In this review, we will be comparing E50-S and Evoke 30, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Buchardt and Dynaudio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Buchardt E50-S and Dynaudio Evoke 20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Buchardt E50-S | Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
|---|
| Brand | Buchardt
Denmark · founded 2014 | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" waveguide | 1.1" |
|---|
| Woofer | 7.5" Custom-made Satori TeXtreme | 7" Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
|---|
| Frequency response | 38-22k Hz | 40-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15 - 100 watts | up to 180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.00kg / 19.8lbs | 9.90kg / 21.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15.5" x 7.9" x 11.1"
395 x 200 x 284 mm | 15" x 8.5" x 12.5"
380.0 x 215.0 x 317.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Buchardt E50-S 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* |
Buchardt E50-S |
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 E50-S and Evoke 30 are 2-way speakers.
Buchardt E50-SDynaudio 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 |
Buchardt E50-S |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 7.5-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
E50-S features a 1" Custom Scanspeak textile dome waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 7.5" Custom-made Satori TeXtreme Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz. 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
E50-S has a frequency range of 38-22k Hz whereas Evoke 30 has a frequency range of 40-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the E50-S can go slightly deeper then the Evoke 30's min frequency of 40Hz.
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
E50-S is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Evoke 30 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the E50-S can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. E50-S sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Evoke 30's is rated at 86 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Buchardt E50-S 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 E50-S has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 80 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.
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 Buchardt E50-S's and Dynaudio Evoke 20's external dimensions. Buchardt E50-S has external dimensions of 395 x 200 x 284 mm (15.5 x 7.9 x 11.1 inch) whereas Dynaudio Evoke 20 has external dimensions of 380.0 x 215.0 x 317.0mm (15 x 8.5 x 12.1inch).
Buchardt E50-S is 15mm narrower and 33mm less deeper than Dynaudio Evoke 20 but it is also 15mm taller.
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.
Dynaudio Evoke 20 needs about 20% more floor or shelf area. Dynaudio Evoke 20 is 33mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Buchardt E50-S is 15mm 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 Buchardt E50-S is approximately 568.0cm2 / 88.0inch2 and base area of the Dynaudio Evoke 20 is approximately 681.6cm2 / 105.6inch2. The E50-S requires 17% less surface area than the Evoke 30 which gives it a small advantage 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 Buchardt E50-S weighs 9.00kg / 19.8lbs and the Dynaudio Evoke 20 weighs 9.90kg / 21.8lbs. This makes the Evoke 30 10% heavier than the E50-S.
Here is a comparison of how E50-S 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 |
 Woofer Size |
7.5 inches
vs
7 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Passive Radiator |
two 6-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Base Surface Area |
568cm2
vs
681cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
4300USD
vs
4798USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
180 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
23k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
380mm
vs
395mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Buchardt E50-S |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
| Brand |
Buchardt |
Dynaudio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
15 - 100 watts |
up to 180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-22k Hz |
40-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
7.5" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
Custom-made Satori TeXtreme |
Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.1" |
| Tweeter Type |
waveguide |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
3200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
395.0mm (15.6") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Width |
200.0mm (7.9") |
215.0mm (8.5") |
| Depth |
284.0mm (11.2") |
317.0mm (12.5") |
| Weight |
9.00kg (19.8lbs) |
9.90kg (21.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
19 & 28mm (front baffle) solid european oak |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Rounded Natural Oak, Rounded Smoked Oak, Rounded Charcoal |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 years |
5 Years (8 Years registered) |
| Labor Warranty |
10 years |
5 Years (8 Years registered) |
A generation apart: Buchardt E50-S is the newer design, against a 2019 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (38Hz vs 40Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | A | Buchardt E50-S is more sensitive (88dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Dynaudio Evoke 20 is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | Dynaudio Evoke 20 takes more power (180W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Passive Radiator vs Ported. |
| Price | A | Buchardt E50-S is cheaper - $4,300 against $4,798, about 10% less. |
A Buchardt E50-S 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: Dynaudio Evoke 20 measures better, Buchardt E50-S costs about about 12% 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. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Buchardt E50-S 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.