In this review, we will be comparing S400 MK3 and Evoke 30, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Buchardt and Dynaudio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Buchardt S400 MK3 and Dynaudio Evoke 20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Buchardt S400 MK3 | 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" SB Acoustics Satori Egyptian Papyrus papercone | 7" Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
|---|
| Frequency response | 33-20k Hz | 40-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30+ watts | up to 180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.50kg / 18.7lbs | 9.90kg / 21.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15.4" x 7.8" x 11"
392 x 198 x 280 mm | 15" x 8.5" x 12.5"
380.0 x 215.0 x 317.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Buchardt S400 MK3 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 S400 MK3 |
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 S400 MK3 and Evoke 30 are 2-way speakers.
Buchardt S400 MK3Dynaudio 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 S400 MK3 |
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
|
S400 MK3 features a 1" Custom aluminum dome with neodymium motor waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 7.5" SB Acoustics Satori Egyptian Papyrus papercone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz. 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
S400 MK3 has a frequency range of 33-20k Hz whereas Evoke 30 has a frequency range of 40-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the S400 MK3 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to 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
S400 MK3 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 S400 MK3 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. S400 MK3 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Evoke 30's is rated at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Buchardt S400 MK3 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 S400 MK3 has a max power handling value of watts RMS, 180 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 S400 MK3's and Dynaudio Evoke 20's external dimensions. Buchardt S400 MK3 has external dimensions of 392 x 198 x 280 mm (15.4 x 7.8 x 11 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 S400 MK3 is 17mm narrower and 37mm less deeper than Dynaudio Evoke 20 but it is also 12mm 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 23% more floor or shelf area. Dynaudio Evoke 20 is 37mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Buchardt S400 MK3 is 12mm 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 S400 MK3 is approximately 554.4cm2 / 85.9inch2 and base area of the Dynaudio Evoke 20 is approximately 681.6cm2 / 105.6inch2. The S400 MK3 requires 19% 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 S400 MK3 weighs 8.50kg / 18.7lbs and the Dynaudio Evoke 20 weighs 9.90kg / 21.8lbs. This makes the Evoke 30 16% heavier than the S400 MK3.
Here is a comparison of how S400 MK3 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 |
87 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 |
33 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
554cm2
vs
681cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2300USD
vs
4798USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
23k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
380mm
vs
392mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Buchardt S400 MK3 |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
| Brand |
Buchardt |
Dynaudio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
30+ watts |
up to 180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
33-20k Hz |
40-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
7.5" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
SB Acoustics Satori Egyptian Papyrus papercone |
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 |
2200Hz |
3200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
392.0mm (15.4") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Width |
198.0mm (7.8") |
215.0mm (8.5") |
| Depth |
280.0mm (11") |
317.0mm (12.5") |
| Weight |
8.50kg (18.7lbs) |
9.90kg (21.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
15mm HMR.E2 moisture-proof fiberboard |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black, White, Walnut, Natural oak |
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) |
These sit in different price classes - Dynaudio Evoke 20 costs roughly 2.1x what Buchardt S400 MK3 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 | A | Buchardt S400 MK3 digs deeper - 33Hz against 40Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| 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. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Bass Reflex vs Ported. |
| Price | A | Buchardt S400 MK3 is cheaper - $2,300 against $4,798, about 52% less; arguably a different class. |
A Buchardt S400 MK3 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 40Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Dynaudio Evoke 20 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.