Our wireless SA saxo 1 active has been named Best Speaker of the Year in the test magazine Lyd & Billede. While we're running around Roskilde cheering, here's the instructive story of the speaker that went a different way and beat the competition.

Technology enthusiasts are quick to tick off the technical features of these devices: wireless sound directly from your mobile phone in the best Bluetooth quality. Check. Two optical inputs. Check. Two analog inputs. Check. Subwoofer output. Check. Minimal power consumption. Check.

How not to spot the quality

Of course, there's nothing wrong with keeping a close eye on the technical characteristics, because they can ultimately determine whether you can use the speaker in the way you intend. It's just an early place to stop if you're looking for something that really rocks. The thing is, it's not the technical features that make you smile on a daily basis. It's more than that.

High-tech is not (anymore) special

A quick look at the technology in the SA saxo 1 active reveals a truly high-tech build, with millimeter-small components in electronic circuits so small they can only be assembled by robots. You'll also find a wireless receiver that captures music better than most, and an amplifier that consumes just 0.5 watts in standby mode. In other words, negligible. You could bend the truth and say that even such advanced high-tech is nothing special. It is available for almost all brands. High-tech is everybody's property. It's almost impossible to have a technology that other brands can't match. When even really advanced electronics like Apple, Lenovo, etc. are produced in factories in China, you can no longer keep high-tech in the safe and expect it to remain a secret, so how can a brand make a real difference? In the case of the SA saxo 1 active, it's the very antithesis of high-tech that gives it its decisive edge.

It is craftsmanship that wins

Try tapping the sides of the speakers with your knuckles. You can tell they're made of wood. No plastic here. Look at the tweeter and notice the patented acoustic lens that ensures that the sound covers the entire living room. Add to that the fact that SA developed the amplifier inside the speaker themselves. It's not just off the shelf somewhere. Our listening team has spent months fine-tuning the sound of the speaker so that the sound is present, warm and detailed. We've spent something as precious as TIME creating a speaker. And we have not created a whole family of speakers, but have concentrated on developing a single model. It has now been named Best of the Year, and we are very proud of that. In a world that celebrates speed, innovation and rapid execution, we have, with something as old-fashioned as thoroughness, created a winner that our huge multinational competitors are now scratching their heads over. The competition for quality is rarely decided by time. We are still cheering. SA saxo 1 active is available in high-gloss white or black. Find out more. Read the test in Sound & Vision.