In this review, we will be comparing Varro PS500-BK and PB-1000 Pro, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from ELAC and SVS. 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 SVS PB-1000 Pro 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 SVS PB-1000 Pro have a single woofer setup however the ELAC Varro PS500-BK's woofer is 15-inch whereas the SVS PB-1000 Pro features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Varro PS500-BK has a frequency range of 20-150 Hz whereas PB-1000 Pro has a frequency range of 17-260 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 17Hz, the PB-1000 Pro 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
Both ELAC Varro PS500-BK and SVS PB-1000 Pro 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 SVS PB-1000 Pro'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 SVS PB-1000 Pro has external dimensions of 479.0 x 380.0 x 509.0mm (18-13/16inch x 15inch x 20-15/16inch).
SVS PB-1000 Pro is 81mm narrower and 3mm shorter than ELAC Varro PS500-BK but it is also 48mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Varro PS500-BK and SVS PB-1000 Pro in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Varro PS500-BK and SVS PB-1000 Pro 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 SVS PB-1000 Pro is approximately 1934.2cm2 / 299.8inch2. The Varro PS500-BK requires 10% more surface area than the PB-1000 Pro 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 SVS PB-1000 Pro weighs 19.30kg / 42.5lbs. This makes the Varro PS500-BK 34% heavier than the PB-1000 Pro.
Here is a comparison of how Varro PS500-BK and PB-1000 Pro'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 SVS PB-1000 Pro?
Here are the items that come with the PB-1000 Pro:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Quick Start Guide
- Brochure
- SVS Support Information
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
17 Hz
vs
20 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
260k Hz
vs
150k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
479mm
vs
482mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1934cm2
vs
2125cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
| General |
ELAC Varro PS500-BK |
SVS PB-1000 Pro |
| Brand |
ELAC |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
500 watts |
325 watts |
| Frequency Response |
20-150 Hz |
17-260 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
500-watt RMS |
325-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
1000-watt RMS |
820-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Treated paper |
Fiber-composite |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
482.0mm (19") |
479.0mm (18.9") |
| Width |
461.0mm (18.1") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Depth |
461.0mm (18.1") |
509.0mm (20") |
| Weight |
25.95kg (57.1lbs) |
19.30kg (42.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| USB Port |
USB-A port for firmware updates |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 year |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
1 year |
5 Years |