In this review, we will be comparing Varro PS500-BK and A120P, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from ELAC and JBL. 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 JBL Stage A120P first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into details in order to better understand how the ELAC Varro PS500-BK and JBL Stage A120P compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these subwoofers is the better choice for you.
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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 JBL Stage A120P have a single woofer setup however the ELAC Varro PS500-BK's woofer is 15-inch whereas the JBL Stage A120P features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Varro PS500-BK has a frequency range of 20-150 Hz whereas A120P has a frequency range of 32-150 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 A120P's min frequency of 32Hz.
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 JBL Stage A120P have Bass reflex type enclosure.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 JBL Stage A120P'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 JBL Stage A120P has external dimensions of 415.0 x 393.0 x 475.0mm ( 16-5/16 x 15-7/16 x 18-11/16inch) .
JBL Stage A120P is 68mm narrower and 67mm shorter than ELAC Varro PS500-BK but it is also 14mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Varro PS500-BK and JBL Stage A120P in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Varro PS500-BK and JBL Stage A120P 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 JBL Stage A120P is approximately 1866.8cm2 / 289.4inch2. The Varro PS500-BK requires 14% more surface area than the A120P 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 JBL Stage A120P weighs 18.68kg / 41.1lbs. This makes the Varro PS500-BK 39% heavier than the A120P.
Here is a comparison of how Varro PS500-BK and A120P'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 JBL Stage A120P?
Here are the items that come with the A120P:
Powered subwooferGrille6-feet AC power cord4 Spike feetOwners ManualWarranty CardImportant Safety Instructions
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
20 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
415mm
vs
482mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1866cm2
vs
2125cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
300USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
ELAC Varro PS500-BK |
JBL Stage A120P |
| Brand |
ELAC |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
500 watts |
250 watts |
| Frequency Response |
20-150 Hz |
32-150 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" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Treated paper |
Polycellulose |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
482.0mm (19") |
415.0mm (16.3") |
| Width |
461.0mm (18.1") |
393.0mm (15.5") |
| Depth |
461.0mm (18.1") |
475.0mm (18.7") |
| Weight |
25.95kg (57.1lbs) |
18.68kg (41.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass reflex |
| Finish |
MDF |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| USB Port |
USB-A port for firmware updates |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 year |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
1 year |
1 Year |