In this review, we will be comparing Stratton 12 and ForceField 3, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from KLH 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 KLH Stratton 12 and GoldenEar ForceField 3 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into details in order to better understand how the KLH Stratton 12 and GoldenEar ForceField 3 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these subwoofers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both KLH Stratton 12and GoldenEar ForceField 3 have a single woofer setup however the KLH Stratton 12's woofer is 12-inch whereas the GoldenEar ForceField 3 features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Stratton 12 has a frequency range of 25-160 Hz whereas ForceField 3 has a frequency range of 18-250 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 18Hz, the ForceField 3 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Stratton 12's min frequency of 25Hz.
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 KLH Stratton 12 has a Bass Reflex type cabinet. 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. On the other hand the GoldenEar ForceField 3 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 KLH Stratton 12's and GoldenEar ForceField 3's external dimensions. KLH Stratton 12 has external dimensions of 450.0 x 391.0 x 518.0mm ( 17-11/16inch x 15-3/8inch x 20-3/8inch ) whereas GoldenEar ForceField 3 has external dimensions of 288.0 x 293.0 x 432.0mm ( 11-5/16inch x 11-1/2inch x 17inch ) .
KLH Stratton 12 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 98mm wider, 162mm taller and 86mm deeper than GoldenEar ForceField 3.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KLH Stratton 12 and GoldenEar ForceField 3 in scale.
Comparison image of KLH Stratton 12 and GoldenEar ForceField 3 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 KLH Stratton 12 is approximately 2025.4cm2 / 313.9inch2 and base area of the GoldenEar ForceField 3 is approximately 1265.8cm2 / 196.2inch2. The Stratton 12 requires 60% more surface area than the ForceField 3 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 KLH Stratton 12 weighs 20.00kg / 44lbs and the GoldenEar ForceField 3 weighs 11.82kg / 26lbs. This makes the Stratton 12 69% heavier than the ForceField 3.
Here is a comparison of how Stratton 12 and ForceField 3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of KLH Stratton 12?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Stratton 12:
Powered subwoofer6-feet AC power cordGrilleManual
What's in the Box of GoldenEar ForceField 3?
Here are the items that come with the ForceField 3:
Powered Subwoofer10-feet AC power cordOwners Manual
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
18 Hz
vs
25 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
250k Hz
vs
160k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
288mm
vs
450mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1265cm2
vs
2025cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
KLH Stratton 12 |
GoldenEar ForceField 3 |
| Brand |
KLH |
GoldenEar |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
200 watts |
1000 watts |
| Frequency Response |
25-160 Hz |
18-250 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
200-watt RMS |
1000-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper/Kevlar/Fiberglass |
Polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
450.0mm (17.7") |
288.0mm (11.3") |
| Width |
391.0mm (15.4") |
293.0mm (11.5") |
| Depth |
518.0mm (20.4") |
432.0mm (17") |
| Weight |
20.00kg (44lbs) |
11.82kg (26lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
3 Years |