In this review, we will be comparing Evoke 50 and R700, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Dynaudio and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Dynaudio Evoke 50 and Polk R700 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Dynaudio Evoke 50 and Polk R700 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Dynaudio Evoke 50 and Polk R700 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
Both Evoke 50 and R700 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Dynaudio Evoke 50 |
Polk R700 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.5-inch |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 7-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
Evoke 50 features a 1.1" Tweeter , a 5.5" Midrange and 2 x 7" Magnesium Silicate Polymer Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 430Hz and 3500Hz. On the other hand, the R700 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 350Hz and 2700Hz.
Frequency Response
Evoke 50 has a frequency range of 35-23k Hz whereas R700 has a frequency range of 38-38k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the Evoke 50 can go slightly deeper then the R700's min frequency of 38Hz.
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 50 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the R700 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 50 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Evoke 50 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the R700's is rated at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Polk R700 a more sensitive speaker compared to Dynaudio Evoke 50, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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 50 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Evoke 50 has a max power handling value of 260 watts RMS , 40 watts less than the R700.
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
R700 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Evoke 50 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Dynaudio Evoke 50's Binding post terminals
Polk R700's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Evoke 50 has a rear firing port whereas R700 has a bottom firing ports. Polk R700's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Dynaudio Evoke 50 with its rear-firing port.
Polk R700 Port
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 50's and Polk R700's external dimensions. Dynaudio Evoke 50 has external dimensions of 1166.0 x 215.0 x 375.0mm ( 45-7/8 x 12-1/16 x 14-3/4inch) whereas Polk R700 has external dimensions of 1143.8 x 320.7 x 428.3mm ( 45 x 12.6 x 16.9inch) .
Dynaudio Evoke 50 is 105.7mm narrower and 53.3mm less deeper than Polk R700 but it is also 22.2mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Dynaudio Evoke 50 and Polk R700 in scale.
Comparison image of Dynaudio Evoke 50 and Polk R700 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 50 is approximately 806.3cm2 / 125.0inch2 and base area of the Polk R700 is approximately 1373.6cm2 / 212.9inch2. The Evoke 50 requires 41% less surface area than the R700 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 50 weighs 26.90kg / 59.2lbs and the Polk R700 weighs 35.90kg / 79lbs. This makes the R700 33% heavier than the Evoke 50.
Here is a comparison of how Evoke 50 and R700's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Dynaudio Evoke 50?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Evoke 50:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Outrigger feet4 Spikes4 Locking nuts8 Washers8 ScrewsFoam port plugHex-keyTweeter protection cover (pre-installed)Instructions for UseImportant Safety InstructionsWarranty Card
What's in the Box of Polk R700?
Here are the items that come with the R700:
Floorstanding loudspeaker
4 Outrigger feet (pre-installed)
4 Rubber feet (pre-installed)
4 Spike feet (pre-installed)
Grille
Hex-key
Owner's Manual
Online Registration
 Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
806cm2 (215x375mm)
vs
1373cm2 (320x428mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
260 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
| Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
7 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
1143mm
vs
1166mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
2198USD
vs
5000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Dynaudio Evoke 50 |
Polk Audio Reserve R700 |
| Brand |
Dynaudio |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 260 watts |
50-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
35-23k Hz |
38-38k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.5" |
6.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
430Hz and 3500Hz |
350Hz and 2700Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1166.0mm (45.9") |
1143.8mm (45") |
| Width |
215.0mm (8.5") |
320.7mm (12.6") |
| Depth |
375.0mm (14.8") |
428.3mm (16.9") |
| Weight |
26.90kg (59.2lbs) |
35.90kg (79lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Oak (blonde) |
Black, Walnut, White |
| 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 |