Subwoofers — System Audio Silverback Sub Solo

The Silverback Sub Solo is a compact wireless subwoofer from the Danish company System Audio, built for the Silverback range of wireless loudspeakers. It takes its signal over WiSA and needs only a mains cord, and the maker lists it at EUR 1,599. It is designed so that a second unit, the Sub Duo, can be added later for a two-subwoofer layout.

Key specs that matter

A single 8 inch Silverback Vulcano driver handles the bass. The cabinet holds four amplifier channels of 150 W each, but only two of them drive the Sub Solo itself, while the other two are reserved for a connected Sub Duo. Stated frequency range runs from 17 Hz to 250 Hz. The enclosure measures 42 x 31 x 20.5 cm (width, height, depth), and standby consumption is given as under 7 W. Two finishes are offered, white satin and black satin.

Engineering and use context

Wireless WiSA is the primary connection, which System Audio describes as lossless transmission regardless of where the speakers are placed, so the bass unit can be positioned without a wire back to the source. A wired line input is also fitted for systems that do not use WiSA. A digital signal processor is built in. The placement options System Audio recommends are the floor, a corner or a wall. A wall bracket is built into the design and rubber feet are supplied for floor use, so the shallow 20.5 cm cabinet can hang flat on a wall or rest on its feet beside furniture. Level, crossover and distance are set in the free SA Cockpit app, as the rear panel carries no control knobs. Alongside the rubber feet, the box contains the mains cable, a fabric grille for the front and a quick start guide, and registering the unit within six months of purchase activates a 7-year factory warranty. The spare pair of amplifier channels means that a later Sub Duo does not need its own amplification to be bought, and System Audio positions the pair as a way to place two bass sources at different points in the space.

Pairing

The Sub Solo works with the brand's Stereo Hub HT, Surround Hub and Surround Hub X, as well as other WiSA HT transmitters, which lets it join a stereo Silverback pair or a multichannel wireless cinema layout. For a conventional amplifier or AV receiver without WiSA, the line input accepts a subwoofer pre-out signal.

Alternatives

The System Audio Signature Sub 8 is the powered subwoofer of the brand's wired Signature range, with two 8 inch drivers in a closed box.