In this review, we will be comparing 3000 Micro R Evolution and ForceField 4, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from SVS 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 SVS 3000 Micro R Evolution and GoldenEar ForceField 4 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.SVS 3000 Micro R Evolution and GoldenEar ForceField 4 have a totally different setup: the SVS 3000 Micro R Evolution features 2 x 9-inch drivers whereas the ForceField 4 features 1 x 10-inch drivers.
Frequency Response
3000 Micro R Evolution has a frequency range of 20-230 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 3000 Micro R Evolution'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
SVS 3000 Micro R Evolution
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
SVS 3000 Micro R Evolution
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 SVS 3000 Micro R Evolution's and GoldenEar ForceField 4's external dimensions. SVS 3000 Micro R Evolution has external dimensions of 277.8 x 301.0 x 313.0mm () 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 clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 39mm wider, 53.2mm taller and 169mm deeper than SVS 3000 Micro R Evolution.
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 SVS 3000 Micro R Evolution is approximately 942.1cm2 / 146.0inch2 and base area of the GoldenEar ForceField 4 is approximately 1638.8cm2 / 254.0inch2. The 3000 Micro R Evolution requires 43% 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 SVS 3000 Micro R Evolution weighs 10.23kg / 22.5lbs and the GoldenEar ForceField 4 weighs 14.55kg / 32lbs. This makes the ForceField 4 42% heavier than the 3000 Micro R Evolution.
Here is a comparison of how 3000 Micro R Evolution and ForceField 4's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
SVS 3000 Micro R Evolution
What's in the Box of SVS 3000 Micro R Evolution?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 3000 Micro R Evolution:
- Powered subwoofer
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 6' AC power cord
- Setup/Registration Guide
- Support Info
- SVS brochure
What's in the Box of GoldenEar ForceField 4?
Here are the items that come with the ForceField 4:
- Powered Subwoofer
- 10-feet AC power cord
- Owners Manual
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 App-Based Control |
Apple iOS, Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
277mm
vs
331mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
942cm2
vs
1638cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
9 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
14 Hz
vs
20 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
250 Hz
vs
230 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
999USD
|
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 ForceField 4 needs about 74% more floor area. GoldenEar ForceField 4 stands 169mm further into the room. GoldenEar ForceField 4 is 53mm taller.
| General |
SVS 3000 Micro R Evolution |
GoldenEar ForceField 4 |
| Brand |
SVS |
GoldenEar |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
20-230 Hz |
14-250 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1200-watt RMS |
1200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
4000-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
9" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
277.8mm (10.9") |
331.0mm (13") |
| Width |
301.0mm (11.9") |
340.0mm (13.4") |
| Depth |
313.0mm (12.3") |
482.0mm (19") |
| Weight |
10.23kg (22.5lbs) |
14.55kg (32lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Passive Radiator |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
A sealed subwoofer against a passive radiator 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 | B | GoldenEar ForceField 4 goes deeper - 14Hz against 20Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | evenly matched | Much the same amplifier (1200W vs 1200W RMS) - under 1dB apart. |
| Driver area | A | SVS 3000 Micro R Evolution moves more air: 2 x 9" against 10" is 1.62x the cone area, not the 1.27x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | depends | SVS 3000 Micro R Evolution is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room; GoldenEar ForceField 4 is passive radiator - a passive radiator behaves like a port without the pipe noise, and suits a slim cabinet. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Speaker-level inputs | B | GoldenEar ForceField 4 takes a speaker-level connection as well as line level. That is what lets it work with an integrated amplifier or a vintage receiver that has no subwoofer output at all. |
| Phase control | A | SVS 3000 Micro R Evolution has a phase control. Without one, the only way to fix a cancellation at the crossover is to move the box. |
| Driver placement | depends | SVS 3000 Micro R Evolution fires side-firing and GoldenEar ForceField 4 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. |
| Cabinet size | depends | SVS 3000 Micro R Evolution is about 52% smaller by volume. In a subwoofer that is a real trade rather than a preference: box volume is how you get output low down without a bigger amplifier. |
| Warranty | A | SVS 3000 Micro R Evolution carries 5 years on parts against 3 years. A subwoofer amplifier works harder than anything else in the system, so this is not a throwaway line. |
| Price | B | GoldenEar ForceField 4 costs less - $799 against $999, about 20% less. |
A SVS 3000 Micro R Evolution B GoldenEar ForceField 4
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: SVS 3000 Micro R Evolution measures better, GoldenEar ForceField 4 costs about 20% 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 ForceField 4 will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, SVS 3000 Micro R Evolution is usually the easier one to make sound right. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, GoldenEar ForceField 4 is the only one of these two you can connect at all.
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.