In this review, we will be comparing Kanta No.1 and Evoke 30, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Focal and Dynaudio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Kanta No.1 and Dynaudio Evoke 20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Kanta No.1 | Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Hard-Dome | 1.1" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Flax | 7" Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
|---|
| Frequency response | 46-40k Hz | 40-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-150 watts | up to 180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 13.05kg / 28.7lbs | 9.90kg / 21.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 24-28" x 9-1/4" x 15-7/16"
609.6 x 228.6 x 393.0mm | 15" x 8.5" x 12.1"
380.0 x 215.0 x 343.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Focal Kanta No.1 and Dynaudio Evoke 20 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* |
Focal Kanta No.1 |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
| 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.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Kanta No.1 and Evoke 30 are 2-way speakers.
Focal Kanta No.1Dynaudio Evoke 20
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Focal Kanta No.1 |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
Kanta No.1 features a 1.1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400 Hz. On the other hand, the Evoke 30 features a 1.1" Cerotar with Hexis Tweeter and 1 x 7" Magnesium Silicate Polymer Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3200Hz.
Frequency Response
Kanta No.1 has a frequency range of 46-40k Hz whereas Evoke 30 has a frequency range of 40-23k 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 Kanta No.1's min frequency of 46Hz.
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
Kanta No.1 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Evoke 30 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Kanta No.1 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Evoke 30's is rated at 86 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Focal Kanta No.1 a more sensitive speaker compared to Dynaudio Evoke 20, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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 Kanta No.1 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
Kanta No.1 features Binding post type posts and Evoke 30 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Focal Kanta No.1's Binding post terminals
Dynaudio Evoke 20's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Kanta No.1 and Evoke 30 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 Focal Kanta No.1's and Dynaudio Evoke 20's external dimensions. Focal Kanta No.1 has external dimensions of 609.6 x 228.6 x 393.0mm (24-28inch x 9-1/4inch x 15-7/16inch) whereas Dynaudio Evoke 20 has external dimensions of 380.0 x 215.0 x 343.0mm (15 x 8.5 x 12.1inch).
Focal Kanta No.1 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 13.6mm wider, 229.6mm taller and 50mm deeper than Dynaudio Evoke 20.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Focal Kanta No.1 and Dynaudio Evoke 20 in scale.
Comparison image of Focal Kanta No.1 and Dynaudio Evoke 20 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 Focal Kanta No.1 is approximately 898.4cm2 / 139.3inch2 and base area of the Dynaudio Evoke 20 is approximately 737.5cm2 / 114.3inch2. The Kanta No.1 requires 22% more surface area than the Evoke 30 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Focal Kanta No.1 weighs 13.05kg / 28.7lbs and the Dynaudio Evoke 20 weighs 9.90kg / 21.8lbs. This makes the Kanta No.1 32% heavier than the Evoke 30.
Here is a comparison of how Kanta No.1 and Evoke 30's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Focal Kanta No.1?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Kanta No.1:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille
- Port plug
- 4 Slicone pads
- User Manual
What's in the Box of Dynaudio Evoke 20?
Here are the items that come with the Evoke 30:
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 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
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
380mm
vs
609mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
737cm2
vs
898cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
4798USD
vs
7998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal Kanta No.1 |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
| Brand |
Focal |
Dynaudio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
25-150 watts |
up to 180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.9 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
46-40k Hz |
40-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
Flax |
Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1.1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2400 Hz |
3200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
609.6mm (24") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Width |
228.6mm (9") |
215.0mm (8.5") |
| Depth |
393.0mm (15.5") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Weight |
13.05kg (28.7lbs) |
9.90kg (21.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Multi-ply/Polymer/Veneer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
High-Gloss Carrara White, High-Gloss Black/Deep Black, Matte Walnut/Dark Grey,Matte Walnut/Ivory |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years (8 Years registered) |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years (8 Years registered) |
These sit in different price classes - Focal Kanta No.1 costs roughly 1.7x what Dynaudio Evoke 20 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 |
B |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 digs deeper - 40Hz against 46Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
A |
Focal Kanta No.1 is more sensitive (88dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match |
A |
Focal Kanta No.1 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (150W vs 180W). |
| Size |
depends |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 is easier to place; Focal Kanta No.1 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price |
B |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 is cheaper - $4,798 against $7,998, about 40% less; arguably a different class. |
A Focal Kanta No.1
B Dynaudio Evoke 20
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
Focal Kanta No.1 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 40% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Dynaudio Evoke 20 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Focal Kanta No.1 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 46Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Focal Kanta No.1 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Dynaudio Evoke 20 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.