In this review, we will be comparing ForceField 30 and ForceField 3, two Powered Subwoofer speakers by 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 GoldenEar ForceField 30 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 GoldenEar ForceField 30 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.
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Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.GoldenEar ForceField 30and GoldenEar ForceField 3 have the same driver set up: Both subwoofers have 1 x 8" drivers.
Frequency Response
ForceField 30 and ForceField 3 has exactly the same frequency range of 18-250 Hz.
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
Both GoldenEar ForceField 30 and GoldenEar ForceField 3 have Passive Radiator type cabinets. 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 GoldenEar ForceField 30's and GoldenEar ForceField 3's external dimensions. GoldenEar ForceField 30 has external dimensions of 324.0 x 291.0 x 421.0mm ( 12-3/4inch x 11-7/16inch x 16-9/16inch ) 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 30 is 2mm narrower and 11mm less deeper than GoldenEar ForceField 3 but it is also 36mm 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 GoldenEar ForceField 30 is approximately 1225.1cm2 / 189.9inch2 and base area of the GoldenEar ForceField 3 is approximately 1265.8cm2 / 196.2inch2. The ForceField 30 requires 3% less surface area than the ForceField 3 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 30 weighs 14.32kg / 31.5lbs and the GoldenEar ForceField 3 weighs 11.82kg / 26lbs. This makes the ForceField 30 21% heavier than the ForceField 3.
Here is a comparison of how ForceField 30 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 GoldenEar ForceField 30?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of ForceField 30:
Powered subwoofer10-feet AC power cordQuick Start GuideOwners Manual
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
 Base Surface Area |
1225cm2 (291x421mm)
vs
1265cm2 (293x432mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Height |
288mm
vs
324mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
899USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
GoldenEar ForceField 30 |
GoldenEar ForceField 3 |
| Brand |
GoldenEar |
GoldenEar |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1000 watts |
1000 watts |
| Frequency Response |
18-250 Hz |
18-250 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1000-watt RMS |
1000-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front and bottom |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
324.0mm (12.8") |
288.0mm (11.3") |
| Width |
291.0mm (11.5") |
293.0mm (11.5") |
| Depth |
421.0mm (16.6") |
432.0mm (17") |
| Weight |
14.32kg (31.5lbs) |
11.82kg (26lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Passive Radiator |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |