In this review, we will be comparing Evoke 30 and R3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Dynaudio and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Dynaudio Evoke 20 and KEF R3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Dynaudio Evoke 20 | KEF R3 |
|---|
| Brand | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 7" Magnesium Silicate Polymer | 6.5" Hybrid aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 40-23k Hz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 180 watts | 15-180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.90kg / 21.8lbs | 13.55kg / 29.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15" x 8.5" x 12.5"
380.0 x 215.0 x 317.0mm | 16-5/8" x 7-13/16" x 13-1/4"
423.0 x 199.0 x 337.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Dynaudio Evoke 20 and KEF R3 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 |
KEF R3 |
| 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Evoke 30 is a 2-way design whereas the R3 is a 3-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.
Dynaudio Evoke 20KEF R3
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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 |
KEF R3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
|
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 R3 features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Hybrid aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
Evoke 30 has a frequency range of 40-23k Hz whereas R3 has a frequency range of 52-28k 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 R3's min frequency of 52Hz.
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 R3 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 R3's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the KEF R3 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 180 watts RMS, though Evoke 30 is rated up to 180 watts and R3 15-180 watts.
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
R3 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
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Evoke 30 and R3 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.
KEF R3 Port
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 KEF R3'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 KEF R3 has external dimensions of 423.0 x 199.0 x 337.0mm (16-5/8 x 7-13/16 x 13-1/4inch).
Dynaudio Evoke 20 is 43mm shorter and 20mm less deeper than KEF R3 but it is also 16mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Dynaudio Evoke 20 and KEF R3 in scale.
Comparison image of Dynaudio Evoke 20 and KEF R3 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 KEF R3 is approximately 670.6cm2 / 103.9inch2. The Evoke 30 requires 2% more surface area than the R3 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Dynaudio Evoke 20 and KEF R3 on a Media Console
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 KEF R3 weighs 13.55kg / 29.8lbs. This makes the R3 37% heavier than the Evoke 30.
Here is a comparison of how Evoke 30 and R3'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 KEF R3?
Here are the items that come with the R3:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User Manual
- Warranty Information
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
380mm
vs
423mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
87 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 |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Base Surface Area |
670cm2
vs
681cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2200USD
vs
4798USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
KEF R3 |
| Brand |
Dynaudio |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 180 watts |
15-180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
40-23k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
Hybrid aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
3200Hz |
400Hz and 2900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
380.0mm (15") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
| Width |
215.0mm (8.5") |
199.0mm (7.8") |
| Depth |
317.0mm (12.5") |
337.0mm (13.3") |
| Weight |
9.90kg (21.8lbs) |
13.55kg (29.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| 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 |
These sit in different price classes - Dynaudio Evoke 20 costs roughly 2.2x what KEF R3 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 52Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | KEF R3 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (180W vs 180W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | B | KEF R3: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | KEF R3 is cheaper - $2,200 against $4,798, about 54% less; arguably a different class. |
A Dynaudio Evoke 20 B KEF R3
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?
KEF R3 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 52Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper KEF R3 much easier to justify. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $2,598 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.