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.
Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 6" RDT III Woofer
- 28-60k Hz Frequency Response
- 85dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:up to 150watts
- Weight:15.20kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 398.0" x 8.8" x 12.8"( 398 x 225 x 325.6 mm )
Dynaudio Evoke 20 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.1" Tweeter
- 7" Magnesium Silicate Polymer Woofer
- 40-23k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:up to 180watts
- Weight:9.90kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 380.0" x 8.5" x 12.1"( 380.0 x 215.0 x 343.0mm )
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G and Dynaudio Evoke 20 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 Platinum 100 3G and Evoke 30 are 2-way speakers.
| 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.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G
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
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. 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.
Platinum 100 3G can handle a max power of 180 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Platinum 100 3G has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 30 watts less than the Evoke 30.
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
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
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 Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G's and Dynaudio Evoke 20's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G has external dimensions of 398 x 225 x 325.6 mm ( 15.6 x 8.8 x 12.8-inch) whereas Dynaudio Evoke 20 has external dimensions of 380.0 x 215.0 x 343.0mm ( 15 x 8.5 x 12.1inch) .
Dynaudio Evoke 20 is 10mm narrower and 18mm shorter than Monitor Audio Platinum 100 3G but it is also 18mm deeper.
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 737.5cm2 / 114.3inch2. The Platinum 100 3G requires 1% less surface area than the Evoke 30 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an 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: