In this review, we will be comparing ForceField 3 and Debut 2.0 SUB3010, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from GoldenEar and ELAC. 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 GoldenEar ForceField 3 and ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into details in order to better understand how the GoldenEar ForceField 3 and ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 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 GoldenEar ForceField 3and ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 have a single woofer setup however the GoldenEar ForceField 3's woofer is 8-inch whereas the ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
ForceField 3 has a frequency range of 18-250 Hz whereas Debut 2.0 SUB3010 has a frequency range of 28-150 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 Debut 2.0 SUB3010'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 GoldenEar ForceField 3 has a Passive Radiator type cabinet. 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. On the other hand the ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 have Passive radiator type enclosure.
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 ForceField 3's and ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010's external dimensions. GoldenEar ForceField 3 has external dimensions of 288.0 x 293.0 x 432.0mm ( 11-5/16inch x 11-1/2inch x 17inch ) whereas ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 has external dimensions of 374.0 x 355.0 x 383.0mm ( 14-11/16 x 13-15/16 x 15-1/16inch) .
GoldenEar ForceField 3 is 62mm narrower and 86mm shorter than ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 but it is also 49mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of GoldenEar ForceField 3 and ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 in scale.
Comparison image of GoldenEar ForceField 3 and ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 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 GoldenEar ForceField 3 is approximately 1265.8cm2 / 196.2inch2 and base area of the ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 is approximately 1359.7cm2 / 210.8inch2. The ForceField 3 requires 7% less surface area than the Debut 2.0 SUB3010 which gives it a small advantage 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 GoldenEar ForceField 3 weighs 11.82kg / 26lbs and the ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 weighs 14.59kg / 32.1lbs. This makes the Debut 2.0 SUB3010 23% heavier than the ForceField 3.
Here is a comparison of how ForceField 3 and Debut 2.0 SUB3010's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of GoldenEar ForceField 3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of ForceField 3:
Powered Subwoofer10-feet AC power cordOwners Manual
What's in the Box of ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010?
Here are the items that come with the Debut 2.0 SUB3010:
Powered subwoofer9-feet AC power cord4 Spikes4 Hex-nutsOperating Instructions
 Low Frequency Response |
18 Hz
vs
28 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
250k Hz
vs
150k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
288mm
vs
374mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1265cm2 (293x432mm)
vs
1359cm2 (355x383mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
650USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
| General |
GoldenEar ForceField 3 |
ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 |
| Brand |
GoldenEar |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1000 watts |
200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
18-250 Hz |
28-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1000-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Doped Paper |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
288.0mm (11.3") |
374.0mm (14.7") |
| Width |
293.0mm (11.5") |
355.0mm (14") |
| Depth |
432.0mm (17") |
383.0mm (15.1") |
| Weight |
11.82kg (26lbs) |
14.59kg (32.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Passive radiator |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
1 Year |