In this review, we will be comparing Platinum 100 3G and Evoke 30, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Monitor Audio and Dynaudio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G and Dynaudio Evoke 20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G | Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
|---|
| Brand | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1.1" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6" RDT III | 7" Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
|---|
| Frequency response | 28-60k Hz | 40-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 150 watts | up to 180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 15.20kg / 33.4lbs | 9.90kg / 21.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15.6" x 8.8" x 12.8"
398.0 x 225.0 x 325.0mm | 15" x 8.5" x 12.5"
380.0 x 215.0 x 317.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G 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* |
Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G |
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.
Drivers
Both Platinum 100 3G and Evoke 30 are 2-way speakers.
Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3GDynaudio 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 |
Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
Platinum 100 3G features a 1" MPD III Tweeter and 1 x 6" RDT III Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2850 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
Platinum 100 3G has a frequency range of 28-60k Hz whereas Evoke 30 has a frequency range of 40-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the Platinum 100 3G can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Evoke 30's min frequency of 40Hz.
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
Platinum 100 3G is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Evoke 30 which has a nominal impedance of 6 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 Platinum 100 3G can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Platinum 100 3G sensitivity is rated at 85dB and the Evoke 30's is rated at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Dynaudio Evoke 20 a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G, 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 Platinum 100 3G 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.
Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Platinum 100 3G 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.
Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Dynaudio Evoke 20's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Platinum 100 3G 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.
Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G 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 Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G's and Dynaudio Evoke 20's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G has external dimensions of 398.0 x 225.0 x 325.0mm (15.6 x 8.8 x 12.8-inch) whereas Dynaudio Evoke 20 has external dimensions of 380.0 x 215.0 x 317.0mm (15 x 8.5 x 12.1inch).
Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 10mm wider, 18mm taller and 8mm deeper than Dynaudio Evoke 20.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G and Dynaudio Evoke 20 in scale.
Comparison image of Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G 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 Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G is approximately 731.3cm2 / 113.4inch2 and base area of the Dynaudio Evoke 20 is approximately 681.6cm2 / 105.6inch2. The Platinum 100 3G requires 7% more surface area than the Evoke 30 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G and Dynaudio Evoke 20 on a Media Console
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 Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G weighs 15.20kg / 33.4lbs and the Dynaudio Evoke 20 weighs 9.90kg / 21.8lbs. This makes the Platinum 100 3G 54% heavier than the Evoke 30.
Here is a comparison of how Platinum 100 3G and Evoke 30's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G
What's in the Box of Dynaudio Evoke 20?
Here are the items that come with the Evoke 30:
 Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
60k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Max Input Power |
180 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
86 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
380mm
vs
398mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
681cm2
vs
731cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
4798USD
vs
6900USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
Dynaudio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 150 watts |
up to 180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
28-60k Hz |
40-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
RDT III |
Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.1" |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2850 Hz |
3200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
398.0mm (15.7") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Width |
225.0mm (8.9") |
215.0mm (8.5") |
| Depth |
325.0mm (12.8") |
317.0mm (12.5") |
| Weight |
15.20kg (33.4lbs) |
9.90kg (21.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Piano Black, Piano Ebony, Satin White |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years (8 Years registered) |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years (8 Years registered) |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G digs deeper - 28Hz against 40Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (85dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Dynaudio Evoke 20 is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (150W vs 180W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | A | Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Dynaudio Evoke 20 is cheaper - $4,798 against $6,900, about 30% less. |
A Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G B Dynaudio Evoke 20
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?
Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 44% 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 Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 40Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Dynaudio Evoke 20 much easier to justify. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Dynaudio Evoke 20 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.