From tradition to innovation: The story behind silverback technology

Since 1984, System Audio has had one mission: to create speakers that deliver the best possible sound experience. Year after year, we refined our craft – developing our own speaker units, working with acoustics, electronics, and materials – and built better products. But in 2017, we reached a turning point. 

We faced a challenge: How could we continue improving sound quality without making the products unrealistically expensive? At that point, we had pushed traditional passive technology so far that even a 5% improvement would make the speaker 50% more expensive. Small progress at a high cost – a path we didn’t want to take. 

Market trends confirm our decision 

Since 2017, the price of high-end passive speakers has risen significantly. According to global market analyses, the segment has seen an average annual price increase of 4.8–5.2%, driven by rising material costs. This means that a speaker priced at Euro 2,700 in 2017 typically costs over Euro 3,500 today – without any real technological improvement.

This trend confirms how forward-thinking our decision was: we didn’t just follow the market, we took a leap toward a better future. 

A new path: Active and wireless technology 

We decided to design the speaker and amplifier as one integrated solution – and eliminate the speaker cable in the process. The result was the Silverback family, a complete and wireless system where the speaker and the room’s acoustics work together. 

This means: 

• Perfect integration: Amplifier and speaker are designed for each other from the start. 

• Optimal sound at low volume: You can hear deep bass and fine musical details even when playing quietly – something traditional systems cannot deliver. 

• Ease and flexibility: No cables, no complicated setup – just pure sound. 

Resource consumption: A hidden problem in traditional music systems 

The classic music system with separate amplifiers and passive speakers is not only technologically limited – it’s resource-intensive. When devices aren’t designed for integration, they must be over-dimensioned to compensate for the lack of synergy. This leads to:

• More aluminum, iron, and copper for cabinets, heat sinks, and cables. 

• Larger power supplies and heavy components, increasing both weight and cost. 

• Unnecessarily high production costs, impacting both the environment and the consumer. 

With silverback, we’ve eliminated this overconsumption. By integrating amplifier and speaker into one intelligent system, we can significantly reduce material use – without compromising sound quality. It’s not just a technological improvement; it’s a step toward a more sustainable future. 

Explore our technology:

• Wireless speakers
• Wired speakers
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