In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv XS12e and ForceField 3, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Emotiva 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 Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e and GoldenEar ForceField 3 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
The sections below take each area in turn: driver and amplifier, frequency response, physical size and connectivity.
Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both Emotiva Airmotiv XS12eand GoldenEar ForceField 3 have a single woofer setup however the Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e's woofer is 12-inch whereas the GoldenEar ForceField 3 features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Airmotiv XS12e has a frequency range of 28-200 Hz whereas ForceField 3 has a frequency range of 18-250 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 18Hz, the ForceField 3 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Airmotiv XS12e's min frequency of 28Hz.
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 Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e 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
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 Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e's and GoldenEar ForceField 3's external dimensions. Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e has external dimensions of 400.0 x 400.0 x 400.0mm (15-3/4 x 15-3/4 x 15-3/4inch) 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).
GoldenEar ForceField 3 is 107mm narrower and 112mm shorter than Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e but it is also 32mm deeper.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e needs about 26% more floor or shelf area. GoldenEar ForceField 3 is 32mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e is 112mm taller.
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 Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e is approximately 1600.0cm2 / 248.0inch2 and base area of the GoldenEar ForceField 3 is approximately 1265.8cm2 / 196.2inch2. The Airmotiv XS12e requires 26% 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 Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e weighs 19.05kg / 41.9lbs and the GoldenEar ForceField 3 weighs 11.82kg / 26lbs. This makes the Airmotiv XS12e 61% heavier than the ForceField 3.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv XS12e and ForceField 3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
18 Hz
vs
28 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
250 Hz
vs
200 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
288mm
vs
400mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1265cm2
vs
1600cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
699USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Size, drawn to scale
Both subwoofers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same floor and pushed back to the same wall, so the bigger one visibly takes more of the room.
Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e needs about 26% more floor area. GoldenEar ForceField 3 stands 32mm further into the room. Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e is 112mm taller.
| General |
Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e |
GoldenEar ForceField 3 |
| Brand |
Emotiva |
GoldenEar |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
300 watts |
1000 watts |
| Frequency Response |
28-200 Hz |
18-250 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
300-watt RMS |
1000-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Treated paper |
Polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
400.0mm (15.7") |
288.0mm (11.3") |
| Width |
400.0mm (15.7") |
293.0mm (11.5") |
| Depth |
400.0mm (15.7") |
432.0mm (17") |
| Weight |
19.05kg (41.9lbs) |
11.82kg (26lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
A ported subwoofer against a passive radiator one. That is the most consequential line on this page: it decides how the bass rolls off, how it behaves in a small room, and how much output you get for the size of the box.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | B | GoldenEar ForceField 3 goes deeper - 18Hz against 28Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | B | GoldenEar ForceField 3 has the bigger amplifier - 1000W against 300W RMS, about 5.2dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e moves more air: 12" against 8" is 2.25x the cone area, not the 1.5x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | depends | Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning; GoldenEar ForceField 3 is passive radiator - a passive radiator behaves like a port without the pipe noise, and suits a slim cabinet. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Phase control | A | Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e has a phase control. Without one, the only way to fix a cancellation at the crossover is to move the box. |
| Cabinet size | depends | GoldenEar ForceField 3 is about 43% smaller by volume. In a subwoofer that is a real trade rather than a preference: box volume is how you get output low down without a bigger amplifier. |
| Warranty | A | Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e carries 5 years on parts against 3 years. A subwoofer amplifier works harder than anything else in the system, so this is not a throwaway line. |
| Price | B | GoldenEar ForceField 3 costs less - $599 against $699, about 14% less. |
A Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e B GoldenEar ForceField 3
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 subwoofers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: Emotiva Airmotiv XS12e measures better, GoldenEar ForceField 3 costs about 14% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - GoldenEar ForceField 3 is the one that will actually go there, and a well-placed small subwoofer beats a badly-placed big one every time.
One thing outweighs everything above: where the subwoofer stands. Room modes can add or remove 10dB or more at a given seat, which is far larger than any difference on this page. Before spending more, try the sub in two or three positions - the crawl test, where you put it in the listening seat and crawl the room to find where the bass sounds best, costs nothing and usually beats an upgrade.