In this review, we will be comparing Varro RS700-SB and PB-2000 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 RS700-SB and SVS PB-2000 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.ELAC Varro RS700-SBand SVS PB-2000 Pro have the same driver set up: Both subwoofers have 1 x 12" drivers.
Frequency Response
Varro RS700-SB has a frequency range of 17-150 Hz whereas PB-2000 Pro has a frequency range of 16-290 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 16Hz, the PB-2000 Pro can go slightly deeper then the Varro RS700-SB's min frequency of 17Hz.
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 RS700-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 SVS PB-2000 Pro 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 RS700-SB's and SVS PB-2000 Pro'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 SVS PB-2000 Pro has external dimensions of 534.0 x 442.0 x 609.0mm (21 x 17-3/8 x 23-15/16inch).
SVS PB-2000 Pro is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 24mm wider, 95mm taller and 189mm deeper than ELAC Varro RS700-SB.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Varro RS700-SB and SVS PB-2000 Pro in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Varro RS700-SB and SVS PB-2000 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 RS700-SB is approximately 1755.6cm2 / 272.1inch2 and base area of the SVS PB-2000 Pro is approximately 2691.8cm2 / 417.2inch2. The Varro RS700-SB requires 35% less surface area than the PB-2000 Pro 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 SVS PB-2000 Pro weighs 29.45kg / 64.8lbs. This makes the PB-2000 Pro 16% heavier than the Varro RS700-SB.
Here is a comparison of how Varro RS700-SB and PB-2000 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 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 SVS PB-2000 Pro?
Here are the items that come with the PB-2000 Pro:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 8-feet AC power cord
- Quick Start Guide
- Safety Instructions
- SVS brochure
 Height |
439mm
vs
534mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1755cm2
vs
2691cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
 Low Frequency Response |
16 Hz
vs
17 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
290 Hz
vs
150 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
1100USD
vs
1499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
ELAC Varro RS700-SB |
SVS PB-2000 Pro |
| Brand |
ELAC |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
700 watts |
550 watts |
| Frequency Response |
17-150 Hz |
16-290 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
700-watt RMS |
550-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
1400-watt RMS |
1500-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| 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") |
534.0mm (21") |
| Width |
418.0mm (16.5") |
442.0mm (17.4") |
| Depth |
420.0mm (16.5") |
609.0mm (24") |
| Weight |
25.35kg (55.8lbs) |
29.45kg (64.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| USB Port |
USB-A port for firmware updates |
n/a |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 year |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
1 year |
5 Years |
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 (17Hz vs 16Hz). |
| Amplifier power | A | ELAC Varro RS700-SB has the bigger amplifier - 700W against 550W RMS, about 1dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | evenly matched | Near-identical radiating area (12" against 12"). |
| Enclosure | depends | ELAC Varro RS700-SB is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room; SVS PB-2000 Pro 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 RS700-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. |
| Cabinet size | depends | ELAC Varro RS700-SB is about 46% 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. |
| Warranty | B | SVS PB-2000 Pro carries 5 years on parts against 1 years. A subwoofer amplifier works harder than anything else in the system, so this is not a throwaway line. |
| Price | B | SVS PB-2000 Pro costs less - $1,100 against $1,499, about 27% less. |
A ELAC Varro RS700-SB B SVS PB-2000 Pro
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?
ELAC Varro RS700-SB is ahead, but on only 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 36% more. SVS PB-2000 Pro is the sensible buy unless your room is large enough to need the extra. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, SVS PB-2000 Pro will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, ELAC Varro RS700-SB is usually the easier one to make sound right. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, ELAC Varro RS700-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.