Review: System Audio Silverback 40.2 DS

The hi-fi hobby is full of dogmas and unshakeable truths. One of them is that you need a lot of equipment to get good sound. System Audio challenges this mindset with its Silverback 40.2 DS, where the idea is so simple that it almost seems rude: two speakers, a hub and power. That’s all you need.

Fully active with four amplifiers

Each speaker has four separate amplifiers, which together deliver 300 watts. It’s not just a lot of watts – it’s smart watts. Since each amplifier is optimised for its specific unit, you get better control and higher precision than with traditional passive solutions.

The active four-way design eliminates passive crossover components. Instead, all signal processing is handled digitally without loss or distortion. The woofers use a patented system that allows 40 per cent greater membrane excursion than conventional units. Combined with a closed pressure chamber, System Audio promises bass down to 20 Hz.

New DSP with four times the processing power

The DS designation implies a complete reprogramming of the speaker’s digital signal processor, which now processes the audio signal four times faster than its predecessor. At the same time, the midrange cabinet has been completely redesigned, and the woofer cabinet has been fitted with new damping material, which provides deeper and more controlled bass. Together, these changes should contribute to a cleaner midrange and significantly better bass reproduction than its predecessor.

A disappointment for existing owners is that the speakers cannot be upgraded to the DS version, as the improvements require new hardware. However, the price is the same as for the original model.

Good connectivity and streaming with Stereo Hub HT

For €4599, you get both the speakers and the Stereo Hub HT. This compact box transmits sound wirelessly to the speakers via WiSA technology on the 5.2 GHz band, far away from the noise of regular Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. This ensures lossless transmission with 24-bit/96kHz resolution and minimal latency.

The hub has HDMI eARC, three optical and one coaxial input, USB and analogue RCA. For streaming, it supports Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, Qobuz Connect, AirPlay 2, Chromecast and Bluetooth 5.2. If you want to expand to surround sound, you can choose the Surround Hub for only £160 extra and get a home cinema system with up to eight channels. Including Dolby Atmos sound (5.1.2).

Room correction and customisation

The SA Room Service feature measures the room’s acoustics via the microphone in your iPhone (Android users need a separate wireless microphone) and automatically adjusts the sound. You walk around the room while the speakers play test tones, and the system creates a customised correction profile. In addition, System Audio offers RAM TWEAKS, which can be downloaded – sound profiles that allow you to customise the character of the speaker. I was allowed to test the one that has been released so far, and it definitely makes a difference.

Easy installation

Installing the Silverback 40.2 DS is so simple that even the most technologically challenged should be able to do it. The speakers connect wirelessly to the hub at the touch of a button, and the system sets itself up automatically. If it turns out that the right and left channels are swapped, simply change the position in the app.

For optimal placement, we recommend approx. 20-40 cm from the rear wall and a listening distance of at least 2.5 metres. The speakers can be adjusted with both rubber pads and the included spikes, depending on the surface.

As designer Ole Witthøft demonstrated during the visit, this is a system designed for real homes and ordinary users – not just Hi-Fi enthusiasts with dedicated listening rooms.

The sound of System Audio Silverback 40.2 DS

The first thing that strikes me is how balanced and natural these speakers sound. Charlie Puth’s Attention – a song I often use to test bass reproduction and timing – comes through with impressive control. The bass is present and clear, but never excessive or muddy. The prominent bass line that drives the song forward is reproduced with precision and timing, while the production’s many layers are elegantly separated.

The midrange deserves special praise. Where many Hi-Fi speakers may be reluctant to emphasise bass and treble, the Silverback 40.2 DS reproduces vocals and instruments at the forefront of the soundstage. Puth’s dry and detailed vocals sound close and natural without being intrusive or harsh.

Beautiful music reproduction

Teddy Swims’ soul ballad Bad Dreams is a good test of vocal reproduction. His powerful voice requires speakers that can convey both nerve and intimacy. At the same time, the nasal singing technique reveals distortions in the proximity range. The Silverback speakers reproduce the vocals with their original edge and intensity, and the rhythms are delivered with sufficient authority and weight. The dense and modern soundscape with multiple layers is handled clearly, and each instrument is given its place without sounding messy.

The music flows naturally and engagingly, and the speakers follow the rhythm and melody with ease.

