In this review, we will be comparing Varro DS1000-BG and Varro PS500-BK, 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 Varro DS1000-BG and ELAC Varro PS500-BK 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.
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Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.ELAC Varro DS1000-BG and ELAC Varro PS500-BK have a totally different setup: the ELAC Varro DS1000-BG features 2 x 10-inch drivers whereas the Varro PS500-BK features 1 x 15-inch drivers.
Frequency Response
Varro DS1000-BG has a frequency range of 18-150 Hz whereas Varro PS500-BK has a frequency range of 20-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 18Hz, the Varro DS1000-BG can go slightly deeper then the Varro PS500-BK's min frequency of 20Hz.
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 Varro DS1000-BG 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 Varro PS500-BK 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 Varro DS1000-BG's and ELAC Varro PS500-BK's external dimensions. ELAC Varro DS1000-BG has external dimensions of 372.0 x 431.0 x 372.0mm (14-5/8inch x 16-15/16inch x 14-5/8inch) whereas ELAC Varro PS500-BK has external dimensions of 482.0 x 461.0 x 461.0mm (18-15/16inch x 18-1/8inch x 18-1/8inch).
ELAC Varro PS500-BK is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 30mm wider, 110mm taller and 89mm deeper than ELAC Varro DS1000-BG.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Varro DS1000-BG and ELAC Varro PS500-BK in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Varro DS1000-BG and ELAC Varro PS500-BK 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 Varro DS1000-BG is approximately 1603.3cm2 / 248.5inch2 and base area of the ELAC Varro PS500-BK is approximately 2125.2cm2 / 329.4inch2. The Varro DS1000-BG requires 25% less surface area than the Varro PS500-BK which gives it a small advantage 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 Varro DS1000-BG weighs 32.45kg / 71.4lbs and the ELAC Varro PS500-BK weighs 25.95kg / 57.1lbs. This makes the Varro DS1000-BG 25% heavier than the Varro PS500-BK.
Here is a comparison of how Varro DS1000-BG and Varro PS500-BK'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 Varro DS1000-BG?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Varro DS1000-BG:
- 2 Grilles
- Power Cord
- 4 Spikes
What's in the Box of ELAC Varro PS500-BK?
Here are the items that come with the Varro PS500-BK:
- Grill
- Power Cord
- 4 Spikes
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
18 Hz
vs
20 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
372mm
vs
482mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1603cm2
vs
2125cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
| Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
999USD
vs
2499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
ELAC Varro DS1000-BG |
ELAC Varro PS500-BK |
| Brand |
ELAC |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1000 watts |
500 watts |
| Frequency Response |
18-150 Hz |
20-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1000-watt RMS |
500-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
2000-watt RMS |
1000-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Treated paper |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
372.0mm (14.6") |
482.0mm (19") |
| Width |
431.0mm (17") |
461.0mm (18.1") |
| Depth |
372.0mm (14.6") |
461.0mm (18.1") |
| Weight |
32.45kg (71.4lbs) |
25.95kg (57.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF |
MDF |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| USB Port |
USB-A port for firmware updates |
USB-A port for firmware updates |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
n/a |
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 | evenly matched | Effectively the same reach (18Hz vs 20Hz). |
| Amplifier power | A | ELAC Varro DS1000-BG has the bigger amplifier - 1000W against 500W RMS, about 3dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | evenly matched | Near-identical radiating area (2 x 10" against 15"). |
| Enclosure | depends | ELAC Varro DS1000-BG is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room; ELAC Varro PS500-BK 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 (room correction, onboard DSP and app control). |
| Speaker-level inputs | A | ELAC Varro DS1000-BG takes a speaker-level connection as well as line level. That is what lets it work with an integrated amplifier or a vintage receiver that has no subwoofer output at all. |
| Wireless option | depends | Only ELAC Varro DS1000-BG offers a wireless link (as a paid option). It decides where the sub can go if you cannot run a cable, and is worth nothing if you can. |
| Driver placement | depends | ELAC Varro DS1000-BG fires side and ELAC Varro PS500-BK fires down. A down-firing driver is more forgiving of a grille-less look and of a hard floor; a front-firing one is the safer choice on a thick carpet or a suspended timber floor. |
| Cabinet size | depends | ELAC Varro DS1000-BG is about 42% 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 Varro PS500-BK costs less - $999 against $2,499, about 60% less. |
A ELAC Varro DS1000-BG B ELAC Varro PS500-BK
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?
The usual trade-off: ELAC Varro DS1000-BG measures better, ELAC Varro PS500-BK costs about 60% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, ELAC Varro PS500-BK will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, ELAC Varro DS1000-BG is usually the easier one to make sound right. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, ELAC Varro DS1000-BG is the only one of these two you can connect at all.
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.