In this review, we will be comparing Evoke 30 and 704 S2, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Dynaudio and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Dynaudio Evoke 30 and B&W 704 S2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Dynaudio Evoke 30 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.1" Tweeter
- 2 x 5.5" Magnesium Silicate Polymer Woofer
- 40-23k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:up to 200watts
- Weight:15.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 928.0" x 10-5/8" x 13-1/2"( 928.0 x 180.0 x 343.0mm )
B&W 704 S2 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 5" Midrange
- 2 x 5" Aerofoil Woofer
- 5" Midrange
- 48-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-150watts
- Weight:18.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 959.0" x 6.5" x 10.9"( 959.0 x 165.0 x 277.0mm )
What size room are the Dynaudio Evoke 30 and B&W 704 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 30 |
B&W 704 S2 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Dynaudio Evoke 30 and B&W 704 S2 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Evoke 30 is a 2-way design whereas the 704 S2 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.
| Driver |
Dynaudio Evoke 30 |
B&W 704 S2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.5-inch
|
2 x 5-inch
|
Evoke 30 features a 1.1" Tweeter and 2 x 5.5" Magnesium Silicate Polymer Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1200Hz and 2300Hz. On the other hand, the 704 S2 features a 1" Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 5" Aerofoil Woofer .
Frequency Response
Evoke 30 has a frequency range of 40-23k Hz whereas 704 S2 has a frequency range of 48-28k 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 704 S2's min frequency of 48Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Evoke 30 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the 704 S2 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Evoke 30 can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 88 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Evoke 30 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 704 S2 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Evoke 30.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
704 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 30's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Evoke 30 and 704 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
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 30's and B&W 704 S2's external dimensions. Dynaudio Evoke 30 has external dimensions of 928.0 x 180.0 x 343.0mm ( 36-1/2 x 10-5/8 x 13-1/2inch) whereas B&W 704 S2 has external dimensions of 959.0 x 165.0 x 277.0mm ( 37.8-inch x 6.5-inch x 10.9-inch) .
B&W 704 S2 is 15mm narrower and 66mm less deeper than Dynaudio Evoke 30 but it is also 31mm taller.
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 30 is approximately 617.4cm2 / 95.7inch2 and base area of the B&W 704 S2 is approximately 457.1cm2 / 70.9inch2. The Evoke 30 requires 35% more surface area than the 704 S2 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.