DIAPASON review of Legend 40.2 silverback DS
The incredibly influential French review magazine DIAPASON has, for the second time, awarded Silverback the prestigious Diapason d’Or gold medal. This is a truly rare event!
This time, the award goes to the new Legend 40.2 Silverback DS, and at System Audio, we are incredibly proud of this remarkable recognition.
Here’s what DIAPASON writes about Legend 40.2 Silverback DS:
A completely new speaker
At the end of 2019, the Legend 40.2 Silverback, a discreet floorstanding speaker with two woofers, a 13 cm midrange driver, and a tweeter in a three-way system, appeared in a test of active speakers.
At that time, it introduced the ability to be controlled directly via the XLR input or through a WiFi hub equipped with both digital and analog inputs, as well as wireless streaming to the speakers in 24/96 quality via the WiSA protocol (Wireless Speaker andAudio), which supports any setup from stereo up to 7.1, including 2.1.
The appearance is identical, but according to its Danish creator Ole Witthøft, the 40.2 Silverback DS is a completely new speaker with 74% more powerful DSP, a redesigned midrange chamber for a more balanced sound, and an improved construction that reaches down to 20 Hz. With amplifiers totaling 300 W, the speaker’s filtering is DSP-controlled – no passive filters – which means precise control of each driver’s frequency range, with no compression and unrestricted dynamics.
Listening Impressions
The new Stereo Hub HT is a small black box with remote control and a wide range of connections (1 coaxial, 3 optical, 1 USB-A, 1 USB-B, HDMI ARC/eARC, analog RCA, Sub out, Ethernet, and WiFi). The SA Cockpit app manages the system setup (speaker distance, up to four wireless subwoofers with room correction, 16-band EQ…). After setup, music can be controlled via the remote or streamed through Qobuz Connect and Tidal Connect.
How does it sound?
Excellent. The previous version is clearly surpassed. No floorstanding speaker in this price range offers such a sense of musical freedom with full-range reproduction – the bass is physical without being bloated, perfectly balanced with the midrange/tweeter, which opens up with outstanding depth and transparency. The sound is both monitor-accurate and immersive, without being tiring or dull.
Can it get better?
Yes – via the XLR input, the speaker shifts gears and demonstrates how precise and well-balanced an active speaker can be, with transparency and coherence on par with much more expensive systems. And with the ability to adjust the DSP via small RAM TWEAKS programs, the sound can be tailored to personal taste.
Pros: Exceptional coherence and energy. Even better via XLR.
Cons: The SA Cockpit app is basic, but easy to overlook.
*Review translated by System Audio.
The music system of the future. Silverback wireless speakers and Stereo Hub HT.
Silverback is the music system of the future
Wireless and intelligent sound.
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