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.
| Key Specs | Dynaudio Evoke 50 | Polk R700 |
|---|
| Brand | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" | 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
|---|
| Midrange | 5.5" | 6.5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 7" Magnesium Silicate Polymer | 2 x 8" Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 35-23k Hz | 38-38k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 260 watts | 50-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 26.90kg / 59.2lbs | 35.90kg / 79lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 45-3/4" x 12" x 14-5/8"
1162.0 x 305.0 x 373.0mm | 45" x 12.6" x 16.9"
1143.8 x 320.7 x 428.3mm |
|---|
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:
| Listening Environment* |
Dynaudio Evoke 50 |
Polk R700 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Average |
(* 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 50 and R700 are 3-way speakers.
Dynaudio Evoke 50Polk R700
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 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.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
R700 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas Evoke 50 has a max power handling value of 260 watts RMS, 40 watts less than the R700.
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
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
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 50's and Polk R700's external dimensions. Dynaudio Evoke 50 has external dimensions of 1162.0 x 305.0 x 373.0mm (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 15.7mm narrower and 55.3mm less deeper than Polk R700 but it is also 18.2mm 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 1137.7cm2 / 176.3inch2 and base area of the Polk R700 is approximately 1373.6cm2 / 212.9inch2. The Evoke 50 requires 17% 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 loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Outrigger feet
- 4 Spikes
- 4 Locking nuts
- 8 Washers
- 8 Screws
- Foam port plug
- Hex-key
- Tweeter protection cover (pre-installed)
- Instructions for Use
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty 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 |
1137cm2
vs
1373cm2
|
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
1162mm
|
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 |
1162.0mm (45.7") |
1143.8mm (45") |
| Width |
305.0mm (12") |
320.7mm (12.6") |
| Depth |
373.0mm (14.7") |
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 |
These sit in different price classes - Dynaudio Evoke 50 costs roughly 2.3x what Polk R700 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 50 digs deeper - 35Hz against 38Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Polk R700 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (260W vs 300W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | B | Polk R700: bi-amping. Polk R700 sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Polk R700 is cheaper - $2,198 against $5,000, about 56% less; arguably a different class. |
A Dynaudio Evoke 50 B Polk R700
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 R700 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 your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Polk R700 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $2,802 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.