Short answer: the SVS SB-1000. It ranks #1 of 48 subwoofers by sound quality, rated 3.9/5, at $500; the GoldenEar ForceField 3 ranks #18, rated 3.4/5, and costs $650, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
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 SVS SB-1000. It is rated higher for sound quality than the GoldenEar ForceField 3 and costs less, which settles it without a real tradeoff to make.
Still deciding? The full Subwoofers rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| GoldenEar ForceField 3 | SVS SB-1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $650 Discontinued | $500 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #18 of 48 in Small Home Subwoofers (Under 30 lbs) | #1 of 48 in Small Home Subwoofers (Under 30 lbs) |
| Enclosure | passive radiator | sealed |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 91.9 dB | 103.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 98.3 dB | 107.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 108.4 dB | 111.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 109.9 dB | 118.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 112.4 dB | 118.6 dB |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 110.2 dB (avg of 3/4 bands) | 116.3 dB |
| Dimensions | 11.5"H x 11.4"W x 15.7"D (292.1 x 288.8 x 400.0 mm) | 13.5"H x 13"W x 14"D (342.9 x 330.2 x 355.6 mm) |
| Weight | 26 lbs (11.8 kg) | 26.9 lbs (12.2 kg) |
| Warranty | 5/3 | 5 |
| Cabinet Color | black | black, white |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Measurement Source | Brent Butterworth | Brent Butterworth |
| Discontinued | Yes | Yes |
| Drivers | 8" (203mm) driver | 12" (305mm) driver |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | - | 95.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | - | 116.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 16 Hz | - | 91.5 dB |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for SVS SB-1000:
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs SVS SB-1000
- SVS SB-1000 vs SVS SB-1000 PRO
- SVS 3000 Micro vs SVS SB-1000
- SVS SB-1000 vs Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II
- Polk Audio PSW10 vs SVS SB-1000
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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 Onkyo SKW-204
- See all 9 comparisons
SVS SB-1000: $500 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Independent CEA-2010 testing records 95.5 dB at 20 Hz and 116.3 dB through 40-80 Hz. The sealed enclosure with 12” (305mm) 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 342.9H x 330.2W x 355.6D mm cabinet and 12.2 kg mass still require deliberate placement and calibration. Discontinued.
Notes: Discontinued 2021-02-25 when SB-1000 PRO was released.
Full SVS SB-1000 review and specifications →
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 116.3 dB |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Color | black, white |
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 13.5"H x 13"W x 14"D (342.9 x 330.2 x 355.6 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 12" (305mm) driver |
| Enclosure | sealed |
| Measurement Source | Brent Butterworth |
| Output SPL at 16 Hz | 91.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 95.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 103.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 107.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 111.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 118.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 118.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 116.5 dB |
| Warranty | 5 |
| Weight | 26.9 lbs (12.2 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
- SVS SB-1000 vs Onkyo SKW-204
- SVS SB-1000 vs SVS SB-1000 PRO
- SVS SB-1000 vs SVS 3000 Micro
- SVS SB-1000 vs Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II
- SVS SB-1000 vs Polk Audio PSW10
- SVS SB-1000 vs MartinLogan Dynamo 700w
- SVS SB-1000 vs ELAC IW-S10EQ in-wall
- SVS SB-1000 vs Monoprice Premium Select 8in 200-Watt