In this review, we will be comparing Varro PS500-BK and ForceField 3, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from ELAC and GoldenEar. Being Powered subwoofers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them. Let's have a brief look at the main features of ELAC Varro PS500-BK and GoldenEar ForceField 3 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into details in order to better understand how the ELAC Varro PS500-BK and GoldenEar ForceField 3 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these subwoofers 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
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both ELAC Varro PS500-BKand GoldenEar ForceField 3 have a single woofer setup however the ELAC Varro PS500-BK's woofer is 15-inch whereas the GoldenEar ForceField 3 features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Varro PS500-BK has a frequency range of 20-150 Hz whereas ForceField 3 has a frequency range of 18-250 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 18Hz, the ForceField 3 can go slightly deeper then the Varro PS500-BK's min frequency of 20Hz.
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 Subwoofer class in our database.
Low Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Cabinet Type
The ELAC Varro PS500-BK has a Bass Reflex type cabinet. Bass Reflex type subwoofers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs. On the other hand the GoldenEar ForceField 3 have Passive Radiator type enclosure. Passive Radiator type subwoofers sports a non-powered cone that moves in response to the main woofer to move air out in order to generate stronger bass in a smaller body compared to ported or sealed designs.
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 ELAC Varro PS500-BK's and GoldenEar ForceField 3's external dimensions. ELAC Varro PS500-BK has external dimensions of 482.0 x 461.0 x 461.0mm ( 18-15/16inch x 18-1/8inch x 18-1/8inch ) whereas GoldenEar ForceField 3 has external dimensions of 288.0 x 293.0 x 432.0mm ( 11-5/16inch x 11-1/2inch x 17inch ) .
ELAC Varro PS500-BK is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 168mm wider, 194mm taller and 29mm deeper than GoldenEar ForceField 3.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Varro PS500-BK and GoldenEar ForceField 3 in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Varro PS500-BK and GoldenEar ForceField 3 Size and External Dimensions
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 ELAC Varro PS500-BK is approximately 2125.2cm2 / 329.4inch2 and base area of the GoldenEar ForceField 3 is approximately 1265.8cm2 / 196.2inch2. The Varro PS500-BK requires 68% more surface area than the ForceField 3 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a subwoofer may become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often to find the optimal positioning, also known as 'Subwoofer Crawling'. The ELAC Varro PS500-BK weighs 25.95kg / 57.1lbs and the GoldenEar ForceField 3 weighs 11.82kg / 26lbs. This makes the Varro PS500-BK 120% heavier than the ForceField 3.
Here is a comparison of how Varro PS500-BK and ForceField 3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of ELAC Varro PS500-BK?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Varro PS500-BK:
Grill Power Cord 4 Spikes
What's in the Box of GoldenEar ForceField 3?
Here are the items that come with the ForceField 3:
Powered Subwoofer10-feet AC power cordOwners Manual
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
| Low Frequency Response |
18 Hz
vs
20 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
250k Hz
vs
150k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
288mm
vs
482mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1265cm2 (293x432mm)
vs
2125cm2 (461x461mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
ELAC Varro PS500-BK |
GoldenEar ForceField 3 |
| Brand |
ELAC |
GoldenEar |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
500 watts |
1000 watts |
| Frequency Response |
20-150 Hz |
18-250 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
500-watt RMS |
1000-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
1000-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Treated paper |
Polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
482.0mm (19") |
288.0mm (11.3") |
| Width |
461.0mm (18.1") |
293.0mm (11.5") |
| Depth |
461.0mm (18.1") |
432.0mm (17") |
| Weight |
25.95kg (57.1lbs) |
11.82kg (26lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
MDF |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| USB Port |
USB-A port for firmware updates |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 year |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
1 year |
3 Years |