Short answer: the GoldenEar ForceField 40. It ranks #100 of 185 subwoofers by sound quality (rated 3.7/5) at $999 and is still sold new; the GoldenEar ForceField 3 ranks #23 (rated 3.4/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
What the GoldenEar ForceField 40 does well: 10-inch long-throw active driver paired with an 11 x 13-inch down-firing quadratic planar passive radiator, driven by a 1,200W digital amplifier. The catch: Drops high-level speaker wire inputs, relying strictly on line-level and LFE connections.
The case for the GoldenEar ForceField 3: Independent CEA-2010 testing records 110.2 dB (avg of 3/4 bands) through 40-80 Hz. Watch for: Without a published 20 Hz result, deep-bass capability is less certain than the midbass figure.
Buy the GoldenEar ForceField 40. It is rated higher for sound quality; the GoldenEar ForceField 3 is no longer sold new.
Want more options? Browse the full Subwoofers rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| GoldenEar ForceField 40 | GoldenEar ForceField 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $999.00 | $650 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #100 of 185 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) | #23 of 60 in Small Home Subwoofers (Under 30 lbs) |
| Enclosure | passive radiator | passive radiator |
| Drivers | 10” active long-throw driver, 11” x 13” down-firing quadratic planar passive radiator | 8” (203mm) driver |
| Amplifier Power | 1,200W digital amplifier | - |
| Frequency Response | 24Hz - 170Hz (-6dB, manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 14.7”H x 13.3”W x 18.3”D (374 x 337 x 465 mm) | 11.5”H x 11.4”W x 15.7”D (292.1 x 288.8 x 400.0 mm) |
| Weight | 41 lbs (18.6 kg) | 26 lbs (11.8 kg) |
| 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 |
| Country | - | United States |
| Measurement Source | - | Brent Butterworth |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for GoldenEar ForceField 3:
- GoldenEar ForceField 3 vs SVS SB-1000
- GoldenEar ForceField 3 vs Onkyo SKW-204
- SVS SB-1000 PRO vs GoldenEar ForceField 3
- Definitive Technology SuperCube 2000 vs GoldenEar ForceField 3
- SVS 3000 Micro vs GoldenEar ForceField 3
Prices on this page were last checked October 5, 2026 at 10:21 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 40: $999.00 Estimated Crutchfield eBay
Smaller model: the GoldenEar ForceField 30 (ranked lower, estimated 3.5/5).
Pros: 10-inch long-throw active driver paired with an 11 x 13-inch down-firing quadratic planar passive radiator, driven by a 1,200W digital amplifier. Delivers rich, room-filling low frequencies down to 24Hz (-6dB) from a relatively compact enclosure.
Cons: Drops high-level speaker wire inputs, relying strictly on line-level and LFE connections. Passive radiator design can interact strongly with reflective floor surfaces without soft feet.
Full GoldenEar ForceField 40 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 1,200W digital amplifier |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 14.7”H x 13.3”W x 18.3”D (374 x 337 x 465 mm) |
| Drivers | 10” active long-throw driver, 11” x 13” down-firing quadratic planar passive radiator |
| Enclosure | passive radiator |
| Frequency Response | 24Hz - 170Hz (-6dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 41 lbs (18.6 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
GoldenEar ForceField 3: $650 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the GoldenEar ForceField 30, estimated 3.5/5.
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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- 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 11 comparisons