In this review, we will be comparing ForceField 40 and Dynamo 1600X, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from GoldenEar and MartinLogan. 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 40 and MartinLogan 1600X 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 40 and MartinLogan 1600X 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.Both GoldenEar ForceField 40and MartinLogan 1600X have a single woofer setup however the GoldenEar ForceField 40's woofer is 10-inch whereas the MartinLogan 1600X features a 15-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
ForceField 40 has a frequency range of 14-250 Hz whereas Dynamo 1600X has a frequency range of 20-200 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 14Hz, the ForceField 40 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Dynamo 1600X'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
The GoldenEar ForceField 40 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 MartinLogan 1600X have Acoustic Suspension type enclosure. Acoustic Suspension aka Sealed type subwoofers have enclosures that are sealed hence no ports or holes exists on the cabinet. Sealed designs helps to provide more accurate and tight bass responses compared to ported 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 40's and MartinLogan 1600X's external dimensions. GoldenEar ForceField 40 has external dimensions of 378.0 x 339.0 x 485.0mm ( 14-7/8inch x 13-5/16inch x 19-1/16inch ) whereas MartinLogan 1600X has external dimensions of 510.0 x 456.0 x 470.0mm ( 20-1/16 x 17-15/16 x 18-1/2inch) .
GoldenEar ForceField 40 is 117mm narrower and 132mm shorter than MartinLogan 1600X but it is also 15mm deeper.
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 40 is approximately 1644.2cm2 / 254.9inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan 1600X is approximately 2143.2cm2 / 332.2inch2. The ForceField 40 requires 23% less surface area than the Dynamo 1600X 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 40 weighs 18.41kg / 40.5lbs and the MartinLogan 1600X weighs 25.91kg / 57lbs. This makes the Dynamo 1600X 41% heavier than the ForceField 40.
Here is a comparison of how ForceField 40 and Dynamo 1600X'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 40?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of ForceField 40:
Powered subwoofer10-feet AC power cordQuick Start GuideOwners Manual
What's in the Box of MartinLogan 1600X?
Here are the items that come with the Dynamo 1600X:
Powered subwooferGrille6.5-feet AC power cordUser-feets Manual
 Low Frequency Response |
14 Hz
vs
20 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
250k Hz
vs
200k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
378mm
vs
510mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1644cm2 (339x485mm)
vs
2143cm2 (456x470mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1199USD
vs
2000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
| General |
GoldenEar ForceField 40 |
MartinLogan Dynamo 1600X |
| Brand |
GoldenEar |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1000 watts |
900 watts |
| Frequency Response |
14-250 Hz |
20-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1000-watt RMS |
900-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 and bottom |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
378.0mm (14.9") |
510.0mm (20.1") |
| Width |
339.0mm (13.3") |
456.0mm (18") |
| Depth |
485.0mm (19.1") |
470.0mm (18.5") |
| Weight |
18.41kg (40.5lbs) |
25.91kg (57lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Satin Black |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Yrs w/ Registration |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Yrs w/ Registration |