B&W 805S vs. Goldenear Aon 3 (kinda review thing)

[brazil-nut]

Last night I put the Goldenear Aon 3 against the B&W 805S and the difference is huge!
The b&w went first and sounds very clean, detailed, warm and every instrument and the singer can easily be identified and placed, but not fatiguing at all. There is a perfect balance between the high, mid and bass. The speakers do not dissapear, with eyes closed you can point where the speakers are.
Best speaker I have heard to date!

Next the Goldenears and personally I like these better. These sound more like live music, not as detailed as the b&w. They sound more bass heavy, which I like. The soundstage is much bigger and the music is all around you. You hear the music from your left side to your right side instead of just in front of you like the b&w.
The speakers tend to disappear. Playing Led Zeppelin where a lot of acoustic guitar comes from just the left speaker, with the b&w the sound comes out of the speaker and with the Goldenear it floats in front of the speaker and a little on the right side of the speaker instead of directly from the speaker.

Conclusion:
If we disregard the price difference ($1000 vs. $2250-$2500 used) the B&W 805S is a much better speaker when it comes to quality of the sound, detail and balance.
When it comes to 'music' and not 'sound' the Goldenear Aon 3 is better. It is more 'fun' to listen to and is more for people that want great music in the whole room and not sit in the center and pluck every detail from the music.
To put it this way: I would prefer the b&w when sitting down to really enjoy the music and taking my time. If I want to play music and enjoy it as if its played live in your room I prefer the Goldenear.

From an audiophile point of view, the b&w beats the Goldenear by a mile.

[jdandy]

karmanfamily.......It sounds to me like you need to keep both sets of speakers.

[brazil-nut]

Can you call my wife for me and tell her, please!! I cant choose!! in cant I meant, am not allowed to... lol
I want to keep one set to sit still and just listen to the quality of the sound and keep one set to listen and just get involved and enjoy the music.

[brazil-nut]

by the way.. i see you have a nce collection... are you always expanding too?
I have a bunch of stuff for sale if you are interested.

Raymond

[Wasatch]

You should have played around more with the 805S, they can disappear also. B&Ws are harder in that regard, but it can be done. Still, for the most part they still give more sound coming from the speaker.

[brazil-nut]

I wish I had more time... lol.. wife breathing down my neck, she didnt realise I bought both pairs instead of just one...
The B&W are the much better speaker without a doubt.
BUt... there is always a but...
WIth playing music in my bedroom only, the Goldenears do a better job filling up the room with music...

[Wasatch]

Originally Posted by karmanfamily

I wish I had more time... lol.. wife breathing down my neck, she didnt realise I bought both pairs instead of just one...
The B&W are the much better speaker without a doubt.
BUt... there is always a but...
WIth playing music in my bedroom only, the Goldenears do a better job filling up the room with music...

And in the end it is what you like.

[brazil-nut]

So true