In this review, we will be comparing PC-2000 and Varro PS250-BK, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from SVS 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 SVS PC-2000 and ELAC Varro PS250-BK 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.
Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both SVS PC-2000and ELAC Varro PS250-BK have a single woofer setup however the SVS PC-2000's woofer is 12-inch whereas the ELAC Varro PS250-BK features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
PC-2000 has a frequency range of 16-260 Hz whereas Varro PS250-BK has a frequency range of 27-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 16Hz, the PC-2000 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Varro PS250-BK's min frequency of 27Hz.
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 SVS PC-2000 and ELAC Varro PS250-BK have Bass Reflex type cabinets. 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 SVS PC-2000's and ELAC Varro PS250-BK's external dimensions. SVS PC-2000 has external dimensions of 872.0 x 422.0 x 422.0mm (34-5/16 x 16-5/8 x 16-5/8inch) whereas ELAC Varro PS250-BK has external dimensions of 381.0 x 361.0 x 361.0mm (15inch x 14-3/16inch x 14-3/16inch).
SVS PC-2000 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 61mm wider, 491mm taller and 61mm deeper than ELAC Varro PS250-BK.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
SVS PC-2000 needs about 37% more floor or shelf area. SVS PC-2000 is 61mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. SVS PC-2000 is 491mm taller.
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 SVS PC-2000 is approximately 1780.8cm2 / 276.0inch2 and base area of the ELAC Varro PS250-BK is approximately 1303.2cm2 / 202.0inch2. The PC-2000 requires 37% more surface area than the Varro PS250-BK 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 SVS PC-2000 weighs 22.70kg / 49.9lbs and the ELAC Varro PS250-BK weighs 16.44kg / 36.2lbs. This makes the PC-2000 38% heavier than the Varro PS250-BK.
Here is a comparison of how PC-2000 and Varro PS250-BK's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
16 Hz
vs
27 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
260 Hz
vs
150 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
381mm
vs
872mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1303cm2
vs
1780cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
649USD
vs
750USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Size, drawn to scale
Both subwoofers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same floor and pushed back to the same wall, so the bigger one visibly takes more of the room.
SVS PC-2000 needs about 37% more floor area. SVS PC-2000 stands 61mm further into the room. SVS PC-2000 is 491mm taller.
| General |
SVS PC-2000 |
ELAC Varro PS250-BK |
| Brand |
SVS |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
500 watts |
250 watts |
| Frequency Response |
16-260 Hz |
27-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
500-watt RMS |
250-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
1100-watt RMS |
500-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Treated paper |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
872.0mm (34.3") |
381.0mm (15") |
| Width |
422.0mm (16.6") |
361.0mm (14.2") |
| Depth |
422.0mm (16.6") |
361.0mm (14.2") |
| Weight |
22.70kg (49.9lbs) |
16.44kg (36.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| USB Port |
n/a |
USB-A port for firmware updates |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
1 year |
| Labor Warranty |
5 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 | SVS PC-2000 goes deeper - 16Hz against 27Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | A | SVS PC-2000 has the bigger amplifier - 500W against 250W RMS, about 3dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | SVS PC-2000 moves more air: 12" against 10" is 1.44x the cone area, not the 1.2x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are ported designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Driver placement | depends | SVS PC-2000 fires front and ELAC Varro PS250-BK fires down. 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. |
| Cabinet size | depends | ELAC Varro PS250-BK is about 68% 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 | SVS PC-2000 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 | ELAC Varro PS250-BK costs less - $649 against $750, about 13% less. |
A SVS PC-2000 B ELAC Varro PS250-BK
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?
SVS PC-2000 leads across most of the measured areas for a modest premium, so it is the easier pick if the budget stretches. ELAC Varro PS250-BK is the one to take if it does not. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - ELAC Varro PS250-BK 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.