Short answer: the Q Acoustics Q SUB120. Both are rated 3.8/5 for sound quality (#79 and #76 of 212 subwoofers), and the Q Acoustics Q SUB120 costs $1,399 against $1,599 for the ELAC Varro RS700, with sound quality a draw, the lower price decides it.
Why pick the ELAC Varro RS700: 12-inch aluminum sandwich driver with high-excursion HEX surround in a rigid sealed enclosure, backed by 700W RMS BASH power. Watch for: High power consumption and heavy 61-lb cabinet.
What the Q Acoustics Q SUB120 does well: Sealed 12 inch subwoofer with a 300W continuous (600W peak) amplifier, up from the 220W of the Q Acoustics Q B12 it replaces. Watch for: No independent measurements yet, so its output can’t be compared with ranked subwoofers; the rating is estimated from the measured Q Acoustics Q B12, which reached 115.2dB in the 40 to 80Hz CEA-2010 bands but only 98.4dB at 20Hz.
Buy the Q Acoustics Q SUB120. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $200 less than the ELAC Varro RS700.
About the ratings: neither speaker has been measured yet, so both ratings are estimated from measured siblings and predecessors (likely ranges: ELAC Varro RS700 3.6 to 4.0; Q Acoustics Q SUB120 3.5 to 4.1). Treat this verdict as provisional.
Want more options? Browse the full Subwoofers rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| ELAC Varro RS700 | Q Acoustics Q SUB120 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,599.00 | $1,399.00 |
| Ranked | #76 of 212 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) Estimated | #79 of 212 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) Estimated |
| Country | Germany | United Kingdom |
| Warranty | 3/1 | - |
| Enclosure | sealed | sealed |
| Drivers | 12” (305mm) aluminum-sandwich cone with HEX surround | 12” (305mm) driver |
| Amplifier Power | 700W RMS / 1400W peak (BASH) | 300W RMS (600W peak) |
| Frequency Response | 17Hz - 150Hz (in-room, manufacturer specified) | 28-250Hz (-6dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 17.2”H x 16.4”W x 16.4”D (437 x 416 x 416 mm) | 17”H x 15.7”W x 15.7”D (432 x 400 x 400 mm) |
| Weight | 61.3 lbs (27.8 kg) | 49.6 lbs (22.5 kg) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 114dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 40-250Hz (adjustable low pass) |
| Cabinet Color | - | black, white |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How ELAC Varro RS700 compares with other leading options:
- Arendal 1723 Subwoofer 1S vs ELAC Varro RS700
- REL Acoustics T/9x vs ELAC Varro RS700
- Bowers & Wilkins DB4S vs ELAC Varro RS700
- ELAC Varro RS700 vs KEF Kube 15 MIE
- KEF Kube 15 MIE vs Q Acoustics Q SUB120
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
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
Q Acoustics Q SUB120: $1,399.00 Estimated Amazon Q Acoustics eBay
Older model: the Q Acoustics Q B12 (ranked higher, rated 3.8/5). See every Q Acoustics Subwoofers generation.
Pros: Sealed 12 inch subwoofer with a 300W continuous (600W peak) amplifier, up from the 220W of the Q Acoustics Q B12 it replaces. Onboard DSP adds automatic input detection, dual phase and delay controls, and a 40 to 250Hz low pass crossover for easier room integration. Q Acoustics rates it at 114dB maximum output and 28Hz at the -6dB point.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its output can’t be compared with ranked subwoofers; the rating is estimated from the measured Q Acoustics Q B12, which reached 115.2dB in the 40 to 80Hz CEA-2010 bands but only 98.4dB at 20Hz. As a sealed design it gives up some deep bass output to similarly priced ported subwoofers. At 22.5 kg it is heavy for its size.
Full Q Acoustics Q SUB120 review and specifications →
| Released | Mar 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 300W RMS (600W peak) |
| Cabinet Color | black, white |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Crossover Frequency | 40-250Hz (adjustable low pass) |
| Dimensions | 17”H x 15.7”W x 15.7”D (432 x 400 x 400 mm) |
| Drivers | 12” (305mm) driver |
| Enclosure | sealed |
| Frequency Response | 28-250Hz (-6dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 114dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 49.6 lbs (22.5 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