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Cameron Oatley
ExtremeHiFi
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi

Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.

What reviewers think

Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.

What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.

Manufacturer details

  • Dimensions (WxHxD): 72.2 x 17 x 10.6 cm
  • Frequency range: 50-25.000 Hz
  • Built-in amplifiers: 4 x 80 Watt
  • Woofers: 2 x Silverback 3.6 (5½ inches)
  • Tweeters: 2 x DXT Ti (1" soft dome)
  • Standby power consumption: <2 Watt
  • Inputs/features: Spotify Connect, Chromecast, Airplay 2, HDMI (ARC), Optical/Aux, Google Home
Hang it on the wall. Put it on a shelf. Use it in the living room, kitchen or home office and wherever you need amazing sound. SA Silverbar is a complete entertainment system. You don't need anything else to upgrade the sound from your TV, listen to music, radio, podcasts and much more in a high quality.
Hang it on the wall. Put it on a shelf. Use it in the living room, kitchen or home office and wherever you need amazing sound. SA Silverbar is a complete entertainment system. You don't need anything else to upgrade the sound from your TV, listen to music, radio, podcasts and much more in a high quality. It's built with all the best of Silverback: custom-engineered drive units, digital amplifiers, room correction and adaptation to get the sound right, even when you're playing at low volume. Silverbar has multi-room capability and you can use several of them in your home and with other Silverback speakers. All you need is a smartphone.
Manufacturer Site

Brand highlights

Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:

  • System Audio designs speakers for flexible placement, particularly excelling in on-wall and near-wall configurations, optimizing performance through a combination of driver technology and DSP.
  • SA's active Silverback series features a modular design, allowing users to upgrade their existing passive speakers to active versions, providing a pathway for system evolution.
  • The brand leverages DXT (Diffraction eXpansion Technology) acoustic lens around the tweeter to enhance dispersion, increase sweet spot, and improve integration with other drivers.

SA-Signature 40  

  • Positioning: The entry-level integrated amplifier designed for straightforward performance in smaller rooms.  
  • Description: Offers a clear digital amplification design that provides reliable sound quality without excessive extra features. Compared to the other models, it meets basic connectivity requirements with affordable build quality, making it suited for users with tighter budgets and modest functionality needs.

SA-Saxo 40  

  • Positioning: A mid-range unit that improves on basic performance while adding extra connectivity options.  
  • Description: Features a refined digital-to-analog conversion process that enhances sound clarity and overall resolution. When compared to the Signature 40, it delivers additional functionality and a slightly broader soundstage.

SA-Legend 40 Silverback  

  • Positioning: A compact yet robust amplifier aimed at users seeking balanced performance and build quality.  
  • Description: Uses advanced analog circuitry that delivers a warm and consistent sound, setting it apart from entry-level models. Relative to both the Signature and Saxo 40 units, it offers a richer sound experience and more reliable power handling while keeping connectivity simpler than the higher-tier variants.

SA-Legend 60 Silverback  

  • Positioning: A high-end integrated amplifier that balances enhanced power output with premium analog design.  
  • Description: Uses improved analog power circuitry for greater dynamic range and reliable performance in medium to large rooms. Compared to the 40-series, it delivers increased output and more robust performance, though it offers fewer modern connectivity options than the flagship Saxo 60.

SA-Saxo 60  

  • Positioning: The flagship integrated amplifier that combines advanced technology with robust, high-power performance.  
  • Description: Integrates state-of-the-art digital-to-analog conversion and extended connectivity, making it suitable for larger spaces and versatile setups. In contrast with the Legend 60 and other lower-tier models, it delivers superior output and functionality such as enhanced HDMI support.
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Avg. Product Price
$1,001-$2,500
Used For Sale
9
 Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
223
 of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
25
Founding Year
1984

Our take on the brand

System Audio is a Scandinavian hifi brand that makes active speakers with built-in amplification, using WiSA wireless technology and low-mass drivers for fast, delicate sound that's often compared to planar speakers. Their Silverback series includes compact, wall-mountable models for spaces where traditional speakers are impractical, while their Signature series features custom-developed drive units that deliver deep, defined bass.

Look inside the brand

Brand Page

Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

From our interview with
.
Brand Page

What if you spend more?

No items found.

What competes at this price?

Sonos
Ray (Immersive Set)
1056
/
Released
2022
Level up your viewing and listening experiences with immersive surround sound powered by this compact soundbar, subwoofer, and pair of rear satellite speakers.
Check Amazon
Sonos pioneered multi-room wireless audio with their proprietary SonosNet mesh network, which ensures synchronized streaming across multiple speakers without relying on traditional Wi-Fi. Their products feature Trueplay technology that automatically tunes speakers to room acoustics, while supporting multiple voice assistants and streaming services across their platform-agnostic ecosystem.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Clear and detailed audio, enhancing dialogue clarity significantly over TV speakers
  • Compact size and aesthetic design make it suitable for smaller TVs (around 40-50 inches) and rooms, with flexible placement options
  • Integrates seamlessly into the Sonos ecosystem, offering user-friendly operation and a cohesive app for control and setup
  • Versatile connectivity through Wi-Fi and Apple Airplay 2, enabling wireless music streaming and integration with other Sonos speakers

Product Considerations

  • Limited bass performance, potentially requiring a separate subwoofer for a more immersive experience
  • Only connects to TVs via an optical port, lacking HDMI ARC and the ability to support higher quality audio formats
  • Absence of Bluetooth connectivity, limiting its versatility for direct connections with devices
  • Soundstage is narrower compared to wider soundbars, which may not provide as immersive a listening experience, although it does output in stereo
  • The use of an optical connection means users have to go through an additional setup process so that their TV's remote can adjust the volume on it

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs Sonos Beam Gen 2: Offers a more affordable entry point into the Sonos ecosystem, sacrificing some features of the Beam Gen 2—such as Dolby Atmos and HDMI connectivity
  • Vs Roku Streambar Pro: Has similar audio performance but fewer connectivity options

Takeaway: The Sonos Ray is a compact and stylish soundbar that noticeably upgrades the sound quality of the TV, especially for dialogue. Its integration with the Sonos ecosystem makes it a great choice for those looking to expand their multi-room audio setup.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Sonos pioneered multi-room wireless audio with their proprietary SonosNet mesh network, which ensures synchronized streaming across multiple speakers without relying on traditional Wi-Fi. Their products feature Trueplay technology that automatically tunes speakers to room acoustics, while supporting multiple voice assistants and streaming services across their platform-agnostic ecosystem.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page

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