In this review, we will be comparing SCM20PSL and Evoke 30, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ATC and Dynaudio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ATC SCM20PSL and Dynaudio Evoke 20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ATC SCM20PSL | Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
|---|
| Brand | ATC
United Kingdom · founded 1974 | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1.1" |
|---|
| Woofer | — | 7" Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-25k Hz | 40-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 75W-300W watts | up to 180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | — | 9.90kg / 21.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | — | 15" x 8.5" x 12.5"
380.0 x 215.0 x 317.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the ATC SCM20PSL 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 SCM20PSL |
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 SCM20PSL and Evoke 30 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
ATC SCM20PSL |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x -inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
SCM20PSL features a " Tweeter and 1 x " Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.2kHz. 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
SCM20PSL has a frequency range of 55-25k 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 SCM20PSL's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
SCM20PSL 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. SCM20PSL 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 SCM20PSL, 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.
SCM20PSL 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 SCM20PSL.
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
SCM20PSL 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 SCM20PSL's and Dynaudio Evoke 20's external dimensions. ATC SCM20PSL has external dimensions of () 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 clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 215mm wider, 380mm taller and 317mm deeper than ATC SCM20PSL.
What's in the Box of Dynaudio Evoke 20?
Here are the items that come with the Evoke 30: