In this review, we will be comparing RP-500C II and Evoke 25C, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Klipsch and Dynaudio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RP-500C II and Dynaudio Evoke 25C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch RP-500C II | Dynaudio Evoke 25C |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix Horn | 1.1" soft-dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone | 2 x 5.5" Esotec+ MSP |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60-25k Hz | 50-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 96 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 100 watts | up to 200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.20kg / 18lbs | 11.82kg / 26lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6-15/16" x 19-7/16" x 10-9/16"
177.0 x 494.0 x 269.0mm | 7-3/16" x 23-11/16" x 11-1/16"
183.0 x 602.0 x 281.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch RP-500C II and Dynaudio Evoke 25C 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* |
Klipsch RP-500C II |
Dynaudio Evoke 25C |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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 RP-500C II and Evoke 25C are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch RP-500C IIDynaudio Evoke 25C
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Klipsch RP-500C II |
Dynaudio Evoke 25C |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.5-inch
|
RP-500C II features a 1" titanium Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1630 Hz. On the other hand, the 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.
Frequency Response
RP-500C II has a frequency range of 60-25k Hz whereas Evoke 25C has a frequency range of 50-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the Evoke 25C can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the RP-500C II's min frequency of 60Hz.
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
RP-500C II is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Evoke 25C which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. RP-500C II sensitivity is rated at 96 dB and the Evoke 25C's is rated at 88 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-500C II 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.
Evoke 25C can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas RP-500C II has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Evoke 25C.
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
RP-500C II features Binding post type posts and Evoke 25C has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Dynaudio Evoke 25C's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both RP-500C II and Evoke 25C 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 Klipsch RP-500C II's and Dynaudio Evoke 25C's external dimensions. Klipsch RP-500C II has external dimensions of 177.0 x 494.0 x 269.0mm (6-15/16 x 19-7/16 x 10-9/16inch) whereas 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).
Dynaudio Evoke 25C is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 108mm wider, 6mm taller and 12mm deeper than Klipsch RP-500C II.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch RP-500C II and Dynaudio Evoke 25C in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch RP-500C II and Dynaudio Evoke 25C 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 Klipsch RP-500C II is approximately 1328.9cm2 / 206.0inch2 and base area of the Dynaudio Evoke 25C is approximately 1691.6cm2 / 262.2inch2. The RP-500C II requires 21% less surface area than the Evoke 25C 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 Klipsch RP-500C II weighs 8.20kg / 18lbs and the Dynaudio Evoke 25C weighs 11.82kg / 26lbs. This makes the Evoke 25C 44% heavier than the RP-500C II.
Here is a comparison of how RP-500C II and Evoke 25C'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 Klipsch RP-500C II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of RP-500C II:
- Center channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- Tilt rod (attached nut)
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of Dynaudio Evoke 25C?
Here are the items that come with the Evoke 25C:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Foam port plugs
- Tweeter protection cover (pre-installed)
- Instructions for Use
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Card
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
177mm
vs
183mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1328cm2
vs
1691cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
1499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-500C II |
Dynaudio Evoke 25C |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Dynaudio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker (Blonde) |
| Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
up to 200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
96 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
60-25k Hz |
50-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic cone |
Esotec+ MSP |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
soft-dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1630 Hz |
1200 and 2300Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
177.0mm (7") |
183.0mm (7.2") |
| Width |
494.0mm (19.4") |
602.0mm (23.7") |
| Depth |
269.0mm (10.6") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
8.20kg (18lbs) |
11.82kg (26lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
Oak (blonde) |
| 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 - Dynaudio Evoke 25C costs roughly 3x what Klipsch RP-500C II 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 25C digs deeper - 50Hz against 60Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch RP-500C II is more sensitive (96dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Klipsch RP-500C II is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | B | Dynaudio Evoke 25C takes more power (200W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Klipsch RP-500C II is easier to place; Dynaudio Evoke 25C is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Klipsch RP-500C II sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Klipsch RP-500C II is cheaper - $499 against $1,499, about 67% less; arguably a different class. |
A Klipsch RP-500C II B Dynaudio Evoke 25C
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 60Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Klipsch RP-500C II much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Klipsch RP-500C II the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Dynaudio Evoke 25C for a mid-size room and a large room.
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.