In this review, we will be comparing Muro SUB2020 and Muro SUB2010, two Powered Subwoofer speakers by ELAC. Being Powered subwoofers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them. Let's have a brief look at the main features of ELAC Muro SUB2020 and ELAC Muro SUB2010 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
The sections below take each area in turn: driver and amplifier, frequency response, physical size and connectivity.
Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both ELAC Muro SUB2020and ELAC Muro SUB2010 have a single woofer setup however the ELAC Muro SUB2020's woofer is 10-inch whereas the ELAC Muro SUB2010 features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Muro SUB2020 has a frequency range of 28-200 Hz whereas Muro SUB2010 has a frequency range of 38-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the Muro SUB2020 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Muro SUB2010's min frequency of 38Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Subwoofer class in our database.
Low Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Cabinet Type
The ELAC Muro SUB2020 has a Acoustic Suspension type cabinet. Acoustic Suspension aka Sealed type subwoofers have enclosures that are sealed hence no ports or holes exists on the cabinet. Sealed designs helps to provide more accurate and tight bass responses compared to ported designs. On the other hand the ELAC Muro SUB2010 have Bass Reflex type enclosure. Bass Reflex type subwoofers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare ELAC Muro SUB2020's and ELAC Muro SUB2010's external dimensions. ELAC Muro SUB2020 has external dimensions of 399.0 x 185.0 x 515.0mm (15-11/16 x 7-1/4 x 20-1/4inch) whereas ELAC Muro SUB2010 has external dimensions of 388.0 x 135.0 x 405.0mm (15-1/4 x 5-5/16 x 15-15/16inch).
ELAC Muro SUB2020 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 50mm wider, 11mm taller and 110mm deeper than ELAC Muro SUB2010.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Muro SUB2020 and ELAC Muro SUB2010 in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Muro SUB2020 and ELAC Muro SUB2010 Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the ELAC Muro SUB2020 is approximately 952.8cm2 / 147.7inch2 and base area of the ELAC Muro SUB2010 is approximately 546.8cm2 / 84.8inch2. The Muro SUB2020 requires 74% more surface area than the Muro SUB2010 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a subwoofer may become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often to find the optimal positioning, also known as 'Subwoofer Crawling'. The ELAC Muro SUB2020 weighs 12.73kg / 28lbs and the ELAC Muro SUB2010 weighs 7.82kg / 17.2lbs. This makes the Muro SUB2020 63% heavier than the Muro SUB2010.
Here is a comparison of how Muro SUB2020 and Muro SUB2010's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of ELAC Muro SUB2020?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Muro SUB2020:
- Powered subwoofer
- 8-feet AC power cord
- 4 Cone feet
- 2 Brackets
- 2 Machine screws
- 2 Wood screws
- 2 Washers
- 2 Wall anchors
- Operating Instructions
What's in the Box of ELAC Muro SUB2010?
Here are the items that come with the Muro SUB2010:
- Powered subwoofer
- 6-feet AC power cord
- 4 Cone feet
- 2 Brackets
- 2 Machine screws
- 2 Wood screws
- 2 Washers
- 2 Wall anchors
- Operating Instructions
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
150 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
388mm
vs
399mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
546cm2
vs
952cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
770USD
vs
1000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Size, drawn to scale
Both subwoofers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same floor and pushed back to the same wall, so the bigger one visibly takes more of the room.
ELAC Muro SUB2020 needs about 74% more floor area. ELAC Muro SUB2020 stands 110mm further into the room.
| General |
ELAC Muro SUB2020 |
ELAC Muro SUB2010 |
| Brand |
ELAC |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
200 watts |
125 watts |
| Frequency Response |
28-200 Hz |
38-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
200-watt RMS |
125-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Cellulose Fiber |
Polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
side or bottom |
side or bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
399.0mm (15.7") |
388.0mm (15.3") |
| Width |
185.0mm (7.3") |
135.0mm (5.3") |
| Depth |
515.0mm (20.3") |
405.0mm (15.9") |
| Weight |
12.73kg (28lbs) |
7.82kg (17.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |
A sealed subwoofer against a ported one. That is the most consequential line on this page: it decides how the bass rolls off, how it behaves in a small room, and how much output you get for the size of the box.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | ELAC Muro SUB2020 goes deeper - 28Hz against 38Hz. A real difference, though most music has little content below 38Hz. |
| Amplifier power | A | ELAC Muro SUB2020 has the bigger amplifier - 200W against 125W RMS, about 2dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | ELAC Muro SUB2020 moves more air: 10" against 8" is 1.56x the cone area, not the 1.25x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | depends | ELAC Muro SUB2020 is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room; ELAC Muro SUB2010 is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Setup and tuning | evenly matched | The same tuning tools on both (app control). |
| Cabinet size | depends | ELAC Muro SUB2010 is about 44% smaller by volume. In a subwoofer that is a real trade rather than a preference: box volume is how you get output low down without a bigger amplifier. |
| Price | B | ELAC Muro SUB2010 costs less - $770 against $1,000, about 23% less. |
A ELAC Muro SUB2020 B ELAC Muro SUB2010
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both subwoofers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
ELAC Muro SUB2020 leads across most of the measured areas for a modest premium, so it is the easier pick if the budget stretches. ELAC Muro SUB2010 is the one to take if it does not. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, ELAC Muro SUB2010 will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, ELAC Muro SUB2020 is usually the easier one to make sound right. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - ELAC Muro SUB2010 is the one that will actually go there, and a well-placed small subwoofer beats a badly-placed big one every time.
One thing outweighs everything above: where the subwoofer stands. Room modes can add or remove 10dB or more at a given seat, which is far larger than any difference on this page. Before spending more, try the sub in two or three positions - the crawl test, where you put it in the listening seat and crawl the room to find where the bass sounds best, costs nothing and usually beats an upgrade.