Compared with mono and stereo, wireless transmission is less common in the field of home theater, and the biggest reason is the unavoidable delay of wireless transmission. Watching a movie is different from listening to music, a movie has a lot of sound to drive the story, even if a short delay can greatly reduce the viewing experience. Most people's common wireless transmission methods are only Bluetooth and WiFi, but in the home theater will use another wireless transmission technology, that is, WiSA, a high-definition wireless audio signal designed for multi-channel audio, at present, many mainstream audio brands have launched products with WiSA as the core selling point, System Audio (hereinafter referred to as SA)'s Legend Silverback series is one of the leaders.
Born on the basis of legends
In addition to the reputation of "fairytale kingdom", Denmark also has the title of "sound kingdom", and the small Scandinavian peninsula has given birth to too many well-known audio brands, SA is one of them. Founded in 1984, this year coincides with the 40th anniversary, and the official launch of SA Signature 40, SA Signature 5 and other anniversary products. To get back to the point, looking at SA's existing products, excellent transient response is a major feature in terms of sound performance. At this stage, SA has Signature familie, Saxo familie, Air familie, Legend Silverback familie and other product lines to meet the sound needs of users in music and movie appreciation.
The Legend Silverback series includes Legend.S 60.2 and 40.2 floor-standing cases, Legend.S 5.2 bookshelf cases, Legend.S 7.2 surround speakers, Legend.S 10.2 center channel speakers, etc., which can not only build a home theater system, but also serve Hi-Fi. To meet the pre-installation and after-installation market, these products are also suitable for background music, living room music appreciation and other scenes, different sizes of cabinets can meet different space and placement needs, both in the floor-to-ceiling, or on the wall or on the bookshelf. In terms of function, it also takes into account the two connection methods of wired and wireless, and users can choose the appropriate connection mode according to their own equipment, which increases the applicability and convenience of the product.
The metallic remote control is also simple in design, with buttons to control the volume left and right, and the input mode can be switched up and down
Performance and design
The protagonist of this article, the Legend.S 7.2, has won the EISA 2022-2023 Best Wireless Wall-mounted Speaker of the Year, which shows its high quality. Although it is classified as a surround speaker on the official website, the Legend.S 7.2 is actually not limited to surround channels, and also performs well in the role of the front main speaker or center speaker. Its superior sound quality and versatility allow it to play an important role in different sound systems. In terms of exterior design, the Legend.S 7.2 embodies the minimalist style characteristics of the Nordic brand. The boxy cabinet's sleek lines and pearl white finish create a visual contrast and harmony with the dark tones of the horn units. The simple and elegant shape blends naturally with the modern home environment, which can not only create an elegant and elegant atmosphere, but also will not look abrupt.
Turning the camera to the back of the Legend.S 7.2, you'll find that the speaker has a lot of connectivity and adjustment features. A balanced XLR input and a USB-A connector for firmware upgrades are first configured, as well as a +6, 0, and -6dB setting switches, which give the user flexible tuning space. It is worth mentioning that there is a speaker/channel point map in the upper right corner of the back panel, which allows you to select the speaker position and pair it with the WiSA transmitter, which greatly simplifies the installation process of the speaker.
A recess on the back holds the power cord
It has a balanced XLR input and USB-A connector, as well as a +6, 0 and -6dB setting switch, and a speaker/channel point map in the top right corner
Flexible application scenarios
The Legend.S 7.2 features a three-way, three-driver design, each with an independent amplifier driver, to maximize the performance potential of each speaker unit. Behind each unit is a separate 75W Class-D amplifier with a total power of 225 watts, which is enough to drive the Legend.S 7.2 to deliver exceptional volume and dynamics in large spaces for different listening environments.
In terms of drivers, the 1-inch silk dome tweeter installed in the middle of the front baffle, combined with SA's self-developed DXT acoustic lens technology, can effectively improve the off-axis frequency response, making the high-frequency timbre clearer and brighter, and the transition to the mid-frequency frequency more natural and smooth. The mid-woofer is designed with woven fibers that take advantage of the lightweight and high-damping characteristics of the lightweight diaphragm to capture sound details faster. SA's engineers also worked on the design of the diaphragm, using a rubber ring with a built-in resonance control ring as a support to further optimize the dynamic characteristics of the diaphragm. Officially, this lightweight diaphragm moves 40% more than usual, which means that the low-end performance will be fuller and more dynamic. The three drivers are responsible for the high, mid and low frequency bands, and the Legend.S 7.2 can present a three-dimensional and rich sound stage performance in a well-balanced sound configuration.
As mentioned earlier, the Legend.S 7.2 is very flexible in terms of location, which can be adjusted and converted according to different installation scenarios. By default, the Legend.S 7.2 is designed to be vertical, which is ideal for use as a surround speaker. But if you need to use it as a front or center speaker, you need to place it horizontally. In this case, the user needs to flip the speaker over. During the flipping process, the tweeter needs to be adjusted from the top position to the bottom. Or reposition the Silverback module on the back.
