In this review, we will be comparing ForceField 4 and C-308ASWi, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from GoldenEar and Klipsch. 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 Klipsch C-308ASWi 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 Klipsch C-308ASWi have a single woofer setup however the GoldenEar ForceField 4's woofer is 10-inch whereas the Klipsch C-308ASWi features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
ForceField 4 has a frequency range of 14-250 Hz whereas C-308ASWi has a frequency range of 28-150 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 C-308ASWi'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
Both GoldenEar ForceField 4 and Klipsch C-308ASWi 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 Klipsch C-308ASWi'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 Klipsch C-308ASWi has external dimensions of 299.0 x 286.0 x 356.0mm (11-3/4 x 11-1/4 x 14inch).
GoldenEar ForceField 4 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 54mm wider, 32mm taller and 126mm deeper than Klipsch C-308ASWi.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of GoldenEar ForceField 4 and Klipsch C-308ASWi in scale.
Comparison image of GoldenEar ForceField 4 and Klipsch C-308ASWi 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 Klipsch C-308ASWi is approximately 1018.2cm2 / 157.8inch2. The ForceField 4 requires 61% more surface area than the C-308ASWi 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 GoldenEar ForceField 4 weighs 14.55kg / 32lbs and the Klipsch C-308ASWi weighs 12.27kg / 27lbs. This makes the ForceField 4 19% heavier than the C-308ASWi.
Here is a comparison of how ForceField 4 and C-308ASWi'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 Klipsch C-308ASWi?
Here are the items that come with the C-308ASWi:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 8-feet AC power cord
- User Manual
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
14 Hz
vs
28 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
250 Hz
vs
150 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
1299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Height |
299mm
vs
331mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1018cm2
vs
1638cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
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.
GoldenEar ForceField 4 needs about 61% more floor area. GoldenEar ForceField 4 stands 126mm further into the room. GoldenEar ForceField 4 is 32mm taller.
| General |
GoldenEar ForceField 4 |
Klipsch C Series C-308ASWi |
| Brand |
GoldenEar |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1200 watts |
300 watts |
| Frequency Response |
14-250 Hz |
28-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1200-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Cerametallic |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
331.0mm (13") |
299.0mm (11.8") |
| Width |
340.0mm (13.4") |
286.0mm (11.3") |
| Depth |
482.0mm (19") |
356.0mm (14") |
| Weight |
14.55kg (32lbs) |
12.27kg (27lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Passive Radiator |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
2 Years |
Different price classes - Klipsch C-308ASWi costs roughly 1.6x what GoldenEar ForceField 4 does. Before paying it, read the note below about two smaller subwoofers.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | GoldenEar ForceField 4 goes deeper - 14Hz against 28Hz. 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 300W RMS, about 6dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | GoldenEar ForceField 4 moves more air: 10" against 8" is 1.56x the cone area, not the 1.25x 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. |
| Wireless option | depends | Only Klipsch C-308ASWi offers a wireless link (as a paid option). It decides where the sub can go if you cannot run a cable, and is worth nothing if you can. |
| Phase control | B | Klipsch C-308ASWi has a phase control. Without one, the only way to fix a cancellation at the crossover is to move the box. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Klipsch C-308ASWi is about 44% 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 | GoldenEar ForceField 4 carries 3 years on parts against 2 years. A subwoofer amplifier works harder than anything else in the system, so this is not a throwaway line. |
| Price | A | GoldenEar ForceField 4 costs less - $799 against $1,299, about 38% less. |
A GoldenEar ForceField 4 B Klipsch C-308ASWi
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?
GoldenEar ForceField 4 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Klipsch C-308ASWi if one of the "depends" rows describes your room. 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 $1,299 for one of the other, which is worth a thought. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Klipsch C-308ASWi 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.