I didn't expect to hear such a room-filling sound from such a small speaker." He heard strong bass to about 50 Hz with the speakers well out into the room.

Not everyone agreed. What Hi-Fi? gave it three stars on December 18, 2013, praising a "Massive, wide-open sound" but finding the bass "a little insubstantial, lacking the power and authority of some rivals."

Who Is This Bookshelf Speaker Best For?

• You want a big, open soundstage — spaciousness is the one thing every reviewer agreed on, and the side radiators are why
• You want reach without a subwoofer — 40 Hz typical from a 7-inch driver is rare at this size, and Schneider heard useful bass to 50 Hz in open space
• You are building a GoldenEar home theater on a budget — the Aon 3 shares its tweeter with the Triton towers and the SuperCenter, so a mixed system stays in one voice
• You have a decent amplifier — 4 ohms nominal wants an integrated amplifier rated into 4 ohms; 50 watts or more is a comfortable starting point
• You want tight rhythm and hard-hitting bass above all — What Hi-Fi? found the Aon 3 lightweight and vague on driving tracks; the BRX is GoldenEar's quicker, more precise standmount

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Speaker cable runs from your amplifier to a single pair of binding posts on each cabinet, red to red and black to black. It is passive, so there is nothing else to power or configure. Buy two for stereo.

Placement matters for the bass. Martens found about two feet from the rear wall ideal and heard the low end thin out when he pulled the speakers further into the room. Toe them in slightly and aim the tweeters at ear height.

Pairs Well With

What finishes the setup. These are the categories most Aon 3 owners shop next.

• Integrated amplifiers — 50 watts or more, rated into 4 ohms
• Speaker stands — 26 to 30 inches puts the tweeter near ear height
• GoldenEar ForceField 30 subwoofer — the compact 8-inch sub for film below 66 Hz
• Speaker cables — a sensible gauge for a 4 ohm load

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this one speaker or a pair?

One speaker. Order two for stereo, and more for surround duty. We list it this way because GoldenEar ships it one to a box.

How much amplifier does it need?

GoldenEar rates it for 10 to 250 watts at 88 dB sensitivity into 4 ohms. It is not power hungry, but the 4 ohm load means an amplifier rated into 4 ohms will sound more composed than a small receiver.

Can it go on a bookshelf?

It will work there, but the 8-inch radiators fire out of both sides and need clearance, and the cabinet is 11 inches deep. Stands with a couple of feet to the wall behind are how the reviewers got the best bass.

Do I need a subwoofer?

Not for music in a small or medium room. The Aon 3 is quoted to 40 Hz typical, and GoldenEar designed it to work without one. For film, a ForceField sub adds the bottom octave.

What comes in the box?

One speaker with its manual. The cloth wrap is permanent, so there is no separate grille to fit or remove.

How does it differ from the BRX?

The BRX uses GoldenEar's Reference-grade tweeter and the Triton Reference mid/bass driver in a lacquered cabinet, and it is voiced to match the Reference towers. The Aon 3 is the larger-driver, larger-radiator design with the bigger sound.

See It in Action

OldTrades reviews the Aon 3 at length:

The Aon 3 compared with two rivals:

Why Audio Advisor?

• 40+ Years of Expertise — Since 1981, we've helped over a million music lovers find the right gear.
• 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee — Take your time. Listen, enjoy, and make sure it's right for you.
• Real Experts, Real Help — Our team is here to answer your questions at 800-942-0220, weekdays 9am–6pm EST.
• Free Shipping — On orders over $49, delivered to your door.
• Flexible Payment Options — Financing available so you can start listening now.

Learn More

Want to learn more about speaker placement, amplifier matching, or when to add a subwoofer? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.