In this review, we will be comparing Varro RS500-SB and Varro PS500-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 RS500-SB and ELAC Varro PS500-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.
Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both ELAC Varro RS500-SBand ELAC Varro PS500-BK have a single woofer setup however the ELAC Varro RS500-SB's woofer is 10-inch whereas the ELAC Varro PS500-BK features a 15-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Varro RS500-SB has a frequency range of 18-150 Hz whereas Varro PS500-BK has a frequency range of 20-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 18Hz, the Varro RS500-SB 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 RS500-SB has a Acoustic Suspension type cabinet. 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. On the other hand the ELAC Varro PS500-BK have Bass Reflex type enclosure. 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 RS500-SB's and ELAC Varro PS500-BK's external dimensions. 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) whereas 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).
ELAC Varro PS500-BK is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 100mm wider, 101mm taller and 73mm deeper than ELAC Varro RS500-SB.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Varro RS500-SB and ELAC Varro PS500-BK in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Varro RS500-SB and ELAC Varro PS500-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 RS500-SB is approximately 1400.7cm2 / 217.1inch2 and base area of the ELAC Varro PS500-BK is approximately 2125.2cm2 / 329.4inch2. The Varro RS500-SB requires 34% less surface area than the Varro PS500-BK which gives it a small advantage 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 RS500-SB weighs 20.85kg / 45.9lbs and the ELAC Varro PS500-BK weighs 25.95kg / 57.1lbs. This makes the Varro PS500-BK 24% heavier than the Varro RS500-SB.
Here is a comparison of how Varro RS500-SB and Varro PS500-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 RS500-SB?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Varro RS500-SB:
- Grill
- Power Cord
- 4 Spikes
What's in the Box of ELAC Varro PS500-BK?
Here are the items that come with the Varro PS500-BK:
- Grill
- Power Cord
- 4 Spikes
 Low Frequency Response |
18 Hz
vs
20 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
381mm
vs
482mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1400cm2
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 |
| Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
999USD
vs
1299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Size, drawn to scale
Both subwoofers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same floor and pushed back to the same wall, so the bigger one visibly takes more of the room.
ELAC Varro PS500-BK needs about 52% more floor area. ELAC Varro PS500-BK stands 73mm further into the room. ELAC Varro PS500-BK is 101mm taller.
| General |
ELAC Varro RS500-SB |
ELAC Varro PS500-BK |
| Brand |
ELAC |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
500 watts |
500 watts |
| Frequency Response |
18-150 Hz |
20-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
500-watt RMS |
500-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
1000-watt RMS |
1000-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Treated paper |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
381.0mm (15") |
482.0mm (19") |
| Width |
361.0mm (14.2") |
461.0mm (18.1") |
| Depth |
388.0mm (15.3") |
461.0mm (18.1") |
| Weight |
20.85kg (45.9lbs) |
25.95kg (57.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF |
MDF |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
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 |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 year |
1 year |
| Labor Warranty |
1 year |
1 year |
A sealed subwoofer against a ported 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 | evenly matched | Effectively the same reach (18Hz vs 20Hz). |
| Amplifier power | evenly matched | Much the same amplifier (500W vs 500W RMS) - under 1dB apart. |
| Driver area | B | 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 | depends | 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; 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. 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 | A | 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 48% 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 PS500-BK costs less - $999 against $1,299, about 23% less. |
A ELAC Varro RS500-SB B ELAC Varro PS500-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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let your room size and where the box can actually stand settle it. 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 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.