In this review, we will be comparing Varro PS350-BK and Varro RS500-SB, 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 PS350-BK and ELAC Varro RS500-SB 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 PS350-BKand ELAC Varro RS500-SB have a single woofer setup however the ELAC Varro PS350-BK's woofer is 12-inch whereas the ELAC Varro RS500-SB features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Varro PS350-BK has a frequency range of 24-150 Hz whereas Varro RS500-SB has a frequency range of 18-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 18Hz, the Varro RS500-SB 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 ELAC Varro RS500-SB have Acoustic Suspension type enclosure. 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 PS350-BK's and ELAC Varro RS500-SB'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 ELAC Varro RS500-SB has external dimensions of 381.0 x 361.0 x 388.0mm (15inch x 14-3/16inch x 15-1/4inch).
ELAC Varro PS350-BK is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 57mm wider, 58mm taller and 32mm deeper than ELAC Varro RS500-SB.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Varro PS350-BK and ELAC Varro RS500-SB in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Varro PS350-BK and ELAC Varro RS500-SB 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 ELAC Varro RS500-SB is approximately 1400.7cm2 / 217.1inch2. The Varro PS350-BK requires 25% more surface area than the Varro RS500-SB 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 ELAC Varro RS500-SB weighs 20.85kg / 45.9lbs. This makes the Varro PS350-BK 5% heavier than the Varro RS500-SB.
Here is a comparison of how Varro PS350-BK and Varro RS500-SB'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 ELAC Varro RS500-SB?
Here are the items that come with the Varro RS500-SB:
- Grill
- Power Cord
- 4 Spikes
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
1299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Low Frequency Response |
18 Hz
vs
24 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
381mm
vs
439mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1400cm2
vs
1755cm2
|
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 |
| General |
ELAC Varro PS350-BK |
ELAC Varro RS500-SB |
| Brand |
ELAC |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
350 watts |
500 watts |
| Frequency Response |
24-150 Hz |
18-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
350-watt RMS |
500-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
700-watt RMS |
1000-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Treated paper |
Aluminum |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
439.0mm (17.3") |
381.0mm (15") |
| Width |
418.0mm (16.5") |
361.0mm (14.2") |
| Depth |
420.0mm (16.5") |
388.0mm (15.3") |
| Weight |
21.86kg (48.1lbs) |
20.85kg (45.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
MDF |
MDF |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Gloss 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 |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 year |
1 year |
| Labor Warranty |
1 year |
1 year |
A ported subwoofer against a sealed 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 | ELAC Varro RS500-SB goes deeper - 18Hz 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 | ELAC Varro RS500-SB has the bigger amplifier - 500W against 350W RMS, about 1.5dB 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 10" is 1.44x the cone area, not the 1.2x 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; ELAC Varro RS500-SB is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room. 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 | B | ELAC Varro RS500-SB 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 RS500-SB 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. |
| Cabinet size | depends | ELAC Varro RS500-SB is about 31% 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 | A | ELAC Varro PS350-BK costs less - $799 against $1,299, about 38% less. |
A ELAC Varro PS350-BK B ELAC Varro RS500-SB
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 RS500-SB measures better, ELAC Varro PS350-BK costs about 38% 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 PS350-BK will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, ELAC Varro RS500-SB is usually the easier one to make sound right. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, ELAC Varro RS500-SB 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.