In this review, we will be comparing ForceField 4 and Monitor XT12, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from GoldenEar and Polk Audio. 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 Polk Monitor XT12 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.
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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.Both GoldenEar ForceField 4and Polk Monitor XT12 have a single woofer setup however the GoldenEar ForceField 4's woofer is 10-inch whereas the Polk Monitor XT12 features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
ForceField 4 has a frequency range of 14-250 Hz whereas Monitor XT12 has a frequency range of 24-160 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 Monitor XT12's min frequency of 24Hz.
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 4 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 Polk Monitor XT12 have Bass Reflex type enclosure. 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.
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 Polk Monitor XT12'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 Polk Monitor XT12 has external dimensions of 418.0 x 408.0 x 485.0mm (16-7/16inch x 16-1/16inch x 19-1/16inch).
Polk Monitor XT12 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 68mm wider, 87mm taller and 3mm deeper than GoldenEar ForceField 4.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of GoldenEar ForceField 4 and Polk Monitor XT12 in scale.
Comparison image of GoldenEar ForceField 4 and Polk Monitor XT12 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 Polk Monitor XT12 is approximately 1978.8cm2 / 306.7inch2. The ForceField 4 requires 17% less surface area than the Monitor XT12 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 Polk Monitor XT12 weighs 17.73kg / 39lbs. This makes the Monitor XT12 22% heavier than the ForceField 4.
Here is a comparison of how ForceField 4 and Monitor XT12'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 Polk Monitor XT12?
Here are the items that come with the Monitor XT12:
- Black powered subwoofer
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- Grille
- Owners Manual
- Online registration card
 Low Frequency Response |
14 Hz
vs
24 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
250k Hz
vs
160k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
331mm
vs
418mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1638cm2
vs
1978cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
GoldenEar ForceField 4 |
Polk Monitor XT12 |
| Brand |
GoldenEar |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1200 watts |
50 watts |
| Frequency Response |
14-250 Hz |
24-160 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1200-watt RMS |
50-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Bi-laminate paper |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
331.0mm (13") |
418.0mm (16.5") |
| Width |
340.0mm (13.4") |
408.0mm (16.1") |
| Depth |
482.0mm (19") |
485.0mm (19.1") |
| Weight |
14.55kg (32lbs) |
17.73kg (39lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |