In this review, we will be comparing Evoke 30 and 705 S2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Dynaudio and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Dynaudio Evoke 10 and B&W 705 S2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Dynaudio Evoke 10 | B&W 705 S2 |
|---|
| Brand | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" | 1" Solid Body Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.5" Magnesium Silicate Polymer | 6.5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 47-23k Hz | 50-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 84 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 160 watts | 30-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.70kg / 14.7lbs | 9.32kg / 20.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.4" x 7.1" x 10.5"
315.0 x 180.0 x 266.0mm | 16" x 7.8" x 11.9"
407.0 x 200.0 x 301.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Dynaudio Evoke 10 and B&W 705 S2 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* |
Dynaudio Evoke 10 |
B&W 705 S2 |
| 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 Evoke 30 and 705 S2 are 2-way speakers.
Dynaudio Evoke 10B&W 705 S2
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Dynaudio Evoke 10 |
B&W 705 S2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Evoke 30 features a 1.1" Cerotar with Hexis Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" Magnesium Silicate Polymer Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1400Hz. On the other hand, the 705 S2 features a 1" Solid Body Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer.
Frequency Response
Evoke 30 has a frequency range of 47-23k Hz whereas 705 S2 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the Evoke 30 can go slightly deeper then the 705 S2's min frequency of 50Hz.
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
Evoke 30 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the 705 S2 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Evoke 30 sensitivity is rated at 84 dB and the 705 S2's is rated at 88 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the B&W 705 S2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Dynaudio Evoke 10, 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 160 watts RMS, whereas 705 S2 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 40 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
705 S2 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 10's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Evoke 30 and 705 S2 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 Dynaudio Evoke 10's and B&W 705 S2's external dimensions. Dynaudio Evoke 10 has external dimensions of 315.0 x 180.0 x 266.0mm (12.4 x 7.1 x 10.5inch) whereas B&W 705 S2 has external dimensions of 407.0 x 200.0 x 301.0mm (16-inch x 7.8-inch x 11.9-inch).
B&W 705 S2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 20mm wider, 92mm taller and 35mm deeper than Dynaudio Evoke 10.
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 Dynaudio Evoke 10 is approximately 478.8cm2 / 74.2inch2 and base area of the B&W 705 S2 is approximately 602.0cm2 / 93.3inch2. The Evoke 30 requires 20% less surface area than the 705 S2 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 Dynaudio Evoke 10 weighs 6.70kg / 14.7lbs and the B&W 705 S2 weighs 9.32kg / 20.5lbs. This makes the 705 S2 39% heavier than the Evoke 30.
Here is a comparison of how Evoke 30 and 705 S2'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 10?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Evoke 30:
What's in the Box of B&W 705 S2?
Here are the items that come with the 705 S2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Two-piece foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Jumper-straps
- Manual
- Bowers & Wilkins brochure
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
160 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
47 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
315mm
vs
407mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
478cm2
vs
602cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 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 |
 Price per pair* |
3299USD
vs
3398USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Dynaudio Evoke 10 |
Bowers & Wilkins 705 S2 |
| Brand |
Dynaudio |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 160 watts |
30-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
84 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.1 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
47-23k Hz |
50-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Solid Body Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1400Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
315.0mm (12.4") |
407.0mm (16") |
| Width |
180.0mm (7.1") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
266.0mm (10.5") |
301.0mm (11.9") |
| Weight |
6.70kg (14.7lbs) |
9.32kg (20.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Rosewood, Gloss Black, Satin White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years (8 Years registered) |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years (8 Years registered) |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Dynaudio Evoke 10 digs deeper - 47Hz against 50Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | B&W 705 S2 is more sensitive (88dB vs 84dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | B&W 705 S2 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | Dynaudio Evoke 10 takes more power (160W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Dynaudio Evoke 10 is easier to place; B&W 705 S2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | B&W 705 S2: bi-amping. B&W 705 S2 sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($3,398 vs $3,299 a pair). |
A Dynaudio Evoke 10 B B&W 705 S2
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?
B&W 705 S2 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. In a large or open-plan room, B&W 705 S2 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Dynaudio Evoke 10 is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, B&W 705 S2 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.