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ELAC Varro RS700-SB vs ELAC Varro RS500-SB Comparison
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Subwoofer to replace
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ELAC Varro RS700-SB

Powered Subwoofer | 17-150 Hz

ELAC Varro RS700-SB
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ELAC Varro RS500-SB

Powered Subwoofer | 18-150 Hz

ELAC Varro RS500-SB
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ELAC Varro RS700-SB ELAC Varro RS700-SB
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ELAC Varro RS500-SB ELAC Varro RS500-SB
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ELAC Varro RS700-SB
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ELAC Varro RS500-SB
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ELAC Varro RS700-SB vs ELAC Varro RS500-SB Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Varro RS700-SB and Varro RS500-SB, 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 RS500-SB first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

ELAC Varro RS700-SB Key Specs

  • 12" Aluminum Woofer
  • 17-150 Hz Frequency Response
  • 700 watts Max Amplifier Output
  • App Control Feature
  • Weight:25.35kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 439.0" x 16-7/16" x 16-1/2"( 439.0 x 418.0 x 420.0mm )

ELAC Varro RS500-SB Key Specs

  • 10" Aluminum Woofer
  • 18-150 Hz Frequency Response
  • 500 watts Max Amplifier Output
  • App Control Feature
  • Weight:20.85kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 381.0" x 14-3/16" x 15-1/4"( 381.0 x 361.0 x 388.0mm )

Varro RS700-SB and Varro RS500-SB are members of ELAC's Varro series of subwoofers. Below you can find other subs from this series.

ELAC Varro Series Subwoofers History
Model Frequency Woofer Amp Power
ELAC Varro DS1200-GB
  
17-150k Hz 12" 1200 watts
ELAC Varro RS700-SB
17-150k Hz 12" 700 watts
ELAC Varro PS500-BK
  
20-150k Hz 15" 500 watts
ELAC Varro PS250-BK
  
27-150k Hz 10" 250 watts
ELAC Varro RS500-SB
18-150k Hz 10" 500 watts
ELAC Varro DS1000-BG
  
18-150k Hz 10" 1000 watts
ELAC Varro PS350-BK
  
24-150k Hz 12" 350 watts

In the following sections, we will get into details in order to better understand how the ELAC Varro RS700-SB and ELAC Varro RS500-SB compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these subwoofers is the better choice for you.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Drivers

The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both ELAC Varro RS700-SBand ELAC Varro RS500-SB have a single woofer setup however the ELAC Varro RS700-SB's woofer is 12-inch whereas the ELAC Varro RS500-SB features a 10-inch woofer.

Frequency Response

Varro RS700-SB has a frequency range of 17-150 Hz whereas Varro RS500-SB has a frequency range of 18-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 17Hz, the Varro RS700-SB can go slightly deeper then the Varro RS500-SB's min frequency of 18Hz.

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

ELAC Varro RS700-SB
ELAC Varro RS500-SB
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Subwoofer Speakers

ELAC Varro RS700-SB
ELAC Varro RS500-SB
Min
Average
Max

Cabinet Type

Both ELAC Varro RS700-SB and ELAC Varro RS500-SB 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

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 RS700-SB's and ELAC Varro RS500-SB'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 RS500-SB has external dimensions of 381.0 x 361.0 x 388.0mm ( 15inch x 14-3/16inch x 15-1/4inch ) .

ELAC Varro RS700-SB is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 57mm wider, 58mm taller and 32mm deeper than ELAC Varro RS500-SB.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Varro RS700-SB and ELAC Varro RS500-SB in scale.

ELAC Varro RS700-SB vs ELAC Varro RS500-SB Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of ELAC Varro RS700-SB and ELAC Varro RS500-SB 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 RS500-SB is approximately 1400.7cm2 / 217.1inch2. The Varro RS700-SB requires 25% more surface area than the Varro RS500-SB 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 RS700-SB weighs 25.35kg / 55.8lbs and the ELAC Varro RS500-SB weighs 20.85kg / 45.9lbs. This makes the Varro RS700-SB 22% heavier than the Varro RS500-SB.

Here is a comparison of how Varro RS700-SB and Varro RS500-SB's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.

Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
ELAC Varro RS700-SB
ELAC Varro RS500-SB
Min
Average
Max

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 RS500-SB?

    Here are the items that come with the Varro RS500-SB:
  • Grill
  • Power Cord
  • 4 Spikes

  • Reasons to choose ELAC Varro RS700-SB over ELAC Varro RS500-SB
    Woofer Size 12 inches vs 10 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 17 Hz vs 18 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Reasons to choose ELAC Varro RS500-SB over ELAC Varro RS700-SB
    Height 381mm vs 439mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 1400cm2 vs 1755cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 1299USD vs 1499USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    ELAC Varro RS700-SB vs ELAC Varro RS500-SB Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General ELAC Varro RS700-SB ELAC Varro RS500-SB
    Brand ELAC ELAC
    Speaker Type Powered Subwoofer Powered Subwoofer
    Max Amplifier Output 700 watts 500 watts
    Frequency Response 17-150 Hz 18-150 Hz
    Amplifier
    Watts RMS (Continuous) 700-watt RMS 500-watt RMS
    Watts Peak (Max) 1400-watt RMS 1000-watt RMS
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 12" 10"
    Woofer Composition Aluminum Aluminum
    Tweeter Size - -
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No No
    Firing Direction front bottom
    Physical Specs
    Height 439.0mm (17.3") 381.0mm (15")
    Width 418.0mm (16.5") 361.0mm (14.2")
    Depth 420.0mm (16.5") 388.0mm (15.3")
    Weight 25.35kg (55.8lbs) 20.85kg (45.9lbs)
    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

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