In this review, we will be comparing Epicon 2 and Evoke 30, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from DALI and Dynaudio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Epicon 2 and Dynaudio Evoke 20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI Epicon 2 | Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.14" Soft-Dome | 1.1" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Wood fibre | 7" Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
|---|
| Frequency response | 47-30k Hz | 40-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-200 watts | up to 180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | — | 9.90kg / 21.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15.20" x 8.43" x 14.41"
386 x 214 x 366 mm | 15" x 8.5" x 12.5"
380.0 x 215.0 x 317.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Epicon 2 and Evoke 30 are 2-way speakers.
DALI Epicon 2Dynaudio 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 |
DALI Epicon 2 |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.14-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
Epicon 2 features a 1.14" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Wood fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3100Hz. 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
Epicon 2 has a frequency range of 47-30k 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 Epicon 2's min frequency of 47Hz.
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
Epicon 2 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 Epicon 2 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Epicon 2 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Evoke 30's is rated at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the DALI Epicon 2 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.
Epicon 2 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Evoke 30 has a max power handling value of 180 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Epicon 2.
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
Epicon 2 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
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 DALI Epicon 2's and Dynaudio Evoke 20's external dimensions. DALI Epicon 2 has external dimensions of 386 x 214 x 366 mm () 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 6mm shorter and 49mm less deeper than DALI Epicon 2 but it is also 1mm wider.
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.
DALI Epicon 2 needs about 15% more floor or shelf area. DALI Epicon 2 is 49mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall.
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 DALI Epicon 2 is approximately 783.2cm2 / 121.4inch2 and base area of the Dynaudio Evoke 20 is approximately 681.6cm2 / 105.6inch2. The Epicon 2 requires 15% more surface area than the Evoke 30 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Dynaudio Evoke 20?
Here are the items that come with the Evoke 30: