Short answer: the REL Acoustics T/9x. It ranks #47 of 212 subwoofers by sound quality, rated 3.9/5, at $1,549; the ELAC Varro RS700 ranks #76, rated 3.8/5, and costs $1,599, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the REL Acoustics T/9x does well: Flagship of the Serie T/x line pairing a front-firing 10-inch FibreAlloy driver with a down-firing 10-inch passive radiator powered by a 300W Class A/B amplifier. Watch for: Passive radiator configuration requires careful boundary positioning away from corners to avoid room mode excitation.
The case for 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. The tradeoff: High power consumption and heavy 61-lb cabinet.
Buy the REL Acoustics T/9x. It is rated higher for sound quality than the ELAC Varro RS700 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
About the ratings: neither speaker has been measured yet, so both ratings are estimated from measured siblings and predecessors (likely ranges: REL Acoustics T/9x 3.7 to 4.1; ELAC Varro RS700 3.6 to 4.0). Treat this verdict as provisional.
Still deciding? The full Subwoofers rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| REL Acoustics T/9x | ELAC Varro RS700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,549.00 | $1,599.00 |
| Ranked | #47 of 212 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) Estimated | #76 of 212 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) Estimated |
| Country | United Kingdom | Germany |
| Warranty | 3 | 3/1 |
| Enclosure | passive radiator | sealed |
| Drivers | 10” (254mm) active FibreAlloy driver, 10” (254mm) down-firing passive radiator | 12” (305mm) aluminum-sandwich cone with HEX surround |
| Amplifier Power | 300W RMS (Class A/B) | 700W RMS / 1400W peak (BASH) |
| Frequency Response | 27Hz at -6dB (manufacturer specified) | 17Hz - 150Hz (in-room, manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 13.4”H x 15.2”W x 15.5”D (340 x 387 x 393 mm) | 17.2”H x 16.4”W x 16.4”D (437 x 416 x 416 mm) |
| Weight | 45.4 lbs (20.6 kg) | 61.3 lbs (27.8 kg) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for REL Acoustics T/9x:
- Rythmik E15 vs REL Acoustics T/9x
- Arendal 1723 Subwoofer 1S vs REL Acoustics T/9x
- REL Acoustics T/9x vs KEF Kube 15 MIE
- ELAC Varro RS700 vs KEF Kube 15 MIE
- Arendal 1723 Subwoofer 1S vs ELAC Varro RS700
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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
REL Acoustics T/9x: $1,549.00 Estimated Amazon eBay
Same family: the REL Acoustics T/5x (smaller subwoofer, ranked lower, estimated 3.5/5) and the REL Acoustics T/7x (smaller subwoofer, ranked lower, estimated 3.6/5). See every REL T Series generation.
Pros: Flagship of the Serie T/x line pairing a front-firing 10-inch FibreAlloy driver with a down-firing 10-inch passive radiator powered by a 300W Class A/B amplifier. Extends reach down to 27Hz at -6dB with fast musical transient speed.
Cons: Passive radiator configuration requires careful boundary positioning away from corners to avoid room mode excitation. Commands a premium price without onboard DSP or smartphone app calibration.
Full REL Acoustics T/9x review and specifications →
| Released | Apr 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 300W RMS (Class A/B) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Dimensions | 13.4”H x 15.2”W x 15.5”D (340 x 387 x 393 mm) |
| Drivers | 10” (254mm) active FibreAlloy driver, 10” (254mm) down-firing passive radiator |
| Enclosure | passive radiator |
| Frequency Response | 27Hz at -6dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Warranty | 3 |
| Weight | 45.4 lbs (20.6 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
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