In this review, we will be comparing SB 5000 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 SB 5000 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.Both SVS SB 5000 R Evolutionand GoldenEar ForceField 4 have a single woofer setup however the SVS SB 5000 R Evolution's woofer is 15-inch whereas the GoldenEar ForceField 4 features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SB 5000 R Evolution has a frequency range of 17-280 Hz whereas ForceField 4 has a frequency range of 14-250 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 14Hz, the ForceField 4 can go slightly deeper then the SB 5000 R Evolution's min frequency of 17Hz.
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
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 SB 5000 R Evolution's and GoldenEar ForceField 4's external dimensions. SVS SB 5000 R Evolution has external dimensions of 465.1 x 452.4 x 495.3mm () 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).
SVS SB 5000 R Evolution is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 112.4mm wider, 134.1mm taller and 13.3mm deeper than GoldenEar ForceField 4.
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 SB 5000 R Evolution is approximately 2240.7cm2 / 347.3inch2 and base area of the GoldenEar ForceField 4 is approximately 1638.8cm2 / 254.0inch2. The SB 5000 R Evolution requires 37% more surface area than the ForceField 4 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 SB 5000 R Evolution weighs 46.31kg / 101.9lbs and the GoldenEar ForceField 4 weighs 14.55kg / 32lbs. This makes the SB 5000 R Evolution 218% heavier than the ForceField 4.
Here is a comparison of how SB 5000 R Evolution and ForceField 4's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
280 Hz
vs
250 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| Low Frequency Response |
14 Hz
vs
17 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
331mm
vs
465mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1638cm2
vs
2240cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
2000USD
|
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.
SVS SB 5000 R Evolution needs about 37% more floor area. SVS SB 5000 R Evolution is 134mm taller.
| General |
SVS SB 5000 R Evolution |
GoldenEar ForceField 4 |
| Brand |
SVS |
GoldenEar |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
17-280 Hz |
14-250 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
2000-watt RMS |
1200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
5000-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
465.1mm (18.3") |
331.0mm (13") |
| Width |
452.4mm (17.8") |
340.0mm (13.4") |
| Depth |
495.3mm (19.5") |
482.0mm (19") |
| Weight |
46.31kg (101.9lbs) |
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 17Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | A | SVS SB 5000 R Evolution has the bigger amplifier - 2000W against 1200W RMS, about 2.2dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | SVS SB 5000 R Evolution moves more air: 15" against 10" is 2.25x the cone area, not the 1.5x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | depends | SVS SB 5000 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. |
| Cabinet size | depends | GoldenEar ForceField 4 is about 48% 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 SB 5000 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 $2,000, about 60% less. |
A SVS SB 5000 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 SB 5000 R Evolution measures better, GoldenEar ForceField 4 costs about 60% 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 SB 5000 R Evolution is usually the easier one to make sound right. Two small subwoofers beat one big one in most rooms - a pair evens out the room modes in a way no single box can, whatever its specs. At $799 each, two GoldenEar ForceField 4 cost about $1,598 against $2,000 for one of the other, which is worth a thought.
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.