Short answer: the ELAC SUB1010 is the proven choice, measured and ranked among subwoofers, while the newer GoldenEar ForceField 30 has no independent measurements yet and can only be compared on specs.
What the GoldenEar ForceField 30 offers: An 8-inch long-throw driver paired with a 9 x 11-inch down-firing passive radiator in a compact cabinet about 32cm tall, driven by a DSP-controlled 500W RMS (1000W peak) amplifier.
What the ELAC SUB1010 brings: A compact 10-inch ported subwoofer with useful measured output through the upper-bass range: 102.7dB at 40Hz and 110.8dB at 63Hz.
Price: the GoldenEar ForceField 30 lists at $599.99 and the ELAC SUB1010 at $550.
Buy the ELAC SUB1010 if you want a speaker whose sound quality has been measured and ranked.
Buy the GoldenEar ForceField 30 if you prefer its design or features, and you can wait for measurements to confirm how it sounds.
Still deciding? The full Subwoofers rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| GoldenEar ForceField 30 | ELAC SUB1010 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $599.99 | $550 |
| Ranked | - | #26 of 48 in Small Home Subwoofers (Under 30 lbs) |
| Enclosure | passive radiator | ported, rear |
| Drivers | 8” driver, 9” x 11” down-firing passive radiator | 10” (254mm) driver |
| Amplifier Power | 500W RMS / 1000W peak | - |
| Frequency Response | 26-170Hz, -6dB | - |
| Dimensions | 323H x 290W x 406D mm | 14.8”H x 12.2”W x 12.2”D (376.2 x 309.4 x 309.4 mm) |
| Weight | 14.3 kg | 21.8 lbs (9.9 kg) |
| Country | United States | Germany |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | - | 96.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | - | 102.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | - | 107.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | - | 110.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | - | 111.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | - | 111.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | - | 109.5 dB |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | - | 108.1 dB |
| Warranty | - | 3/1 |
| Cabinet Color | - | black |
| Measurement Source | - | ErinsAudioCorner |
Prices on this page were last checked September 29, 2026 at 3:43 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 30: $599.99 Crutchfield eBay
Older model: the GoldenEar ForceField 3 (rated 3.4/5).
Pros: An 8-inch long-throw driver paired with a 9 x 11-inch down-firing passive radiator in a compact cabinet about 32cm tall, driven by a DSP-controlled 500W RMS (1000W peak) amplifier. GoldenEar rates it at 26Hz to 170Hz (-6dB). Stereo line-level inputs with a 40 to 150Hz variable crossover, plus an unfiltered mono input.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its output can’t be compared with ranked subwoofers. It drops the speaker-level inputs the ForceField 3 had, so it needs a receiver or preamp with a line-level output. A single 8-inch driver limits deep output in a large room.
Full GoldenEar ForceField 30 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 500W RMS / 1000W peak |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 323H x 290W x 406D mm |
| Drivers | 8” driver, 9” x 11” down-firing passive radiator |
| Enclosure | passive radiator |
| Frequency Response | 26-170Hz, -6dB |
| Weight | 14.3 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- These figures are manufacturer-specified rather than independently measured.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
ELAC SUB1010: $550 eBay
Pros: A compact 10-inch ported subwoofer with useful measured output through the upper-bass range: 102.7dB at 40Hz and 110.8dB at 63Hz. Its small cabinet makes it an approachable option for a modest room or a first 2.1 setup, where careful placement can add satisfying weight without taking much floor space.
Cons: Deep-bass output is limited compared with larger subwoofers, with 96.5dB measured at 31.5Hz, so it is not the right choice for demanding home-theater effects or a large room. Ported-room placement can also become boomy; experiment with position and crossover rather than expecting a plug-and-play upgrade.
Full ELAC SUB1010 review and specifications →
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 108.1 dB |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Color | black |
| Country | Germany |
| Dimensions | 14.8”H x 12.2”W x 12.2”D (376.2 x 309.4 x 309.4 mm) |
| Drivers | 10” (254mm) driver |
| Enclosure | ported, rear |
| Measurement Source | ErinsAudioCorner |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 96.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 102.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 107.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 110.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 111.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 111.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 109.5 dB |
| Warranty | 3/1 |
| Weight | 21.8 lbs (9.9 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Independently measured by ErinsAudioCorner; the published figures above come from this ASR subwoofer measurement thread.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- See all 16 comparisons