Short answer: the GoldenEar ForceField 30 is the newer model that replaces the GoldenEar ForceField 3, but only the GoldenEar ForceField 3 has been measured and ranked so far, so this comparison is on specs and features rather than sound. The GoldenEar ForceField 3 is discontinued, so it is now a used buy.
The case for the GoldenEar ForceField 30: 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.
On the GoldenEar ForceField 3 side: Independent CEA-2010 testing records 110.2 dB (avg of 3/4 bands) through 40-80 Hz.
Price: the GoldenEar ForceField 30 lists at $599.99 and the GoldenEar ForceField 3 at $650.
Buy the GoldenEar ForceField 3 if you want a speaker whose sound quality has been measured and ranked.
Buy the GoldenEar ForceField 30 if you want the newer model, 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 | GoldenEar ForceField 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $599.99 | $650 Discontinued |
| Ranked | - | #18 of 48 in Small Home Subwoofers (Under 30 lbs) |
| Enclosure | passive radiator | passive radiator |
| Drivers | 8” driver, 9” x 11” down-firing passive radiator | 8” (203mm) driver |
| Amplifier Power | 500W RMS / 1000W peak | - |
| Frequency Response | 26-170Hz, -6dB | - |
| Dimensions | 323H x 290W x 406D mm | 11.5”H x 11.4”W x 15.7”D (292.1 x 288.8 x 400.0 mm) |
| Weight | 14.3 kg | 26 lbs (11.8 kg) |
| Country | United States | United States |
| 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 |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | - | 110.2 dB (avg of 3/4 bands) |
| Warranty | - | 5/3 |
| Cabinet Color | - | black |
| Measurement Source | - | Brent Butterworth |
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
GoldenEar ForceField 3: $650 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the GoldenEar ForceField 30. It’s likely to perform similarly, though we don’t have measurements to confirm that yet.
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) |
| 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
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- See all 10 comparisons