In this review, we will be comparing Varro RS700-SB 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 RS700-SB 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 RS700-SB and ELAC Varro DS1200-GB have a totally different setup: the ELAC Varro RS700-SB features 1 x 12-inch drivers whereas the Varro DS1200-GB features 2 x 12-inch drivers.
Frequency Response
Varro RS700-SB and Varro DS1200-GB has exactly the same frequency range of 17-150 Hz.
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 RS700-SB and ELAC Varro DS1200-GB have Acoustic Suspension type cabinets. 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 RS700-SB's and ELAC Varro DS1200-GB's external dimensions. ELAC Varro RS700-SB has external dimensions of 439.0 x 418.0 x 420.0mm (17-1/4inch x 16-7/16inch x 16-1/2inch) 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 16mm shorter and 2mm less deeper than ELAC Varro RS700-SB but it is also 65mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Varro RS700-SB and ELAC Varro DS1200-GB in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Varro RS700-SB 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 RS700-SB is approximately 1755.6cm2 / 272.1inch2 and base area of the ELAC Varro DS1200-GB is approximately 2018.9cm2 / 312.9inch2. The Varro RS700-SB requires 13% less surface area than the Varro DS1200-GB 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 RS700-SB weighs 25.35kg / 55.8lbs and the ELAC Varro DS1200-GB weighs 38.00kg / 83.6lbs. This makes the Varro DS1200-GB 50% heavier than the Varro RS700-SB.
Here is a comparison of how Varro RS700-SB 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 RS700-SB?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Varro RS700-SB:
- 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
 Base Surface Area |
1755cm2
vs
2018cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1499USD
vs
2999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 Height |
423mm
vs
439mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
ELAC Varro RS700-SB |
ELAC Varro DS1200-GB |
| Brand |
ELAC |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
700 watts |
1200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
17-150 Hz |
17-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
700-watt RMS |
1200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
1400-watt RMS |
2400-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Aluminum |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
439.0mm (17.3") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
| Width |
418.0mm (16.5") |
483.0mm (19") |
| Depth |
420.0mm (16.5") |
418.0mm (16.5") |
| Weight |
25.35kg (55.8lbs) |
38.00kg (83.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
MDF |
MDF |
| Available Colors |
Gloss 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 |
Yes |
Yes |
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 | evenly matched | Effectively the same reach (17Hz vs 17Hz). |
| Amplifier power | B | ELAC Varro DS1200-GB has the bigger amplifier - 1200W against 700W RMS, about 2.3dB 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 12" is 2x the cone area, not the 1.41x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are sealed 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). |
| Driver placement | depends | ELAC Varro RS700-SB fires front 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 RS700-SB costs less - $1,499 against $2,999, about 50% less. |
A ELAC Varro RS700-SB 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 RS700-SB costs about 50% 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 $1,499 each, two ELAC Varro RS700-SB cost about $2,998 against $2,999 for one of the other, which is worth a thought.
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.