In this review, we will be comparing 805 D4 and Evoke 30, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Dynaudio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 and Dynaudio Evoke 20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 | Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
|---|
| Brand | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Diamond dome | 1.1" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Continuum | 7" Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
|---|
| Frequency response | 42-28k Hz | 40-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-120 watts | up to 180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 15.55kg / 34.2lbs | 9.90kg / 21.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 17-5/16" x 9-7/16" x 14-11/16"
440.0 x 240.0 x 373.0mm | 15" x 8.5" x 12.5"
380.0 x 215.0 x 317.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 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* |
Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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 805 D4 and Evoke 30 are 2-way speakers.
Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4Dynaudio 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 |
Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
805 D4 features a 1" Diamond Diamond dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer. 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
805 D4 has a frequency range of 42-28k Hz whereas Evoke 30 has a frequency range of 40-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Evoke 30 can go slightly deeper then the 805 D4's min frequency of 42Hz.
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
805 D4 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. 805 D4 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Evoke 30's is rated at 86 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 a more sensitive speaker compared to Dynaudio Evoke 20, 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.
Evoke 30 can handle a max power of 180 watts RMS, whereas 805 D4 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 60 watts less than the Evoke 30.
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
805 D4 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Evoke 30 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Dynaudio Evoke 20's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 805 D4 and Evoke 30 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4's and Dynaudio Evoke 20's external dimensions. Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 has external dimensions of 440.0 x 240.0 x 373.0mm (17-5/16 x 9-7/16 x 14-11/16inch) whereas Dynaudio Evoke 20 has external dimensions of 380.0 x 215.0 x 317.0mm (15 x 8.5 x 12.1inch).
Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 25mm wider, 60mm taller and 56mm deeper than Dynaudio Evoke 20.
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.
Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 needs about 31% more floor or shelf area. Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 is 56mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 is 60mm 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 Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 is approximately 895.2cm2 / 138.8inch2 and base area of the Dynaudio Evoke 20 is approximately 681.6cm2 / 105.6inch2. The 805 D4 requires 31% 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 Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 weighs 15.55kg / 34.2lbs and the Dynaudio Evoke 20 weighs 9.90kg / 21.8lbs. This makes the 805 D4 57% heavier than the Evoke 30.
Here is a comparison of how 805 D4 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:
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Max Input Power |
180 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
380mm
vs
440mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
681cm2
vs
895cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
4798USD
vs
10000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Dynaudio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-120 watts |
up to 180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.6 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
42-28k Hz |
40-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
Continuum |
Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Diamond dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
3200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
440.0mm (17.3") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Width |
240.0mm (9.4") |
215.0mm (8.5") |
| Depth |
373.0mm (14.7") |
317.0mm (12.5") |
| Weight |
15.55kg (34.2lbs) |
9.90kg (21.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
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 |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years (8 Years registered) |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years (8 Years registered) |
These sit in different price classes - Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 costs roughly 2.1x what Dynaudio Evoke 20 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (42Hz vs 40Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | A | Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 is more sensitive (88dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | B | Dynaudio Evoke 20 takes more power (180W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Dynaudio Evoke 20 is easier to place; Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | A | Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Dynaudio Evoke 20 is cheaper - $4,798 against $10,000, about 52% less; arguably a different class. |
A Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 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?
The usual trade-off: Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 measures better, Dynaudio Evoke 20 costs about about 108% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. In a large or open-plan room, Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Dynaudio Evoke 20 is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.