Short answer: the ELAC Varro RS700. Both are rated 3.8/5 for sound quality (#76 and #49 of 212 subwoofers), and the ELAC Varro RS700 costs $1,599 against $2,499 for the Bowers & Wilkins DB4S, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
What the Bowers & Wilkins DB4S does well: Single forward-firing 10-inch Aerofoil drive unit powered by 1,000 watts of Class D Hypex amplification in a rigid sealed enclosure. The catch: A single 10-inch sealed driver produces less deep bass headroom below 30Hz than larger ported models or dual-opposed designs like the Bowers & Wilkins DB2D and Bowers & Wilkins DB1D.
What the ELAC Varro RS700 does well: 12-inch aluminum sandwich driver with high-excursion HEX surround in a rigid sealed enclosure, backed by 700W RMS BASH power. The tradeoff: High power consumption and heavy 61-lb cabinet.
Buy the ELAC Varro RS700. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $900 less than the Bowers & Wilkins DB4S.
Worth knowing: the ELAC Varro RS700 has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 3.6 to 4.0, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Subwoofers rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bowers & Wilkins DB4S | ELAC Varro RS700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,499.00 each | $1,599.00 |
| Ranked | #49 of 212 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) | #76 of 212 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) Estimated |
| Amplifier Power | 1000W RMS | 700W RMS / 1400W peak (BASH) |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 111.2 dB | - |
| Cabinet Color | gloss black, satin white, rosenut | - |
| Country | United Kingdom | Germany |
| Dimensions | 14.8”H x 14.2”W x 14.5”D (377.0 x 360.0 x 368.0 mm) | 17.2”H x 16.4”W x 16.4”D (437 x 416 x 416 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 10” (254mm) Aerofoil driver | 12” (305mm) aluminum-sandwich cone with HEX surround |
| Enclosure | sealed | sealed |
| Inputs | XLR (2, balanced), RCA (2, unbalanced) | - |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics | - |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 88.4 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 94.1 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 103.3 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 107.4 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 111.2 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 113.6 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 112.5 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 111.6 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 110.0 dB | - |
| RCA Input | Yes | - |
| Warranty | 5 | 3/1 |
| Weight | 57.3 lbs (26.0 kg) | 61.3 lbs (27.8 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes | - |
| Frequency Response | - | 17Hz - 150Hz (in-room, manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Bowers & Wilkins DB4S:
- Bowers & Wilkins DB4S vs Sigberg Audio INKOGNITO 12
- Bowers & Wilkins DB4S vs PSB SubSeries BP8
- Arendal 1723 Subwoofer 1S vs ELAC Varro RS700
- REL Acoustics T/9x vs ELAC Varro RS700
- ELAC Varro RS700 vs KEF Kube 15 MIE
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Bowers & Wilkins DB4S: $2,499.00 each Bowers & Wilkins eBay
Same family: the Bowers & Wilkins DB3D (larger subwoofer, rated 3.7/5), the Bowers & Wilkins DB2D (larger subwoofer, ranked higher, rated 3.9/5) and the Bowers & Wilkins DB1D (larger subwoofer, rated 4.1/5).
Pros: Single forward-firing 10-inch Aerofoil drive unit powered by 1,000 watts of Class D Hypex amplification in a rigid sealed enclosure. Features Bowers & Wilkins’ digital preamplifier with automated mobile room EQ and parametric filters, delivering clean, musical low-frequency control with balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA inputs.
Cons: A single 10-inch sealed driver produces less deep bass headroom below 30Hz than larger ported models or dual-opposed designs like the Bowers & Wilkins DB2D and Bowers & Wilkins DB1D. High price point for a single 10-inch subwoofer.
Full Bowers & Wilkins DB4S review and specifications →
| Released | 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 1000W RMS |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 111.2 dB |
| Cabinet Color | gloss black, satin white, rosenut |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Dimensions | 14.8”H x 14.2”W x 14.5”D (377.0 x 360.0 x 368.0 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 10” (254mm) Aerofoil driver |
| Enclosure | sealed |
| Inputs | XLR (2, balanced), RCA (2, unbalanced) |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 88.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 94.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 103.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 107.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 111.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 113.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 112.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 111.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 110.0 dB |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Warranty | 5 |
| Weight | 57.3 lbs (26.0 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
ELAC Varro RS700: $1,599.00 Estimated Amazon Crutchfield eBay
Same family: the ELAC Varro RS500 (smaller subwoofer, ranked lower, estimated 3.6/5).
Pros: 12-inch aluminum sandwich driver with high-excursion HEX surround in a rigid sealed enclosure, backed by 700W RMS BASH power. Combines clean musical speed with powerful low-end impact and app-based AutoEQ.
Cons: High power consumption and heavy 61-lb cabinet. Deep infrasonic output is limited by sealed acoustic suspension design compared to vented subwoofers.
Full ELAC Varro RS700 review and specifications →
| Released | 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 700W RMS / 1400W peak (BASH) |
| Country | Germany |
| Dimensions | 17.2”H x 16.4”W x 16.4”D (437 x 416 x 416 mm) |
| Drivers | 12” (305mm) aluminum-sandwich cone with HEX surround |
| Enclosure | sealed |
| Frequency Response | 17Hz - 150Hz (in-room, manufacturer specified) |
| Warranty | 3/1 |
| Weight | 61.3 lbs (27.8 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons