In this review, we will be comparing Varro PS500-BK and Varro PS250-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 PS500-BK and ELAC Varro PS250-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.Both ELAC Varro PS500-BKand ELAC Varro PS250-BK have a single woofer setup however the ELAC Varro PS500-BK's woofer is 15-inch whereas the ELAC Varro PS250-BK features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Varro PS500-BK has a frequency range of 20-150 Hz whereas Varro PS250-BK has a frequency range of 27-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 20Hz, the Varro PS500-BK can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Varro PS250-BK's min frequency of 27Hz.
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 PS500-BK and ELAC Varro PS250-BK have Bass Reflex type cabinets. 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 PS500-BK's and ELAC Varro PS250-BK'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 PS250-BK has external dimensions of 381.0 x 361.0 x 361.0mm (15inch x 14-3/16inch x 14-3/16inch).
ELAC Varro PS500-BK is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 100mm wider, 101mm taller and 100mm deeper than ELAC Varro PS250-BK.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Varro PS500-BK and ELAC Varro PS250-BK in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Varro PS500-BK and ELAC Varro PS250-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 PS500-BK is approximately 2125.2cm2 / 329.4inch2 and base area of the ELAC Varro PS250-BK is approximately 1303.2cm2 / 202.0inch2. The Varro PS500-BK requires 63% more surface area than the Varro PS250-BK 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 PS250-BK weighs 16.44kg / 36.2lbs. This makes the Varro PS500-BK 58% heavier than the Varro PS250-BK.
Here is a comparison of how Varro PS500-BK and Varro PS250-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 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 PS250-BK?
Here are the items that come with the Varro PS250-BK:
- Grill
- Power Cord
- 4 Spikes
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
20 Hz
vs
27 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
381mm
vs
482mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1303cm2
vs
2125cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
649USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
ELAC Varro PS500-BK |
ELAC Varro PS250-BK |
| Brand |
ELAC |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
500 watts |
250 watts |
| Frequency Response |
20-150 Hz |
27-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
500-watt RMS |
250-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
1000-watt RMS |
500-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Treated paper |
Treated paper |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
482.0mm (19") |
381.0mm (15") |
| Width |
461.0mm (18.1") |
361.0mm (14.2") |
| Depth |
461.0mm (18.1") |
361.0mm (14.2") |
| Weight |
25.95kg (57.1lbs) |
16.44kg (36.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF |
MDF |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| USB Port |
USB-A port for firmware updates |
USB-A port for firmware updates |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 year |
1 year |
| Labor Warranty |
1 year |
1 year |
Siblings in ELAC's Varro range - same design thinking, different size. It comes down to your room and your budget.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | ELAC Varro PS500-BK goes deeper - 20Hz against 27Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | A | ELAC Varro PS500-BK has the bigger amplifier - 500W against 250W RMS, about 3dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | ELAC Varro PS500-BK moves more air: 15" against 10" 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 | evenly matched | Both are ported designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Setup and tuning | evenly matched | The same tuning tools on both (room correction, onboard DSP and app control). |
| Cabinet size | depends | ELAC Varro PS250-BK is about 52% 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 PS250-BK costs less - $649 against $999, about 35% less. |
A ELAC Varro PS500-BK B ELAC Varro PS250-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 PS500-BK measures better, ELAC Varro PS250-BK costs about 35% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. 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 $649 each, two ELAC Varro PS250-BK cost about $1,298 against $999 for one of the other, which is worth a thought. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - ELAC Varro PS250-BK 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.