Short answer: the Onkyo SKW-204. It ranks #3 of 48 subwoofers by sound quality at $299; the GoldenEar ForceField 3 ranks #18 and costs $650, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
One note: the GoldenEar ForceField 3 is discontinued, but it still ranks #18 of 48 subwoofers by sound quality, ahead of most of what is still sold new, so it is worth considering used.
Buy the Onkyo SKW-204. It ranks higher for sound quality than the GoldenEar ForceField 3 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Want more options? Browse the full Subwoofers rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| GoldenEar ForceField 3 | Onkyo SKW-204 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $650 Discontinued | $299 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #18 of 48 in Small Home Subwoofers (Under 30 lbs) | #3 of 48 in Small Home Subwoofers (Under 30 lbs) |
| Enclosure | passive radiator | ported, front |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 91.9 dB | 90.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 98.3 dB | 103.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 108.4 dB | 108.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 109.9 dB | 114.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 112.4 dB | 119.6 dB |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 110.2 dB (avg of 3/4 bands) | 115.9 dB |
| Dimensions | 11.5"H x 11.4"W x 15.7"D (292.1 x 288.8 x 400.0 mm) | 18.6"H x 10.8"W x 16.9"D (472.9 x 274.6 x 428.5 mm) |
| Weight | 26 lbs (11.8 kg) | 26 lbs (11.8 kg) |
| Warranty | 5/3 | - |
| Cabinet Color | black | black |
| Country | United States | Japan |
| Measurement Source | Brent Butterworth | Brent Butterworth |
| Discontinued | Yes | Yes |
| Drivers | 8" (203mm) driver | 10" (254mm) driver |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | - | 77.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | - | 121.4 dB |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Onkyo SKW-204 compares with other leading options:
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs SVS SB-1000
- SVS SB-1000 PRO vs Onkyo SKW-204
- Definitive Technology SuperCube 2000 vs Onkyo SKW-204
- SVS 3000 Micro vs Onkyo SKW-204
- Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II vs Onkyo SKW-204
Prices on this page were last checked September 22, 2026 at 5:11 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
GoldenEar ForceField 3: $650 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Independent CEA-2010 testing records 110.2 dB (avg of 3/4 bands) through 40-80 Hz. The passive radiator enclosure with 8” (203mm) driver is a compact way to add useful midbass support to a modest system.
Cons: Without a published 20 Hz result, deep-bass capability is less certain than the midbass figure. The 292.1H x 288.8W x 400.0D mm cabinet and 11.8 kg mass still need careful placement and calibration. Discontinued.
Full GoldenEar ForceField 3 review and specifications →
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 110.2 dB (avg of 3/4 bands) |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Color | black |
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 11.5"H x 11.4"W x 15.7"D (292.1 x 288.8 x 400.0 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 8" (203mm) driver |
| Enclosure | passive radiator |
| Measurement Source | Brent Butterworth |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 91.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 98.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 108.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 109.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 112.4 dB |
| Warranty | 5/3 |
| Weight | 26 lbs (11.8 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Independently measured by Brent Butterworth; the published figures above come from this ASR subwoofer measurement thread.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- GoldenEar ForceField 3 vs MartinLogan Dynamo 700w
- GoldenEar ForceField 3 vs Polk Audio PSW10
- GoldenEar ForceField 3 vs ELAC IW-S10EQ in-wall
- GoldenEar ForceField 3 vs Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II
- GoldenEar ForceField 3 vs SVS 3000 Micro
- GoldenEar ForceField 3 vs Definitive Technology SuperCube 2000
- GoldenEar ForceField 3 vs SVS SB-1000 PRO
- GoldenEar ForceField 3 vs Monoprice Premium Select 8in 200-Watt
- See all 9 comparisons
Onkyo SKW-204: $299 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Independent CEA-2010 testing records 77.3 dB at 20 Hz and 115.9 dB through 40-80 Hz. The ported, front enclosure with 10” (254mm) driver delivers substantial upper-bass output for movie effects and music.
Cons: Deep-bass output is more limited than the strong 40-80 Hz result suggests, so it is not the right choice when the lowest movie effects are the priority. The 472.9H x 274.6W x 428.5D mm cabinet and 11.8 kg mass still require deliberate placement and calibration. Discontinued.
Full Onkyo SKW-204 review and specifications →
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 115.9 dB |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Color | black |
| Country | Japan |
| Dimensions | 18.6"H x 10.8"W x 16.9"D (472.9 x 274.6 x 428.5 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 10" (254mm) driver |
| Enclosure | ported, front |
| Measurement Source | Brent Butterworth |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 77.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 90.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 103.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 108.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 114.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 119.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 121.4 dB |
| Weight | 26 lbs (11.8 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Independently measured by Brent Butterworth; the published figures above come from this ASR subwoofer measurement thread.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs SVS SB-1000 PRO
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs Definitive Technology SuperCube 2000
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs SVS SB-1000
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs SVS 3000 Micro
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs Polk Audio PSW10
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs MartinLogan Dynamo 700w
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs ELAC IW-S10EQ in-wall
- See all 10 comparisons