WHEN YOU hear the name ELAC, do you immediately think of subwoofers? Speakers yes, but probably not subwoofers. Did you know they currently sell 9 different models? What I have in front of me is their top-of-the-line; the Varro Dual Reference Series 12" subwoofer, or DS1200 for short. That’s a big name for a small sub, calling it “reference series” adds some expectations too. Can it can live up to those?
IMPRESSIONS
The first thing you notice about the ELAC DS1200 is what you don’t notice, size. There really isn’t any, this thing is tiny. Measuring in at a mere 16.5"x19"x16.3" (HWD), it almost disappears in your room. Note that the 19" width is at its widest point, because the DS1200 is shaped like an isosceles trapezoid the front of the subwoofer is even slimmer at just 13.4”. Don’t let the size fool you though, the DS1200 weighs in at a stout 84 pounds. Pick it up and you feel the heft, it’s substantial for sure. The grills even get in on the act, the 7/8" thick MDF they’re made from is about as rigid and inflexible as your boss. Held in place by metal pins and rubber cups in the cabinet, the gentle taper at the front and back blends beautifully with the shape of the cabinet.
Despite the minuscule dimensions there’s a lot packed into this thing. There is not one, but two 12” drivers with their patent-pending HEX surround. That’s roughly equivalent in cone area to a single 18” driver. Naturally there’s an amplifier to motivate them, it’s so large that the plate takes up about 2/3rd’s of the back panel. There are even internal cabinet braces somehow shoehorned inside. Did I mention there’s also acoustic damping material in there? Did I neglect to bring up the fact that the cabinet walls are 1.5" thick? When you see this thing in person guaranteed you think “there’s no way ELAC stuffed all that in there”, but I can assure you they did. The proverbial knuckle
