In this review, we will be comparing Evoke 30 and M126Be, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Dynaudio and Revel.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Dynaudio Evoke 20 and Revel M126Be first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Dynaudio Evoke 20 | Revel M126Be |
|---|
| Brand | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 | Revel
United States · founded 1996 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 7" Magnesium Silicate Polymer | 6.5" DCC Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 40-23k Hz | 54-44k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 180 watts | 50-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.90kg / 21.8lbs | 10.00kg / 22lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15" x 8.5" x 12.5"
380.0 x 215.0 x 317.0mm | 15-1/4" x 8-5/16" x 10-5/16"
388.0 x 212.0 x 262.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Dynaudio Evoke 20 and Revel M126Be 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 |
Revel M126Be |
| 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 M126Be are 2-way speakers.
Dynaudio Evoke 20Revel M126Be
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 |
Revel M126Be |
|
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 M126Be features a 1" beryllium Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" DCC Aluminum Woofer.
Frequency Response
Evoke 30 has a frequency range of 40-23k Hz whereas M126Be has a frequency range of 54-44k 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 M126Be's min frequency of 54Hz.
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 M126Be which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 86 dBdB.
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 M126Be has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 30 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 M126Be has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Dynaudio Evoke 20's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Evoke 30 and M126Be 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 Revel M126Be'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 Revel M126Be has external dimensions of 388.0 x 212.0 x 262.0mm (15-1/4 x 8-5/16 x 10-5/16inch).
Revel M126Be is 3mm narrower and 55mm less deeper than Dynaudio Evoke 20 but it is also 8mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Dynaudio Evoke 20 and Revel M126Be in scale.
Comparison image of Dynaudio Evoke 20 and Revel M126Be 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 Revel M126Be is approximately 555.4cm2 / 86.1inch2. The Evoke 30 requires 23% more surface area than the M126Be 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 Revel M126Be 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 Revel M126Be weighs 10.00kg / 22lbs. This makes the M126Be 1% heavier than the Evoke 30.
Here is a comparison of how Evoke 30 and M126Be'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 Revel M126Be?
Here are the items that come with the M126Be:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille
- Foam port plug
- Owners Manual
 Max Input Power |
180 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
54 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
380mm
vs
388mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
44k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
555cm2
vs
681cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
4400USD
vs
4798USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
Revel PerformaBe M126Be |
| Brand |
Dynaudio |
Revel |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 180 watts |
50-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
40-23k Hz |
54-44k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
DCC Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3200Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
380.0mm (15") |
388.0mm (15.3") |
| Width |
215.0mm (8.5") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
317.0mm (12.5") |
262.0mm (10.3") |
| Weight |
9.90kg (21.8lbs) |
10.00kg (22lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
Wood/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut,Black,White,Silver |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
22-26" |
| 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 |
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 20 digs deeper - 40Hz against 54Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Revel M126Be is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (180W vs 150W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($4,798 vs $4,400 a pair). |
A Dynaudio Evoke 20 B Revel M126Be
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 54Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead.
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.