In this review, we will be comparing Varro PS500-BK and Varro DS1200-GB, 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 PS500-BK and ELAC Varro DS1200-GB 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 PS500-BK and ELAC Varro DS1200-GB have a totally different setup: the ELAC Varro PS500-BK features 1 x 15-inch drivers whereas the Varro DS1200-GB features 2 x 12-inch drivers.
Frequency Response
Varro PS500-BK has a frequency range of 20-150 Hz whereas Varro DS1200-GB has a frequency range of 17-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 17Hz, the Varro DS1200-GB 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 PS500-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 DS1200-GB 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 PS500-BK's and ELAC Varro DS1200-GB's external dimensions. 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) whereas ELAC Varro DS1200-GB has external dimensions of 423.0 x 483.0 x 418.0mm (16-5/8inch x 19inch x 16-7/16inch).
ELAC Varro DS1200-GB is 59mm shorter and 43mm less deeper than ELAC Varro PS500-BK but it is also 22mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Varro PS500-BK and ELAC Varro DS1200-GB in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Varro PS500-BK and ELAC Varro DS1200-GB 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 PS500-BK is approximately 2125.2cm2 / 329.4inch2 and base area of the ELAC Varro DS1200-GB is approximately 2018.9cm2 / 312.9inch2. The Varro PS500-BK requires 5% more surface area than the Varro DS1200-GB 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 PS500-BK weighs 25.95kg / 57.1lbs and the ELAC Varro DS1200-GB weighs 38.00kg / 83.6lbs. This makes the Varro DS1200-GB 46% heavier than the Varro PS500-BK.
Here is a comparison of how Varro PS500-BK and Varro DS1200-GB'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 PS500-BK?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Varro PS500-BK:
- Grill
- Power Cord
- 4 Spikes
What's in the Box of ELAC Varro DS1200-GB?
Here are the items that come with the Varro DS1200-GB:
- 2 Grilles
- Power Cord
- 4 Spikes
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
999USD
vs
2999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
17 Hz
vs
20 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
423mm
vs
482mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2018cm2
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 |
| General |
ELAC Varro PS500-BK |
ELAC Varro DS1200-GB |
| Brand |
ELAC |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
500 watts |
1200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
20-150 Hz |
17-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
500-watt RMS |
1200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
1000-watt RMS |
2400-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Treated paper |
Aluminum |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
482.0mm (19") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
| Width |
461.0mm (18.1") |
483.0mm (19") |
| Depth |
461.0mm (18.1") |
418.0mm (16.5") |
| Weight |
25.95kg (57.1lbs) |
38.00kg (83.6lbs) |
| 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 DS1200-GB goes deeper - 17Hz against 20Hz. 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 DS1200-GB has the bigger amplifier - 1200W against 500W RMS, about 3.8dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | B | ELAC Varro DS1200-GB moves more air: 2 x 12" against 15" is 1.28x the cone area, not the 1.13x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | depends | 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; ELAC Varro DS1200-GB 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 DS1200-GB 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 DS1200-GB 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 PS500-BK fires down and ELAC Varro DS1200-GB fires side. 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. |
| Price | A | ELAC Varro PS500-BK costs less - $999 against $2,999, about 67% less. |
A ELAC Varro PS500-BK B ELAC Varro DS1200-GB
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 DS1200-GB measures better, ELAC Varro PS500-BK costs about 67% 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 DS1200-GB is usually the easier one to make sound right. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, ELAC Varro DS1200-GB 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.