In this review, we will be comparing Evoke 30 and Aria 906, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Dynaudio and Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Dynaudio Evoke 20 and Focal Aria 906 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Dynaudio Evoke 20 | Focal Aria 906 |
|---|
| Brand | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 | Focal
France · founded 1979 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" | 1" Inverted Hard Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 7" Magnesium Silicate Polymer | 6.5" Flax |
|---|
| Frequency response | 40-23k Hz | 55-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 89.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 180 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.90kg / 21.8lbs | 8.64kg / 19lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15" x 8.5" x 12.5"
380.0 x 215.0 x 317.0mm | 15-3/8" x 8-15/16" x 11-5/16"
391.0 x 228.0 x 288.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Dynaudio Evoke 20 and Focal Aria 906 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 20 |
Focal Aria 906 |
| 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 Aria 906 are 2-way speakers.
Dynaudio Evoke 20Focal Aria 906
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 20 |
Focal Aria 906 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 7-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Evoke 30 features a 1.1" Cerotar with Hexis Tweeter and 1 x 7" Magnesium Silicate Polymer Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3200Hz. On the other hand, the Aria 906 features a 1" TNF aluminum/magnesium Inverted Hard Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz.
Frequency Response
Evoke 30 has a frequency range of 40-23k Hz whereas Aria 906 has a frequency range of 55-28k 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 Aria 906's min frequency of 55Hz.
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 Aria 906 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Evoke 30 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Aria 906's is rated at 89.5 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Focal Aria 906 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 Aria 906 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 60 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
Evoke 30 features Binding post type posts and Aria 906 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Dynaudio Evoke 20's Binding post terminals
Focal Aria 906's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Evoke 30 and Aria 906 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 20's and Focal Aria 906's external dimensions. Dynaudio Evoke 20 has external dimensions of 380.0 x 215.0 x 317.0mm (15 x 8.5 x 12.1inch) whereas Focal Aria 906 has external dimensions of 391.0 x 228.0 x 288.0mm (15-3/8 x 8-15/16 x 11-5/16inch).
Dynaudio Evoke 20 is 13mm narrower and 11mm shorter than Focal Aria 906 but it is also 29mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Dynaudio Evoke 20 and Focal Aria 906 in scale.
Comparison image of Dynaudio Evoke 20 and Focal Aria 906 Size and External Dimensions
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 20 is approximately 681.6cm2 / 105.6inch2 and base area of the Focal Aria 906 is approximately 656.6cm2 / 101.8inch2. The Evoke 30 requires 4% more surface area than the Aria 906 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 20 weighs 9.90kg / 21.8lbs and the Focal Aria 906 weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs. This makes the Evoke 30 15% heavier than the Aria 906.
Here is a comparison of how Evoke 30 and Aria 906'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 are included inside the box of Evoke 30:
What's in the Box of Focal Aria 906?
Here are the items that come with the Aria 906:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Cloth grilles
- User manual
 Max Input Power |
180 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
380mm
vs
391mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
656cm2
vs
681cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2198USD
vs
4798USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
Focal Aria 906 |
| Brand |
Dynaudio |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 180 watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
89.5 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4.6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
40-23k Hz |
55-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
Flax |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Inverted Hard Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3200Hz |
2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
380.0mm (15") |
391.0mm (15.4") |
| Width |
215.0mm (8.5") |
228.0mm (9") |
| Depth |
317.0mm (12.5") |
288.0mm (11.3") |
| Weight |
9.90kg (21.8lbs) |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Glass/Leather |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut, Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years (8 Years registered) |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years (8 Years registered) |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Dynaudio Evoke 20 costs roughly 2.2x what Focal Aria 906 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 | Dynaudio Evoke 20 digs deeper - 40Hz against 55Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Focal Aria 906 is more sensitive (90dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Focal Aria 906 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | Dynaudio Evoke 20 takes more power (180W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | B | Focal Aria 906 is cheaper - $2,198 against $4,798, about 54% less; arguably a different class. |
A Dynaudio Evoke 20 B Focal Aria 906
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 55Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Focal Aria 906 much easier to justify. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Focal Aria 906 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.