In this review, we will be comparing SCM19 and Evoke 30, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ATC and Dynaudio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ATC SCM19 and Dynaudio Evoke 20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ATC SCM19 | Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
|---|
| Brand | ATC
United Kingdom · founded 1974 | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.98" | 1.1" |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.91" | 7" Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
|---|
| Frequency response | 54-22k Hz | 40-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 75 to 300 Watts watts | up to 180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 17.80kg / 39.2lbs | 9.90kg / 21.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 17.24" x 10.43" x 11.81"
438.0 x 265.0 x 300.0mm | 15" x 8.5" x 12.5"
380.0 x 215.0 x 317.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the ATC SCM19 and Dynaudio Evoke 20 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
ATC SCM19 |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both SCM19 and Evoke 30 are 2-way speakers.
ATC SCM19Dynaudio Evoke 20
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
ATC SCM19 |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.98-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.91-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
SCM19 features a 0.98" Tweeter and 1 x 5.91" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.5kHz. On the other hand, the Evoke 30 features a 1.1" Cerotar with Hexis Tweeter and 1 x 7" Magnesium Silicate Polymer Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3200Hz.
Frequency Response
SCM19 has a frequency range of 54-22k Hz whereas Evoke 30 has a frequency range of 40-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Evoke 30 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the SCM19's min frequency of 54Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
SCM19 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Evoke 30 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. SCM19 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the Evoke 30's is rated at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Dynaudio Evoke 20 a more sensitive speaker compared to ATC SCM19, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
SCM19 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas Evoke 30 has a max power handling value of 180 watts RMS, 120 watts less than the SCM19.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
SCM19 features Binding post type posts and Evoke 30 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Dynaudio Evoke 20's Binding post terminals
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 ATC SCM19's and Dynaudio Evoke 20's external dimensions. ATC SCM19 has external dimensions of 438.0 x 265.0 x 300.0mm (17.24 x 10.43 x 11.81inch) whereas Dynaudio Evoke 20 has external dimensions of 380.0 x 215.0 x 317.0mm (15 x 8.5 x 12.1inch).
Dynaudio Evoke 20 is 50mm narrower and 58mm shorter than ATC SCM19 but it is also 17mm deeper.
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.
ATC SCM19 needs about 17% more floor or shelf area. Dynaudio Evoke 20 is 17mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. ATC SCM19 is 58mm 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 ATC SCM19 is approximately 795.0cm2 / 123.2inch2 and base area of the Dynaudio Evoke 20 is approximately 681.6cm2 / 105.6inch2. The SCM19 requires 17% more surface area than the Evoke 30 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The ATC SCM19 weighs 17.80kg / 39.2lbs and the Dynaudio Evoke 20 weighs 9.90kg / 21.8lbs. This makes the SCM19 80% heavier than the Evoke 30.
Here is a comparison of how SCM19 and Evoke 30's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Dynaudio Evoke 20?
Here are the items that come with the Evoke 30:
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
180 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Price per pair* |
3749USD
vs
4798USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
86 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
5.91 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
54 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
23k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
380mm
vs
438mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
681cm2
vs
795cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
ATC SCM19 |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
| Brand |
ATC |
Dynaudio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
75 to 300 Watts watts |
up to 180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
54-22k Hz |
40-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.91" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
0.98" |
1.1" |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2.5kHz |
3200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
438.0mm (17.2") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Width |
265.0mm (10.4") |
215.0mm (8.5") |
| Depth |
300.0mm (11.8") |
317.0mm (12.5") |
| Weight |
17.80kg (39.2lbs) |
9.90kg (21.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Sealed |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years (8 Years registered) |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years (8 Years registered) |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Dynaudio Evoke 20 digs deeper - 40Hz against 54Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (85dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | ATC SCM19 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | ATC SCM19 takes more power (300W vs 180W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Dynaudio Evoke 20 is easier to place; ATC SCM19 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Sealed vs Ported. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Price | A | ATC SCM19 is cheaper - $3,749 against $4,798, about 22% less. |
A ATC SCM19 B Dynaudio Evoke 20
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 speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
ATC SCM19 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 54Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper ATC SCM19 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate ATC SCM19 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Dynaudio Evoke 20 for a mid-size room and a large room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.