In this review, we will be comparing KC92 and Varro DS1000-BG, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from KEF and 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 KEF KC92 and ELAC Varro DS1000-BG 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.Both KEF KC92and ELAC Varro DS1000-BG have a double woofer setup however the KEF KC92's woofer is 9-inch whereas the ELAC Varro DS1000-BG features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
KC92 has a frequency range of 11-200 Hz whereas Varro DS1000-BG has a frequency range of 18-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 11Hz, the KC92 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Varro DS1000-BG'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
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Cabinet Type
Both KEF KC92 and ELAC Varro DS1000-BG 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 KEF KC92's and ELAC Varro DS1000-BG's external dimensions. KEF KC92 has external dimensions of 352.5 x 330 x 360.5 mm (13.88 x 13.00 x 14.19 in) whereas ELAC Varro DS1000-BG has external dimensions of 372.0 x 431.0 x 372.0mm (14-5/8inch x 16-15/16inch x 14-5/8inch).
ELAC Varro DS1000-BG is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 101mm wider, 20mm taller and 11mm deeper than KEF KC92.
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 KEF KC92 is approximately 1191.3cm2 / 184.7inch2 and base area of the ELAC Varro DS1000-BG is approximately 1603.3cm2 / 248.5inch2. The KC92 requires 26% less surface area than the Varro DS1000-BG 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 KEF KC92 weighs 20.00kg / 44lbs and the ELAC Varro DS1000-BG weighs 32.45kg / 71.4lbs. This makes the Varro DS1000-BG 62% heavier than the KC92.
Here is a comparison of how KC92 and Varro DS1000-BG's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF KC92?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of KC92:
- KC92 subwoofer
- Power cord
- Euroblock speaker level connector
- User manual and warranty information
What's in the Box of ELAC Varro DS1000-BG?
Here are the items that come with the Varro DS1000-BG:
- 2 Grilles
- Power Cord
- 4 Spikes
 Low Frequency Response |
11 Hz
vs
18 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
150 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
352mm
vs
372mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1191cm2
vs
1603cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1999USD
vs
2499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
9 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
| General |
KEF KC92 |
ELAC Varro DS1000-BG |
| Brand |
KEF |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1000 watts |
1000 watts |
| Frequency Response |
11-200 Hz |
18-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1000-watt RMS |
1000-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
2000-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
9" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Aluminum |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
40-140 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
352.0mm (13.9") |
372.0mm (14.6") |
| Width |
330.0mm (13") |
431.0mm (17") |
| Depth |
361.0mm (14.2") |
372.0mm (14.6") |
| Weight |
20.00kg (44lbs) |
32.45kg (71.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| USB Port |
n/a |
USB-A port for firmware updates |
| Ethernet Port |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
1 year |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
1 year |
No single best subwoofer here. Your room, where the box can physically go, and whether this is mainly for films or mainly for music will settle it long before the specs do.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | KEF KC92 goes deeper - 11Hz against 18Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | evenly matched | Much the same amplifier (1000W vs 1000W RMS) - under 1dB apart. |
| Driver area | B | ELAC Varro DS1000-BG moves more air: 2 x 10" against 2 x 9" is 1.23x the cone area, not the 1.11x 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 and onboard DSP). |
| Cabinet size | depends | KEF KC92 is about 30% 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 | A | KEF KC92 carries 2 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 | A | KEF KC92 costs less - $1,999 against $2,499, about 20% less. |
A KEF KC92 B ELAC Varro DS1000-BG
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?
KEF KC92 has the edge on paper, though not by much. The "depends" rows are more likely to decide this than the score is. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - KEF KC92 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.