In this review, we will be comparing Varro RS700-SB and SB-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 RS700-SB and SVS SB-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.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through our 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.ELAC Varro RS700-SBand SVS SB-1000 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 SB-1000 Pro has a frequency range of 20-270 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 17Hz, the Varro RS700-SB can go slightly deeper then the SB-1000 Pro'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 RS700-SB and SVS SB-1000 Pro 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 SVS SB-1000 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 SB-1000 Pro has external dimensions of 343.0 x 331.0 x 402.0mm (13-1/2inch x 13inch x 15-13/16inch).
ELAC Varro RS700-SB is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 87mm wider, 96mm taller and 18mm deeper than SVS SB-1000 Pro.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Varro RS700-SB and SVS SB-1000 Pro in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Varro RS700-SB and SVS SB-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 RS700-SB is approximately 1755.6cm2 / 272.1inch2 and base area of the SVS SB-1000 Pro is approximately 1330.6cm2 / 206.2inch2. The Varro RS700-SB requires 32% more surface area than the SB-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 RS700-SB weighs 25.35kg / 55.8lbs and the SVS SB-1000 Pro weighs 11.82kg / 26lbs. This makes the Varro RS700-SB 114% heavier than the SB-1000 Pro.
Here is a comparison of how Varro RS700-SB and SB-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 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 SB-1000 Pro?
Here are the items that come with the SB-1000 Pro:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Quick Start Guide
- Brochure
- SVS Support Information
 Low Frequency Response |
17 Hz
vs
20 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
 High Frequency Response |
270 Hz
vs
150 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
343mm
vs
439mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1330cm2
vs
1755cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
600USD
vs
1499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
ELAC Varro RS700-SB |
SVS SB-1000 Pro |
| Brand |
ELAC |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
700 watts |
325 watts |
| Frequency Response |
17-150 Hz |
20-270 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
700-watt RMS |
325-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
1400-watt RMS |
820-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Fiber-composite |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
439.0mm (17.3") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Width |
418.0mm (16.5") |
331.0mm (13") |
| Depth |
420.0mm (16.5") |
402.0mm (15.8") |
| Weight |
25.35kg (55.8lbs) |
11.82kg (26lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
MDF |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
Black,White |
| 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 |
Different price classes - ELAC Varro RS700-SB costs roughly 2.5x what SVS SB-1000 Pro does. Before paying it, read the note below about two smaller subwoofers.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | ELAC Varro RS700-SB goes deeper - 17Hz against 20Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | A | ELAC Varro RS700-SB has the bigger amplifier - 700W against 325W RMS, about 3.3dB 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 | 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). |
| Cabinet size | depends | SVS SB-1000 Pro is about 41% 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 SB-1000 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 SB-1000 Pro costs less - $600 against $1,499, about 60% less. |
A ELAC Varro RS700-SB B SVS SB-1000 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 150% more. SVS SB-1000 Pro is the sensible buy unless your room is large enough to need the extra. 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 $600 each, two SVS SB-1000 Pro cost about $1,200 against $1,499 for one of the other, which is worth a thought. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - SVS SB-1000 Pro is the one that will actually go there, and a well-placed small subwoofer beats a badly-placed big one every time.
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.