Bookshelf Speakers — System Audio Legend 5.2 silverback

The Legend 5.2 silverback is an active two-way standmount loudspeaker from the Danish company System Audio, designed to sit on a stand or shelf or to be mounted on a wall. Each speaker carries its own amplification and signal processing, and the model belongs to the brand's Silverback wireless family alongside the Legend 7.2, 10.2, 40.2 and 60.2. It is offered in satin white or satin black with front grilles.

Key specs that matter

Total amplifier power is 150 W, with two amplifiers inside each speaker so that the woofer and tweeter are driven separately. The driver pair consists of a 25 mm soft dome tweeter of the Legend DXT type with an acoustic lens and a 114 mm long-throw mid/bass unit with a carbon cone, designated Legend 15/4. System Audio rates response at 40 Hz to 25,000 Hz within plus or minus 1.5 dB and claims bass extension to 25 Hz at moderate levels. The wired analogue input is balanced XLR, mains input accepts 100-240 V AC and standby draw is 2 W. Each cabinet is 19 cm wide, 32 cm high and 26.5 cm deep, and weighs 6.7 kg.

Engineering and use context

Because the crossover and equalisation are handled by digital signal processing ahead of the amplifiers, each driver receives only its own frequency band and there is no passive filter network in the signal path to the drivers. The long-throw mid/bass unit works with this processing to reach the low extension quoted for a cabinet of this size. For wireless operation the speakers use WiSA HT transmission at 24-bit/96 kHz, and the system can be upgraded from wired to wireless use with the optional Stereo Hub HT. In the DS configuration with a hub, System Audio lists support for Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital 7.1 and 5.1, DTS:X and DTS HD, along with AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Bluetooth and Roon Ready streaming.

Pairing

The drivers get their power from the internal amplifiers, and a line-level feed is all each speaker requires. A preamplifier or source with balanced XLR outputs connects directly, while the Stereo Hub HT provides streaming and wireless links. For multichannel setups the brand also offers the Surround Hub and Surround Hub X in place of the stereo hub. Silverback Sub Solo and Sub Duo subwoofers are made for the same family, and wall mounting keeps the pair clear of furniture in a 20 m2 room.

Alternatives

The System Audio Silverback 1 is the brand's more compact wireless speaker for desk and on-wall use.