Classical grandeur

But it is with Kim André Arnesen’s Song For Justice from the epic contemporary release Tuvayhun that the speakers really show their true colours. This recording from Nidaros Cathedral with the Nidaros Cathedral Girls’ Choir and the Trondheim Soloists is technically demanding and emotionally charged at the same time.

Although I only have the opportunity to test this Dolby Atmos release in stereo, the speakers paint a large and three-dimensional sound picture with plenty of depth. The voices of the girls’ choir float airily in the room with a natural sound, while the strings and percussion create depth and breadth. The large dynamic contrasts are handled effortlessly – from the most subtle details to powerful orchestral outbursts.

The closed cabinet design shows its strength with tight and controlled bass without the slightly loose and boomy character that bass reflex designs often have. The DSP manipulates the bass to go deeper than is normally possible from a compact closed cabinet, and combined with the active four-way design, the speakers deliver an exceptionally clean and resolved sound.

Dispersion and placement

After the latest firmware update and RAM tweak, I noticed an improvement in dispersion. The soundstage now extends more clearly beyond the physical location of the speakers, creating a more immersive experience. Admittedly, the focus in the centre is slightly less precise, but for me this is a positive change that makes the sound more relaxed and natural.

Limitations? Try a subwoofer or two

These speakers are not designed to thunder away at deafening levels. The maximum sound pressure is limited compared to larger and more powerful systems. But that’s not the point. The Silverback 40.2 DS is designed to deliver musical enjoyment at normal listening levels, not to annoy the neighbours.

The bass drum in heavy productions does not have the same physical punch that you get from larger speakers or dedicated subwoofers. But it is precise and well integrated, and I rarely find myself wanting more than what the system delivers. And speaking of subwoofers, one or more wireless WiSA subwoofers can be integrated with the same room correction system, which will provide significantly more power in the bass range. The speakers also avoid playing deep bass, which enables them to play louder with even better dynamics.

Comparison with other active solutions

During the same test period, I had the Focal Diva Utopia – a system that costs more than eight times as much, with three Naim amplifiers in each speaker. It is, of course, in a completely different league with incredible punch and authority. But the Silverback 40.2 DS, at a fraction of the price, delivers such a compelling overall experience that for many people it will be all they need to awaken their joy of music. I could sit here for hours just listening.

As Ole Witthøft pointed out during the visit: These are speakers made for listening to and enjoying music, not for impressing with technical measurements or maximum sound pressure.

Competition and perspective

In this price range, there are several interesting alternatives, with the closest competitors probably being the Dynaudio Focus 30 and KEF LS60 Wireless.

Where Dynaudio uses a single 14 cm woofer, the Silverback 40.2 DS has two units of the same size with an extra-long stroke. In roughly the same cabinet volume, this gives System Audio better utilisation and probably better dynamics in the bass register. Four dedicated amplifiers also provide optimal control over each unit.

Dynaudio may have slightly better resolution in the treble, but the difference is not dramatic. Through room correction and customisable profiles, both speakers can ‘pull the sound image in a very neutral direction, not unlike a studio speaker’ when the situation demands it.

Given the price difference, there is no doubt which one offers the best value for money. System Audio delivers comparable sound quality, better bass dynamics and just as much versatility at 70 per cent of the price.

The KEF LS60 Wireless has a more expansive and warm sound character with eight woofers that provide significantly more weight in the lowest registers. The stereo perspective is also wider and more enveloping than the System Audio speakers straight out of the box, but that changed when I performed the RAM tweak. The Silverback 40.2 DS also has a more balanced and natural approach to music, and nasal voices sound sharper through the KEF.

Of the three speakers, the System Audio speakers are both the most affordable and strike a middle ground that works really well with most music genres. With the lower price compared to KEF, System Audio clearly offers the best value for money of the three.

Conclusion

The System Audio Silverback 40.2 DS makes great sound easily accessible to more people. The active four-way design with four dedicated amplifiers delivers impressive bass right down to the basement and a natural, well-balanced sound that works perfectly for all music.

Easy installation, effective room correction and the option to expand to a multi-channel home cinema make this a really smart choice. The sound quality matches far more expensive competitors, while the user-friendliness is top notch. For those who want true Hi-Fi quality without the stress and hassle of cables, this is hard to beat. A modern and smart way to think about true Hi-Fi.