The Legend.S 7.2 tweeter uses DXT acoustic lens technology, while the mid-woofer has a braided fibre construction with a rubber ring on the periphery to control the resonances
The mid-woofer is constructed with braided fibres, and a rubber ring on the periphery controls the resonances of the unit
All-round control
There are still doubts about what WiSA is, a hardware and software standard that enables the wireless transmission of digital audio from the source device to the wireless speaker. It supports up to 8 channels of audio output and automatically adapts to different surround sound configurations from 2.0 to 7.1 and even 5.1.2. WiSA supports mainstream surround audio formats such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X to meet the needs of high-quality cinema-level audio experience. It uses proprietary wireless transmission technology, which does not rely on WiFi networks, and is capable of transmitting high-quality uncompressed digital audio from 24bit/48kHz-96kHz. Compared with traditional wired connections, WiSA can effectively avoid cumbersome speaker wiring problems and greatly improve the installation experience of users. In general, as a cutting-edge wireless audio transmission technology standard, WiSA can solve the pain points of traditional connections while ensuring excellent audio restoration quality.
The Legend.S 7.2 already has a built-in WiSA receiver, so you have to sharpen your tools to make the Legend.S 7.2 more wirelessly connected, and you can add the Stereo Hub. The Stereo Hub also integrates WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity to receive audio streams from mobile devices such as mobile phones and tablets. At the same time, it also supports mainstream wireless audio protocols such as Apple AirPlay, Google Chromecast, and Spotify Connect, which greatly enhances the cross-platform compatibility of the product. In terms of wired connectivity, the Stereo Hub is also equipped with a wide range of interfaces. It has digital inputs such as coaxial and optical fiber, as well as single-ended RCA analog inputs, which can meet the connection needs of different audio source equipment. There's also an HDMI ARC input that makes it easy to connect the Stereo Hub to your HDTV for audio and video integration. For PC users, the Stereo Hub offers a USB Type-B digital input port that can be connected directly to a PC or Mac for high-fidelity computer audio output. Overall, the Stereo Hub has all the inputs, which greatly improves the compatibility and flexibility of the Legend.S 7.2 in different application scenarios.
It has digital inputs such as coaxial and optical, as well as single-ended RCA analog inputs, and an HDMI interface
The SA Cockpit App is one of the highlights of the Stereo Hub and Legend.S 7.2 loudspeaker systems. This app can not only be used as a simple remote control for basic operations such as volume adjustment and input switching, but also has some powerful value-added functions. First of all, through the SA Cockpit App, users can perform room calibration of the entire sound system, and apply the built-in SA Room Service room correction system, which can correct the speakers according to the actual situation of the listening environment. In addition, the app provides settings for WiSA wireless speakers. More detailed control of pairing, channel allocation, and output levels. The SA Cockpit App also integrates the EQ function, with multiple sets of preset equalization curves built-in, which users can choose according to their listening preferences, and supports manual adjustment of each EQ to achieve more refined sound quality customization.
SA Cockpit App可做房间校准和EQ调整
An open soundstage and excellent control
For the first piece I listened to, I chose a Japanese horror-themed soundtrack, from Kenji Kawai's "祟り", and the opening bell was created by Legend.S 7.2 to create a wide and wide, as if you were in a dilapidated and withered ancient temple. This feeling of emptiness and bleakness perfectly outlines the eerie atmosphere of the soundtrack. Then the melodious and fluttering Japanese minor tune melody further deepens this eerie and oppressive mood. The rich and delicate timbre performance of the Legend.S 7.2 vividly conveys this unique oriental music. Listening to this discrete, vague melody, coupled with the ethereal echoing bells, one can't help but feel an inexplicable sense of unease and fear. This layering of sound not only creates the gloomy atmosphere common to horror films, but also demonstrates Legend.S 7.2's ability to reproduce sound details and create atmosphere.
For the next song, I chose "The Aria of the Queen of the Night", which is known as the "touchstone of the soprano", and Diana Damrau's version is undoubtedly a classic. This piece is extremely difficult to sing, and it requires great skill and vocal range, which is not something that ordinary speakers can control. Diana Damrau uses the technique of strong and then weak, and Legend.S 7.2 shows control of the sound, which does not break when it is strong and does not disperse when it is weak. The cavity part can clearly feel the depth of oral control skills, and the treble part will not be scattered or distorted at all, but can clearly reach the Tianling cover. This is largely due to the loudspeaker's own excellent frequency response and dynamics.
summary
We often say that technology changes life, not only the quality of life, but also the way of life, WiSA can take into account both the convenience of wireless and the quality of wired sound, why not? Of course, you can still add more Silverback products to form a complete wireless home theater system.
Basic technical parameters
●Speaker type: 3-channel 3-unit closed active speaker
●Unit configuration: 1 x Legend DXT tweeter, 2 x 4.5-inch braided fiber woofers
●频率响应：35Hz-25kHz（±1.5dB）
●Output power: 225W
●尺寸（H×W×D）：470×286×154mm
●Reference price: 20,950 yuan / only
●Telephone number: 400 007 6056
● Website: system-audio.com