In this review, we will be comparing ForceField 4 and Descend DN15, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from GoldenEar and Definitive Technology. 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 4 and Definitive DN15 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 GoldenEar ForceField 4and Definitive DN15 have a single woofer setup however the GoldenEar ForceField 4's woofer is 10-inch whereas the Definitive DN15 features a 15-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
ForceField 4 has a frequency range of 14-250 Hz whereas Descend DN15 has a frequency range of 20-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 14Hz, the ForceField 4 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Descend DN15'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
Both GoldenEar ForceField 4 and Definitive DN15 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
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 GoldenEar ForceField 4's and Definitive DN15's external dimensions. GoldenEar ForceField 4 has external dimensions of 331.0 x 340.0 x 482.0mm (13inch x 13-3/8inch x 18-15/16inch) whereas Definitive DN15 has external dimensions of 634.0 x 596.0 x 640.0mm (24-15/16inch x 23-7/16inch x 25-3/16inch).
Definitive DN15 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 256mm wider, 303mm taller and 158mm deeper than GoldenEar ForceField 4.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of GoldenEar ForceField 4 and Definitive DN15 in scale.
Comparison image of GoldenEar ForceField 4 and Definitive DN15 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 4 is approximately 1638.8cm2 / 254.0inch2 and base area of the Definitive DN15 is approximately 3814.4cm2 / 591.2inch2. The ForceField 4 requires 57% less surface area than the Descend DN15 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 4 weighs 14.55kg / 32lbs and the Definitive DN15 weighs 52.09kg / 114.6lbs. This makes the Descend DN15 258% heavier than the ForceField 4.
Here is a comparison of how ForceField 4 and Descend DN15'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 4?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of ForceField 4:
- Powered Subwoofer
- 10-feet AC power cord
- Owners Manual
What's in the Box of Definitive DN15?
Here are the items that come with the Descend DN15:
- Powered subwoofer
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Remote control
- CR2032 3V battery (pre-installed in remote)
- Owners Manual
 Low Frequency Response |
14 Hz
vs
20 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
250 Hz
vs
150 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
331mm
vs
634mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1638cm2
vs
3814cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
1799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Passive Radiator |
2 x 15-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
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.
Definitive DN15 needs about 133% more floor area. Definitive DN15 stands 158mm further into the room. Definitive DN15 is 303mm taller.
| General |
GoldenEar ForceField 4 |
Definitive Technology Descend DN15 |
| Brand |
GoldenEar |
Definitive Technology |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1200 watts |
500 watts |
| Frequency Response |
14-250 Hz |
20-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1200-watt RMS |
500-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
331.0mm (13") |
634.0mm (25") |
| Width |
340.0mm (13.4") |
596.0mm (23.5") |
| Depth |
482.0mm (19") |
640.0mm (25.2") |
| Weight |
14.55kg (32lbs) |
52.09kg (114.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Passive Radiator |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
Two quite different sizes of subwoofer. Room volume decides this more than anything else on the page: a big driver in a small room is wasted, and a small one in a large room is worked to death.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | GoldenEar ForceField 4 goes deeper - 14Hz against 20Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | A | GoldenEar ForceField 4 has the bigger amplifier - 1200W against 500W RMS, about 3.8dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | B | Definitive DN15 moves more air: 15" against 10" 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 | evenly matched | Both are passive radiator designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Phase control | B | Definitive DN15 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 4 is about 78% 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. |
| Price | A | GoldenEar ForceField 4 costs less - $799 against $1,799, about 56% less. |
A GoldenEar ForceField 4 B Definitive DN15
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let your room size and where the box can actually stand settle it. Two small subwoofers beat one big one in most rooms - a pair evens out the room modes in a way no single box can, whatever its specs. At $799 each, two GoldenEar ForceField 4 cost about $1,598 against $1,799 for one of the other, which is worth a thought. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - GoldenEar ForceField 4 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.