For whom and conclusion
Contents
For most households, an active speaker is preferable, even if they often do not know it. It is the least “hassle” and the best audio quality you can get for your money, especially with options like Room EQ. Put it carefully in the optimal spot in your room, adjust it once (or have it adjusted) with Room EQ and you are done. Combined with the Primare SC15 Mk2, the entire system of Primare en System Audio speakers is very stable. During the review period of several weeks, the WiSa connection did not give a single problem and Primare’s Prisma platform delivers reliably.
For those who are focused on energy saving: the Primare SC15 has several standby options that can be controlled from the Prisma app. In the most energy-efficient mode, the amplifier takes some time to boot up and bring the System Audio Legend 40.2 Silverback speakers out of sleep mode. This is a minor inconvenience, but good for your conscience. Even then, the combination does this flawlessly every time. It all works predictable.
In an earlier round, the System Audio 5.2 speakers were put through their paces and stood out for their pleasant balance and laid-back character. With a four-way system like these System Audio Legend 40.2 Silverback speakers, the balance is slightly different. They are not simply the 5.2 speakers with more bass.
The stereo image has a soft focus. The highs and midrange are silky smooth and bass is solid, but lacks tightness and punch. Playback is clear and certainly not fluffy. On balance, it is a friendly, open-sounding system, with room-filling sound, on which you can play all kinds of music, no matter if you are actively listening or want music as accompaniment for other activities.
Conclusion
The System Audio Legend 40.2 Silverback is a friendly sounding speaker, clearly aimed at music loving families with different musical tastes, who are used to playing music from an app. The stereo image is present at a wide zone in front of the speakers. This does not mean you can just place them anyware, it are still speakers and like any speaker they need proper placement, but once found you can optimise them easily for your room with Room EQ.
Room EQ is available with the Stereo Hub from System Audio itself, but also from the excellent Primare SC15 Mk2. We had the Primare for this review. It is a step up in sound quality and it works with the System Audio speakers problem free.
For the critical listener, different tunings, called ‘RAM Tweaks’, are available from System Audio, so you can pick a sound profile you prefer the most.
At Alpha Audio, we are fan of active setups, because they deliver optimal music reproduction without fuss for most families. The active audio lover, who loves to swap components is probably not the target group, but everyone else is. Any music loving family, looking for a system in this price range, should audition these System Audio speakers and see if their laid-back sound is what they are looking for.
Thank you for your time, I really appreciate it. I was under the impression that the reduced sound quality was due to these being active speakers with built-in power supplies not reacting well with the Audes power conditioner. I now understand there is no connection between the two in general but only for the specific psu in the Silverback (unless it has to do with the Primare?)
Hoi Martijn,
Bedankt voor je review, heel duidelijk. Wat betreft jouw opmerking hieronder, dit review is begrijp ik, toch MET de Audes gedaan. Terwijl zonder de 40.2 dus beter klinkt ? Waar en wat hoor je (niet?) precies en geldt dit ook voor andere actives in jouw ervaring (beter zonder conditioner)?
Quote (Audes ST-900 review)
June 3, 2024 at 6:09 pm #202362 REPLY
Martijn (redacteur)
Participant
Private Message
“Niet alle apparaten met een switch mode power supply aan boord gaan goed. De System Audio Legend 40A actieve speakers, die ik net gereviewed heb, gaan bijvoorbeeld niet goed samen met de Audes.”
As stated on the second page of the review, the Audes was not used with these speakers.
Thanks, but my curiosity and question really is about what you heard with and without the power conditioner in combination with actives and if this can be generalised if known yet?
You cannot generalise if a hifi component will respond well, so it is always trial and error.
When I review, I always compare with and without.
The Primare amplifier responded well.
I did not make notes about how it sounded, but if my memory serves me correctly the overall character of the sound became unpleasant. Like the sounds did get hard edges. It was just not pleasant to listen to.