In this review, we will be comparing Kube 12 MIE and ForceField 4, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from KEF and GoldenEar. 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 KEF Kube 12 MIE and GoldenEar ForceField 4 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into details in order to better understand how the KEF Kube 12 MIE and GoldenEar ForceField 4 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 KEF Kube 12 MIEand GoldenEar ForceField 4 have a single woofer setup however the KEF Kube 12 MIE's woofer is 12-inch whereas the GoldenEar ForceField 4 features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Kube 12 MIE has a frequency range of 22-140 Hz whereas ForceField 4 has a frequency range of 14-250 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 Kube 12 MIE's min frequency of 22Hz.
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 KEF Kube 12 MIE has a Acoustic Suspension type cabinet. 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. On the other hand the GoldenEar ForceField 4 have Passive Radiator type enclosure. 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
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 KEF Kube 12 MIE's and GoldenEar ForceField 4's external dimensions. KEF Kube 12 MIE has external dimensions of 410 x 393 x 410 mm ( 16.1 x 15.5 x 16.1 in) whereas GoldenEar ForceField 4 has external dimensions of 331.0 x 340.0 x 482.0mm ( 13inch x 13-3/8inch x 18-15/16inch ) .
GoldenEar ForceField 4 is 53mm narrower and 79mm shorter than KEF Kube 12 MIE but it is also 72mm 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 KEF Kube 12 MIE is approximately 1611.3cm2 / 249.8inch2 and base area of the GoldenEar ForceField 4 is approximately 1638.8cm2 / 254.0inch2. The Kube 12 MIE requires 2% less surface area than the ForceField 4 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 KEF Kube 12 MIE weighs 18.60kg / 40.9lbs and the GoldenEar ForceField 4 weighs 14.55kg / 32lbs. This makes the Kube 12 MIE 28% heavier than the ForceField 4.
Here is a comparison of how Kube 12 MIE and ForceField 4's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF Kube 12 MIE?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Kube 12 MIE:
Kube 12 MIE subwoofer Power cord Euroblock speaker level connector User manual and warranty information
What's in the Box of GoldenEar ForceField 4?
Here are the items that come with the ForceField 4:
Powered Subwoofer10-feet AC power cordOwners Manual
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Base Surface Area |
1611cm2
vs
1638cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
| Low Frequency Response |
14 Hz
vs
22 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
250k Hz
vs
140k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
331mm
vs
410mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KEF Kube 12 MIE |
GoldenEar ForceField 4 |
| Brand |
KEF |
GoldenEar |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
300 watts |
1200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
22-140 Hz |
14-250 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
300-watt RMS |
1200-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
40-140 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
410.0mm (16.1") |
331.0mm (13") |
| Width |
393.0mm (15.5") |
340.0mm (13.4") |
| Depth |
410.0mm (16.1") |
482.0mm (19") |
| Weight |
18.60kg (40.9lbs) |
14.55kg (32lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Passive Radiator |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
3 Years |