In this review, we will be comparing Gravis I and ForceField 30, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Sonus Faber 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 Sonus faber Gravis I and GoldenEar ForceField 30 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into details in order to better understand how the Sonus faber Gravis I and GoldenEar ForceField 30 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.Sonus faber Gravis Iand GoldenEar ForceField 30 have the same driver set up: Both subwoofers have 1 x 8" drivers.
Frequency Response
Gravis I has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz whereas ForceField 30 has a frequency range of 18-250 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 18Hz, the ForceField 30 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Gravis I's min frequency of 30Hz.
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 Sonus faber Gravis I 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 30 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 Sonus faber Gravis I's and GoldenEar ForceField 30's external dimensions. Sonus faber Gravis I has external dimensions of 337.0 x 286.0 x 340.0mm ( 13-1/4inch x 11-1/4inch x 13-3/8inch ) whereas GoldenEar ForceField 30 has external dimensions of 324.0 x 291.0 x 421.0mm ( 12-3/4inch x 11-7/16inch x 16-9/16inch ) .
Sonus faber Gravis I is 5mm narrower and 81mm less deeper than GoldenEar ForceField 30 but it is also 13mm taller.
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 Sonus faber Gravis I is approximately 972.4cm2 / 150.7inch2 and base area of the GoldenEar ForceField 30 is approximately 1225.1cm2 / 189.9inch2. The Gravis I requires 21% less surface area than the ForceField 30 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 Sonus faber Gravis I weighs 14.55kg / 32lbs and the GoldenEar ForceField 30 weighs 14.32kg / 31.5lbs. This makes the Gravis I 2% heavier than the ForceField 30.
Here is a comparison of how Gravis I and ForceField 30's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of Sonus faber Gravis I?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Gravis I:
Powered subwoofer6-feet AC power cord33-feet Speakon cableOwners ManualEnvironmental Information
What's in the Box of GoldenEar ForceField 30?
Here are the items that come with the ForceField 30:
Powered subwoofer10-feet AC power cordQuick Start GuideOwners Manual
 Base Surface Area |
972cm2
vs
1225cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Driver Setup |
1-way
vs
-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Low Frequency Response |
18 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
250k Hz
vs
120k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
324mm
vs
337mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
899USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Sonus faber Gravis I |
GoldenEar ForceField 30 |
| Brand |
Sonus Faber |
GoldenEar |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
150 watts |
1000 watts |
| Frequency Response |
30-120 Hz |
18-250 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
150-watt RMS |
1000-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Treated Paper |
Polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
front and bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
337.0mm (13.3") |
324.0mm (12.8") |
| Width |
286.0mm (11.3") |
291.0mm (11.5") |
| Depth |
340.0mm (13.4") |
421.0mm (16.6") |
| Weight |
14.55kg (32lbs) |
14.32kg (31.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Passive Radiator |
| Available Colors |
Piano Black,Matte White |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Yr/3 Yr registered |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Yr/3 Yr registered |
3 Years |