In this review, we will be comparing Theta and Evoke 30, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Triangle and Dynaudio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Triangle Signature Theta and Dynaudio Evoke 20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Triangle Signature Theta | Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
|---|
| Brand | Triangle
France · founded 1980 | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Horn-Loaded | 1.1" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Fibreglass | 7" Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-20k Hz | 40-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-130 watts | up to 180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 11.50kg / 25.3lbs | 9.90kg / 21.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 18-5/16" x 9-3/16" x 14-5/8"
465.0 x 233.0 x 372.0mm | 15" x 8.5" x 12.5"
380.0 x 215.0 x 317.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Triangle Signature Theta 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* |
Triangle Signature Theta |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
| 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 Theta and Evoke 30 are 2-way speakers.
Triangle Signature ThetaDynaudio 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 |
Triangle Signature Theta |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
Theta features a 1" Titanium dome Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Fibreglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700Hz. 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
Theta has a frequency range of 45-20k 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 Theta's min frequency of 45Hz.
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
Theta 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. Theta sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Evoke 30's is rated at 86 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Triangle Signature Theta 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 Theta has a max power handling value of 90 watts RMS, 90 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
Theta 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
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Theta has a front firing port whereas Evoke 30 has a rear firing ports. Triangle Signature Theta's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Dynaudio Evoke 20 with its rear-firing 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 Triangle Signature Theta's and Dynaudio Evoke 20's external dimensions. Triangle Signature Theta has external dimensions of 465.0 x 233.0 x 372.0mm (18-5/16 x 9-3/16 x 14-5/8inch) whereas Dynaudio Evoke 20 has external dimensions of 380.0 x 215.0 x 317.0mm (15 x 8.5 x 12.1inch).
Triangle Signature Theta is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 18mm wider, 85mm taller and 55mm deeper than Dynaudio Evoke 20.
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.
Triangle Signature Theta needs about 27% more floor or shelf area. Triangle Signature Theta is 55mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Triangle Signature Theta is 85mm taller.
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 Triangle Signature Theta is approximately 866.8cm2 / 134.4inch2 and base area of the Dynaudio Evoke 20 is approximately 681.6cm2 / 105.6inch2. The Theta requires 27% 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 Triangle Signature Theta weighs 11.50kg / 25.3lbs and the Dynaudio Evoke 20 weighs 9.90kg / 21.8lbs. This makes the Theta 16% heavier than the Evoke 30.
Here is a comparison of how Theta 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:
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Price per pair* |
3200USD
vs
4798USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
180 watts
vs
90 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
23k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
380mm
vs
465mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
681cm2
vs
866cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Triangle Signature Theta |
Dynaudio Evoke 20 |
| Brand |
Triangle |
Dynaudio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
25-130 watts |
up to 180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
45-20k Hz |
40-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fibreglass |
Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Horn-Loaded |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2700Hz |
3200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
465.0mm (18.3") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Width |
233.0mm (9.2") |
215.0mm (8.5") |
| Depth |
372.0mm (14.6") |
317.0mm (12.5") |
| Weight |
11.50kg (25.3lbs) |
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 |
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 | B | Dynaudio Evoke 20 digs deeper - 40Hz against 45Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Triangle Signature Theta is more sensitive (90dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Triangle Signature Theta is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | B | Dynaudio Evoke 20 takes more power (180W vs 90W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Dynaudio Evoke 20 is easier to place; Triangle Signature Theta is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | A | Triangle Signature Theta: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Triangle Signature Theta is cheaper - $3,200 against $4,798, about 33% less. |
A Triangle Signature Theta 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?
Triangle Signature Theta has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 45Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Triangle Signature Theta much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Triangle Signature Theta 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.