In this review, we will be comparing Varro DS1000-BG and KC62, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from ELAC and KEF. 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 KEF KC62 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.Both ELAC Varro DS1000-BGand KEF KC62 have a double woofer setup however the ELAC Varro DS1000-BG's woofer is 10-inch whereas the KEF KC62 features a 6.5-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Varro DS1000-BG has a frequency range of 18-150 Hz whereas KC62 has a frequency range of 11-200 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 11Hz, the KC62 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Varro DS1000-BG's min frequency of 18Hz.
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
Both ELAC Varro DS1000-BG and KEF KC62 have Acoustic Suspension type cabinets. 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.
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 KEF KC62'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 KEF KC62 has external dimensions of 245.0 x 258.0 x 281.0mm (9-5/8inch x 10-1/8inch x 11-1/16inch).
ELAC Varro DS1000-BG is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 173mm wider, 127mm taller and 91mm deeper than KEF KC62.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Varro DS1000-BG and KEF KC62 in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Varro DS1000-BG and KEF KC62 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 KEF KC62 is approximately 725.0cm2 / 112.4inch2. The Varro DS1000-BG requires 121% more surface area than the KC62 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 Varro DS1000-BG weighs 32.45kg / 71.4lbs and the KEF KC62 weighs 14.05kg / 30.9lbs. This makes the Varro DS1000-BG 131% heavier than the KC62.
Here is a comparison of how Varro DS1000-BG and KC62'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 KEF KC62?
Here are the items that come with the KC62:
- Powered subwoofer
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- Speaker-level input block
- User Manual
- Important Safety Information
- Warranty Information
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
| Low Frequency Response |
11 Hz
vs
18 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
150 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
245mm
vs
372mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
725cm2
vs
1603cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
2499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
ELAC Varro DS1000-BG |
KEF KC62 |
| Brand |
ELAC |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1000 watts |
1000 watts |
| Frequency Response |
18-150 Hz |
11-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1000-watt RMS |
1000-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
2000-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
|
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
side |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
372.0mm (14.6") |
245.0mm (9.6") |
| Width |
431.0mm (17") |
258.0mm (10.2") |
| Depth |
372.0mm (14.6") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
32.45kg (71.4lbs) |
14.05kg (30.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
MDF |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| USB Port |
USB-A port for firmware updates |
n/a |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 year |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
1 year |
2 Years |
Two quite different sizes of subwoofer. Room volume decides this more than anything else on the page: a big driver in a small room is wasted, and a small one in a large room is worked to death.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | B | KEF KC62 goes deeper - 11Hz against 18Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | evenly matched | Much the same amplifier (1000W vs 1000W RMS) - under 1dB apart. |
| Driver area | A | ELAC Varro DS1000-BG moves more air: 2 x 10" against 2 x 6.5" is 2.37x the cone area, not the 1.54x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are sealed designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Setup and tuning | evenly matched | The same tuning tools on both (room correction and onboard DSP). |
| Cabinet size | depends | KEF KC62 is about 70% 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. |
| Warranty | B | KEF KC62 carries 2 years on parts against 1 years. A subwoofer amplifier works harder than anything else in the system, so this is not a throwaway line. |
| Price | B | KEF KC62 costs less - $1,500 against $2,499, about 40% less. |
A ELAC Varro DS1000-BG B KEF KC62
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?
KEF KC62 has the edge on paper, though not by much. The "depends" rows are more likely to decide this than the score is. Two small subwoofers beat one big one in most rooms - a pair evens out the room modes in a way no single box can, whatever its specs. At $1,500 each, two KEF KC62 cost about $3,000 against $2,499 for one of the other, which is worth a thought. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - KEF KC62 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.