In this review, we will be comparing Epikore 3 and Evoke 30, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from DALI and Dynaudio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Epikore 3 and Dynaudio Evoke 20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI Epikore 3 | Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.38" Hybrid dome + planar | 1.1" |
|---|
| Woofer | 7" Wood fibre | 7" Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
|---|
| Frequency response | 42-34k Hz | 40-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-250 watts | up to 180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | — | 9.90kg / 21.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 18.50" x 9.84" x 16.54"
470 x 250 x 420 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Epikore 3 is a 3-way design whereas the Evoke 30 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
DALI Epikore 3Dynaudio 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 Epikore 3 |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.38-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 7-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
Epikore 3 features a 1.38" Hybrid dome + planar Tweeter and 1 x 7" Wood fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800 / 12500Hz. 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
Epikore 3 has a frequency range of 42-34k 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 Epikore 3'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
Epikore 3 and Evoke 30 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Epikore 3 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the Evoke 30's is at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Dynaudio Evoke 20 a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Epikore 3, 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.
Epikore 3 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas Evoke 30 has a max power handling value of 180 watts RMS, 70 watts less than the Epikore 3.
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
Epikore 3 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 Epikore 3's and Dynaudio Evoke 20's external dimensions. DALI Epikore 3 has external dimensions of 470 x 250 x 420 mm () whereas Dynaudio Evoke 20 has external dimensions of 380.0 x 215.0 x 317.0mm (15 x 8.5 x 12.1inch).
DALI Epikore 3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 35mm wider, 90mm taller and 103mm 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.
DALI Epikore 3 needs about 54% more floor or shelf area. DALI Epikore 3 is 103mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. DALI Epikore 3 is 90mm 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 DALI Epikore 3 is approximately 1050.0cm2 / 162.8inch2 and base area of the Dynaudio Evoke 20 is approximately 681.6cm2 / 105.6inch2. The Epikore 3 requires 54% 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: