Floorstanding loudspeakers — System Audio SA saxo 40

The SA saxo 40 is a slim two-way tower from the Danish maker System Audio, designed around the brand slogan of big sound without big speakers. In the saxo series it sat below the larger Saxo 60 floorstander. It has since moved to the legacy section of the maker's catalogue, where specifications and support remain available for owners.

Key specs that matter

Inside the cabinet are one T25DXT Ti tweeter and two W1408 saxo bass and midrange units of 140 mm with treated paper cones, loaded in a bass reflex cabinet. Frequency range is 40 Hz to 25,000 Hz within 3 dB. Efficiency is quoted as 89 dB in half-space at 2.83 V and 1 m. Impedance is specified as 4 to 8 ohm, load capacity is 135 W, and System Audio advises amplification between 30 and 135 W. The cabinet measures 16.5 cm wide, 84.5 cm high and 25 cm deep, standing on a base with a footprint of 21.5 by 30 cm.

Engineering and use context

As a two-way design the speaker needs only one crossover point. The filter at 2,200 Hz splits the signal with a slope of 24 dB per octave, handing the upper range to the tweeter. In front of that tweeter sits the patented DXT acoustic lens, which the maker uses to distribute treble evenly around the room rather than concentrating it on a narrow axis. The two bass and midrange drivers share the work below the crossover point, which the brand says lowers distortion compared with a single cone. The narrow front suits living spaces where a large tower would dominate, and the separate base widens the stance for stability. System Audio recommends floor placement with the cabinet 5 to 35 cm from the back wall. Black and white finishes were offered, and System Audio products carry a 7-year factory warranty.

Pairing

With good efficiency and a modest minimum power recommendation, compact integrated amplifiers and stereo receivers are adequate partners, provided they remain stable into loads that fall toward 4 ohm. Staying within the recommended power range protects the drivers. Close wall positions within the recommended range suit a room of around 20 m2 where the towers have to stay near the boundary. The small base also means the pair takes little floor area.

Alternatives

The System Audio Signature 40 is a newer tower in three-way form, adding a dedicated midrange unit and quotes a 30 Hz lower limit.