In this review, we will be comparing Nova 12 and ForceField 4, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Wharfedale 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 Wharfedale Nova 12 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 Wharfedale Nova 12and GoldenEar ForceField 4 have a single woofer setup however the Wharfedale Nova 12's woofer is 12-inch whereas the GoldenEar ForceField 4 features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Nova 12 has a frequency range of 28 Hz (-6dB) 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 Nova 12's min frequency of 28Hz.
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
Both Wharfedale Nova 12 and GoldenEar ForceField 4 have Passive Radiator type cabinets. 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
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 Wharfedale Nova 12's and GoldenEar ForceField 4's external dimensions. Wharfedale Nova 12 has external dimensions of 443.0 x 435.0 x 487.0mm (17.44inch x 17.13inch x 19.17inch) 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).
Wharfedale Nova 12 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 95mm wider, 112mm taller and 5mm deeper than GoldenEar ForceField 4.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers 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 surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Wharfedale Nova 12 needs about 29% more floor or shelf area. Wharfedale Nova 12 is 112mm 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 Wharfedale Nova 12 is approximately 2118.5cm2 / 328.4inch2 and base area of the GoldenEar ForceField 4 is approximately 1638.8cm2 / 254.0inch2. The Nova 12 requires 29% 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 Wharfedale Nova 12 weighs 29.30kg / 64.5lbs and the GoldenEar ForceField 4 weighs 14.55kg / 32lbs. This makes the Nova 12 101% heavier than the ForceField 4.
Here is a comparison of how Nova 12 and ForceField 4's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale Nova 12?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Nova 12:
- Subwoofer
- Power cord
- Manual
- Rubber feet pads
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
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Passive Radiator |
1 x 12-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
| Low Frequency Response |
14 Hz
vs
28 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
250 Hz
vs
Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
331mm
vs
443mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1638cm2
vs
2118cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
1599USD
|
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.
Wharfedale Nova 12 needs about 29% more floor area. Wharfedale Nova 12 is 112mm taller.
| General |
Wharfedale Nova 12 |
GoldenEar ForceField 4 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
GoldenEar |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
280 watts |
1200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
28 Hz (-6dB) |
14-250 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
280-watt RMS |
1200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
770-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
443.0mm (17.4") |
331.0mm (13") |
| Width |
435.0mm (17.1") |
340.0mm (13.4") |
| Depth |
487.0mm (19.2") |
482.0mm (19") |
| Weight |
29.30kg (64.5lbs) |
14.55kg (32lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
Matte Black |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| USB Port |
USB port for firmware updates |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
3 Years |
Different price classes - Wharfedale Nova 12 costs roughly 2x what GoldenEar ForceField 4 does. Before paying it, read the note below about two smaller subwoofers.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | B | GoldenEar ForceField 4 goes deeper - 14Hz against 28Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | B | GoldenEar ForceField 4 has the bigger amplifier - 1200W against 280W RMS, about 6.3dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | Wharfedale Nova 12 moves more air: 12" against 10" is 1.44x the cone area, not the 1.2x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are passive radiator designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Phase control | A | Wharfedale Nova 12 has a phase control. Without one, the only way to fix a cancellation at the crossover is to move the box. |
| Cabinet size | depends | GoldenEar ForceField 4 is about 42% 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. |
| Price | B | GoldenEar ForceField 4 costs less - $799 against $1,599, about 50% less. |
A Wharfedale Nova 12 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let your room size and where the box can actually stand settle it. 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 $1,599 for one of the other, which is worth a thought. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - GoldenEar ForceField 4 is the one that will actually go there, and a well-placed small subwoofer beats a badly-placed big one every time.
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.