In this review, we will be comparing PC13-Ultra and ForceField 40, 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 PC13-Ultra and GoldenEar ForceField 40 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into details in order to better understand how the SVS PC13-Ultra and GoldenEar ForceField 40 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 SVS PC13-Ultraand GoldenEar ForceField 40 have a single woofer setup however the SVS PC13-Ultra's woofer is 13.5-inch whereas the GoldenEar ForceField 40 features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
PC13-Ultra has a frequency range of 15-200 Hz whereas ForceField 40 has a frequency range of 14-250 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 14Hz, the ForceField 40 can go slightly deeper then the PC13-Ultra's min frequency of 15Hz.
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 SVS PC13-Ultra 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 40 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 SVS PC13-Ultra's and GoldenEar ForceField 40's external dimensions. SVS PC13-Ultra has external dimensions of 1194.0 x 422.0 x 422.0mm ( 47 x 16-5/8 x 16-5/8inch) whereas 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 ) .
GoldenEar ForceField 40 is 83mm narrower and 816mm shorter than SVS PC13-Ultra but it is also 63mm 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 SVS PC13-Ultra is approximately 1780.8cm2 / 276.0inch2 and base area of the GoldenEar ForceField 40 is approximately 1644.2cm2 / 254.9inch2. The PC13-Ultra requires 8% more surface area than the ForceField 40 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 SVS PC13-Ultra weighs 40.80kg / 89.8lbs and the GoldenEar ForceField 40 weighs 18.41kg / 40.5lbs. This makes the PC13-Ultra 122% heavier than the ForceField 40.
Here is a comparison of how PC13-Ultra and ForceField 40's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
13.5 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
14 Hz
vs
15 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
250k Hz
vs
200k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
378mm
vs
1194mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1644cm2
vs
1780cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1199USD
vs
1700USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
SVS PC13-Ultra |
GoldenEar ForceField 40 |
| Brand |
SVS |
GoldenEar |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1000 watts |
1000 watts |
| Frequency Response |
15-200 Hz |
14-250 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1000-watt RMS |
1000-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
3600-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
13.5" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fiberglass composite |
Polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front and bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1194.0mm (47") |
378.0mm (14.9") |
| Width |
422.0mm (16.6") |
339.0mm (13.3") |
| Depth |
422.0mm (16.6") |
485.0mm (19.1") |
| Weight |
40.80kg (89.8lbs) |
18.41kg (40.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |