In this review, we will be comparing Olympica I and Evoke 30, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Sonus faber and Dynaudio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus faber Olympica I and Dynaudio Evoke 20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sonus faber Olympica I | Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
|---|
| Brand | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Soft-Dome | 1.1" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Paper | 7" Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
|---|
| Frequency response | 57-40k Hz | 40-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-250 watts | up to 180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 11.00kg / 24.2lbs | 9.90kg / 21.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14-9/16" x 8-1/4" x 14-9/16"
370.0 x 210.0 x 370.0mm | 15" x 8.5" x 12.5"
380.0 x 215.0 x 317.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Sonus faber Olympica I 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* |
Sonus faber Olympica I |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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 Olympica I and Evoke 30 are 2-way speakers.
Sonus faber Olympica IDynaudio 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 |
Sonus faber Olympica I |
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
|
Olympica I features a 1.1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300 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
Olympica I has a frequency range of 57-40k 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 Olympica I's min frequency of 57Hz.
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
Olympica I 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 Olympica I can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Olympica I sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Evoke 30's is rated at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Sonus faber Olympica I 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.
Olympica I can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas Evoke 30 has a max power handling value of 180 watts RMS, 70 watts less than the Olympica I.
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
Olympica I 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.
Dynaudio Evoke 20's Binding post terminals
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 Sonus faber Olympica I's and Dynaudio Evoke 20's external dimensions. Sonus faber Olympica I has external dimensions of 370.0 x 210.0 x 370.0mm (14-9/16 x 8-1/4 x 14-9/16inch) whereas Dynaudio Evoke 20 has external dimensions of 380.0 x 215.0 x 317.0mm (15 x 8.5 x 12.1inch).
Sonus faber Olympica I is 5mm narrower and 10mm shorter than Dynaudio Evoke 20 but it is also 53mm deeper.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Sonus faber Olympica I needs about 14% more floor or shelf area. Sonus faber Olympica I is 53mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall.
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 Sonus faber Olympica I is approximately 777.0cm2 / 120.4inch2 and base area of the Dynaudio Evoke 20 is approximately 681.6cm2 / 105.6inch2. The Olympica I requires 14% 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 Sonus faber Olympica I weighs 11.00kg / 24.2lbs and the Dynaudio Evoke 20 weighs 9.90kg / 21.8lbs. This makes the Olympica I 11% heavier than the Evoke 30.
Here is a comparison of how Olympica I 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 Dynaudio Evoke 20?
Here are the items that come with the Evoke 30:
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
180 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
370mm
vs
380mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
57 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
681cm2
vs
777cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
4798USD
vs
6500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Sonus faber Olympica I |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
| Brand |
Sonus faber |
Dynaudio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
30-250 watts |
up to 180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
57-40k Hz |
40-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1.1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2300 Hz |
3200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
370.0mm (14.6") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Width |
210.0mm (8.3") |
215.0mm (8.5") |
| Depth |
370.0mm (14.6") |
317.0mm (12.5") |
| Weight |
11.00kg (24.2lbs) |
9.90kg (21.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years (8 Years registered) |
| Labor Warranty |
|
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 | B | Dynaudio Evoke 20 digs deeper - 40Hz against 57Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB 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 | A | Sonus faber Olympica I takes more power (250W vs 180W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | A | Sonus faber Olympica I: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Dynaudio Evoke 20 is cheaper - $4,798 against $6,500, about 26% less. |
A Sonus faber Olympica I 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?
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 57Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Sonus faber Olympica I the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Dynaudio Evoke 20 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.