Short answer: the Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II. It ranks #9 of 48 subwoofers by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $499; the GoldenEar ForceField 3 ranks #18, rated 3.4/5, and costs $650, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II gets right: 12-inch sealed driver reaches 111.1dB CEA-2010-A average, second only to the pricier SVS SB-1000 PRO among compact subwoofers. Set against that: Small sealed driver limits extension below 20 Hz and 9.5 kg (20.9 lbs) compact size.
Worth knowing: the GoldenEar ForceField 3 is discontinued, though it still ranks #18 of 48 subwoofers by sound quality, so a used unit beats most of what is still sold new.
Buy the Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II. It is rated higher for sound quality than the GoldenEar ForceField 3 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Subwoofers rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| GoldenEar ForceField 3 | Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $650 Discontinued | $499 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #18 of 48 in Small Home Subwoofers (Under 30 lbs) | #9 of 48 in Small Home Subwoofers (Under 30 lbs) |
| Enclosure | passive radiator | sealed |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 91.9 dB | 100.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 98.3 dB | 105.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 108.4 dB | 109.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 109.9 dB | 111.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 112.4 dB | 112.0 dB |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 110.2 dB (avg of 3/4 bands) | 111.1 dB |
| Dimensions | 11.5"H x 11.4"W x 15.7"D (292.1 x 288.8 x 400.0 mm) | 14.7"H x 14.2"W x 16.4"D (374.6 x 361.9 x 415.8 mm) |
| Weight | 26 lbs (11.8 kg) | 20.9 lbs (9.5 kg) |
| Warranty | 5/3 | - |
| Cabinet Color | black | - |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Measurement Source | Brent Butterworth | Ilkka Rissanen |
| Discontinued | Yes | Yes |
| Drivers | 8" (203mm) driver | 12" (305mm) driver |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | - | 95.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | - | 111.0 dB |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II:
- SVS SB-1000 vs Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II
- Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II vs Onkyo SKW-204
- SVS SB-1000 PRO vs Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II
- SVS 3000 Micro vs Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II
- Polk Audio PSW10 vs Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II
Prices on this page were last checked September 23, 2026 at 11:24 PM 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 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
- GoldenEar ForceField 3 vs Monoprice Premium Select 8in 200-Watt
- See all 9 comparisons
Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II: $499 Discontinued eBay
Pros: 12-inch sealed driver reaches 111.1dB CEA-2010-A average, second only to the pricier SVS SB-1000 PRO among compact subwoofers. Sealed cabinet suits smaller rooms without a large footprint.
Cons: Small sealed driver limits extension below 20 Hz and 9.5 kg compact size. Discontinued.
Full Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II review and specifications →
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 111.1 dB |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 14.7"H x 14.2"W x 16.4"D (374.6 x 361.9 x 415.8 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 12" (305mm) driver |
| Enclosure | sealed |
| Measurement Source | Ilkka Rissanen |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 95.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 100.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 105.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 109.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 111.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 112.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 111.0 dB |
| Weight | 20.9 lbs (9.5 kg) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Independently measured by Ilkka Rissanen; the published figures above come from this ASR subwoofer measurement thread.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II vs SVS 3000 Micro
- Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II vs SVS SB-1000 PRO
- Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II vs Onkyo SKW-204
- Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II vs Polk Audio PSW10
- Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II vs SVS SB-1000
- Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II vs ELAC IW-S10EQ in-wall
- Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II vs Monoprice Premium Select 8in 200-Watt
- Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II vs Paradigm Defiance V12