In this review, we will be comparing SuperSub XXL and Sub 1000 F, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from GoldenEar and Focal. 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 SuperSub XXL and Focal Sub 1000 F 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.GoldenEar SuperSub XXL and Focal Sub 1000 F have a totally different setup: the GoldenEar SuperSub XXL features 2 x 12-inch drivers whereas the Sub 1000 F features 1 x 12-inch drivers.
Frequency Response
SuperSub XXL has a frequency range of 10-250 Hz whereas Sub 1000 F has a frequency range of 24-200 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 10Hz, the SuperSub XXL can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Sub 1000 F'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 SuperSub XXL 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 Focal Sub 1000 F 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
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 SuperSub XXL's and Focal Sub 1000 F's external dimensions. GoldenEar SuperSub XXL has external dimensions of 447.0 x 485.0 x 434.0mm (17-9/16inch x 19-1/16inch x 17-1/16inch) whereas Focal Sub 1000 F has external dimensions of 421.0 x 401.0 x 474.0mm (16-9/16 x 15-3/4 x 18-5/8inch).
Focal Sub 1000 F is 84mm narrower and 26mm shorter than GoldenEar SuperSub XXL but it is also 40mm 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 SuperSub XXL is approximately 2104.9cm2 / 326.3inch2 and base area of the Focal Sub 1000 F is approximately 1900.7cm2 / 294.6inch2. The SuperSub XXL requires 11% more surface area than the Sub 1000 F 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 SuperSub XXL weighs 37.27kg / 82lbs and the Focal Sub 1000 F weighs 21.36kg / 47lbs. This makes the SuperSub XXL 74% heavier than the Sub 1000 F.
Here is a comparison of how SuperSub XXL and Sub 1000 F'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 SuperSub XXL?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SuperSub XXL:
- Powered Subwoofer
- 10-feet AC power cord
- Owners Manual
What's in the Box of Focal Sub 1000 F?
Here are the items that come with the Sub 1000 F:
- Powered subwoofer
- 8-feet AC power cord
- Grille
- User Manual
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
10 Hz
vs
24 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
250 Hz
vs
200 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
two 13-inch x 15-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
421mm
vs
447mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1900cm2
vs
2104cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2099USD
vs
2499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
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 SuperSub XXL needs about 11% more floor area. Focal Sub 1000 F stands 40mm further into the room. GoldenEar SuperSub XXL is 26mm taller.
| General |
GoldenEar SuperSub XXL |
Focal Sub 1000 F |
| Brand |
GoldenEar |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1600 watts |
1000 watts |
| Frequency Response |
10-250 Hz |
24-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1600-watt RMS |
1000-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fiber |
Flax |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
side |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
447.0mm (17.6") |
421.0mm (16.6") |
| Width |
485.0mm (19.1") |
401.0mm (15.8") |
| Depth |
434.0mm (17.1") |
474.0mm (18.7") |
| Weight |
37.27kg (82lbs) |
21.36kg (47lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
A passive radiator subwoofer against a sealed one. That is the most consequential line on this page: it decides how the bass rolls off, how it behaves in a small room, and how much output you get for the size of the box.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | GoldenEar SuperSub XXL goes deeper - 10Hz against 24Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | A | GoldenEar SuperSub XXL has the bigger amplifier - 1600W against 1000W RMS, about 2dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | GoldenEar SuperSub XXL moves more air: 2 x 12" against 12" is 2x the cone area, not the 1.41x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | depends | GoldenEar SuperSub XXL is passive radiator - a passive radiator behaves like a port without the pipe noise, and suits a slim cabinet; Focal Sub 1000 F is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Phase control | B | Focal Sub 1000 F has a phase control. Without one, the only way to fix a cancellation at the crossover is to move the box. |
| Driver placement | depends | GoldenEar SuperSub XXL fires side and Focal Sub 1000 F fires front. A down-firing driver is more forgiving of a grille-less look and of a hard floor; a front-firing one is the safer choice on a thick carpet or a suspended timber floor. |
| Price | B | Focal Sub 1000 F costs less - $2,099 against $2,499, about 16% less. |
A GoldenEar SuperSub XXL B Focal Sub 1000 F
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?
The usual trade-off: GoldenEar SuperSub XXL measures better, Focal Sub 1000 F costs about 16% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, GoldenEar SuperSub XXL will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, Focal Sub 1000 F is usually the easier one to make sound right.
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.