In this review, we will be comparing Varro PS350-BK and SuperCube 4000, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from ELAC and Definitive Technology. 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 PS350-BK and DT SuperCube 4000 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 Varro PS350-BKand DT SuperCube 4000 have a single woofer setup however the ELAC Varro PS350-BK's woofer is 12-inch whereas the DT SuperCube 4000 features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Varro PS350-BK has a frequency range of 24-150 Hz whereas SuperCube 4000 has a frequency range of 16-200 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 16Hz, the SuperCube 4000 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Varro PS350-BK's min frequency of 24Hz.
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 PS350-BK has a Bass Reflex type cabinet. 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. On the other hand the DT SuperCube 4000 have Passive Radiator type enclosure. Passive Radiator type subwoofers sports a non-powered cone that moves in response to the main woofer to move air out in order to generate stronger bass in a smaller body compared to ported or 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 PS350-BK's and DT SuperCube 4000's external dimensions. ELAC Varro PS350-BK has external dimensions of 439.0 x 418.0 x 420.0mm (17-1/4inch x 16-7/16inch x 16-1/2inch) whereas DT SuperCube 4000 has external dimensions of 302.0 x 281.0 x 318.0mm (11-7/8 x 11-1/16 x 12-1/2inch).
ELAC Varro PS350-BK is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 137mm wider, 137mm taller and 102mm deeper than DT SuperCube 4000.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Varro PS350-BK and DT SuperCube 4000 in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Varro PS350-BK and DT SuperCube 4000 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 PS350-BK is approximately 1755.6cm2 / 272.1inch2 and base area of the DT SuperCube 4000 is approximately 893.6cm2 / 138.5inch2. The Varro PS350-BK requires 96% more surface area than the SuperCube 4000 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 PS350-BK weighs 21.86kg / 48.1lbs and the DT SuperCube 4000 weighs 11.36kg / 25lbs. This makes the Varro PS350-BK 92% heavier than the SuperCube 4000.
Here is a comparison of how Varro PS350-BK and SuperCube 4000'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 PS350-BK?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Varro PS350-BK:
- Grill
- Power Cord
- 4 Spikes
What's in the Box of DT SuperCube 4000?
Here are the items that come with the SuperCube 4000:
- 8-inch Powered subwoofer
- 7-feet AC power cord
- Remote control (CR2025 battery installed)
- 4 Threaded rubber-feet
- 4 Spike feet (hex-nut attached)
- Owners Manual
- SC4000 Booklet
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
| Low Frequency Response |
16 Hz
vs
24 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
150 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
302mm
vs
439mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
893cm2
vs
1755cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
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 Varro PS350-BK needs about 96% more floor area. ELAC Varro PS350-BK stands 102mm further into the room. ELAC Varro PS350-BK is 137mm taller.
| General |
ELAC Varro PS350-BK |
Definitive Technology SuperCube 4000 |
| Brand |
ELAC |
Definitive Technology |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
350 watts |
1200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
24-150 Hz |
16-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
350-watt RMS |
1200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
700-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Treated paper |
|
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
40-150 Hz and 40-150 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
439.0mm (17.3") |
302.0mm (11.9") |
| Width |
418.0mm (16.5") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
| Depth |
420.0mm (16.5") |
318.0mm (12.5") |
| Weight |
21.86kg (48.1lbs) |
11.36kg (25lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
MDF |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| USB Port |
USB-A port for firmware updates |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 year |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
1 year |
3 Years |
A ported subwoofer against a passive radiator 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 | B | DT SuperCube 4000 goes deeper - 16Hz against 24Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | B | DT SuperCube 4000 has the bigger amplifier - 1200W against 350W RMS, about 5.4dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | ELAC Varro PS350-BK moves more air: 12" against 8" is 2.25x the cone area, not the 1.5x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | depends | ELAC Varro PS350-BK is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning; DT SuperCube 4000 is passive radiator - a passive radiator behaves like a port without the pipe noise, and suits a slim cabinet. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Speaker-level inputs | B | DT SuperCube 4000 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. |
| Driver placement | depends | ELAC Varro PS350-BK fires down and DT SuperCube 4000 fires front. 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 | DT SuperCube 4000 is about 65% 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 | DT SuperCube 4000 carries 3 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 | evenly matched | Priced within a few per cent of each other. |
A ELAC Varro PS350-BK B DT SuperCube 4000
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?
DT SuperCube 4000 has the edge on paper, though not by much. The "depends" rows are more likely to decide this than the score is. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, DT SuperCube 4000 is the only one of these two you can connect at all. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - DT SuperCube 4000 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.