In this review, we will be comparing Evoke 25C and R400, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Dynaudio and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Dynaudio Evoke 25C and Polk R400 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Dynaudio Evoke 25C | Polk R400 |
|---|
| Brand | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" soft-dome | 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.5" Esotec+ MSP | 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-23k Hz | 48-39K Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 200 watts | 20-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 11.82kg / 26lbs | 14.91kg / 32.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7-3/16" x 23-11/16" x 11-1/16"
183.0 x 602.0 x 281.0mm | 7-13/16" x 24-5/16" x 14-5/8"
199.0 x 618.0 x 372.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Dynaudio Evoke 25C and Polk R400 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 25C |
Polk R400 |
| 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 25C and R400 are 2-way speakers.
Dynaudio Evoke 25CPolk R400
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 25C |
Polk R400 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Evoke 25C features a 1.1" Cerotar coated silk soft-dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.5" Esotec+ MSP Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1200 and 2300Hz. On the other hand, the R400 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Evoke 25C has a frequency range of 50-23k Hz whereas R400 has a frequency range of 48-39K Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the R400 can go slightly deeper then the Evoke 25C'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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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 25C is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the R400 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Evoke 25C sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the R400's is rated at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Polk R400 a more sensitive speaker compared to Dynaudio Evoke 25C, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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 200 watts RMS, though Evoke 25C is rated up to 200 watts and R400 20-200 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
Evoke 25C features Binding post type posts and R400 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Dynaudio Evoke 25C's Binding post terminals
Polk R400's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Evoke 25C and R400 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.
Polk R400 dual 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 25C's and Polk R400's external dimensions. Dynaudio Evoke 25C has external dimensions of 183.0 x 602.0 x 281.0mm (7-3/16 x 23-11/16 x 11-1/16inch) whereas Polk R400 has external dimensions of 199.0 x 618.0 x 372.0mm (7-13/16 x 24-5/16 x 14-5/8inch).
Polk R400 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 16mm wider, 16mm taller and 91mm deeper than Dynaudio Evoke 25C.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Dynaudio Evoke 25C and Polk R400 in scale.
Comparison image of Dynaudio Evoke 25C and Polk R400 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 25C is approximately 1691.6cm2 / 262.2inch2 and base area of the Polk R400 is approximately 2299.0cm2 / 356.3inch2. The Evoke 25C requires 26% less surface area than the R400 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 25C weighs 11.82kg / 26lbs and the Polk R400 weighs 14.91kg / 32.8lbs. This makes the R400 26% heavier than the Evoke 25C.
Here is a comparison of how Evoke 25C and R400's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Dynaudio Evoke 25C?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Evoke 25C:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Foam port plugs
- Tweeter protection cover (pre-installed)
- Instructions for Use
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Card
What's in the Box of Polk R400?
Here are the items that come with the R400:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- Owners Manual
- Online Registration
 Height |
183mm
vs
199mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1691cm2
vs
2299cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 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 |
|
Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
39k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
649USD
vs
1499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Dynaudio Evoke 25C |
Polk Audio Reserve R400 |
| Brand |
Dynaudio |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker (Blonde) |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 200 watts |
20-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4.1 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-23k Hz |
48-39K Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Esotec+ MSP |
Polypropylene Turbine Cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
soft-dome |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1200 and 2300Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
183.0mm (7.2") |
199.0mm (7.8") |
| Width |
602.0mm (23.7") |
618.0mm (24.3") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
372.0mm (14.6") |
| Weight |
11.82kg (26lbs) |
14.91kg (32.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Oak (blonde) |
Black, Walnut |
| 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 25C costs roughly 2.3x what Polk R400 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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (50Hz vs 48Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Polk R400 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (200W vs 200W). |
| Size | depends | Dynaudio Evoke 25C is easier to place; Polk R400 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Polk R400 sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Polk R400 is cheaper - $649 against $1,499, about 57% less; arguably a different class. |
A Dynaudio Evoke 25C B Polk R400
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?
Polk R400 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, Polk R400 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Dynaudio Evoke 25C is the easier speaker to get right. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $850 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.