I tend to think of speakers much the same way I do about wine. I am value shopper and constantly on the look out for a $9 bottle of wine that tastes like a $50 bottle of wine. However, System Audio's SA1750 is a $50 bottle of wine that tastes like a $50 bottle of wine. There is no diamond in the rough, ultra value speaker here. What you do find with System Audio's mid line speaker is an offering that meets the expectations of its price tag.
First a little bit about System Audio. System Audio, a Danish company, started in 1984, Olle Witthoft founded the company in the hopes of developing a speaker that accurately reproduced live music. He had been searching for loud speakers and was frustrated that he could not find an accurate speaker, and thus he took the burden on himself and the life of System Audio began.
The SA1750s are as aesthetically pleasing as they sound. The version I had an opportunity to review were finished with a beautiful, real cherry wood veiner. The build and quality suggest that these are not merely speakers but also every bit as much of the room's furniture as the coffee or end tables. They are a bit top heavy and thus come with bases and and sizable spikes to provide stability. In addition, sand can be added to the bottom section of the speaker to offer more weight to the speaker. The sand also has an affect on the low end of the speaker's sound. I found that by filling them half full, it was a good mix of stability and sound. Overall, I was extremely impressed with the build quality of these speakers and at this price point you would be challenged to find a better made speaker cabinet.
I found the SA1750 to be a very true speaker. It is clear what Olle was intending when he founded System Audio and the SA1750s are excellent in their ability to reproduce sound. The high end of these speakers is what really sets them apart from similarly priced competitors. The silk dome tweeter reproduces highs like no other speaker I have heard. This is where the SAS1750's shine! Brian Setzer's version of "Sleepwalk" never sounded so sweet. The cry of his guitar is reproduced effortlessly. I have heard speakers twice as expensive that still do not compare to the highs created from these units.
Powered by four 3.5 inches woofers, the mid range of the speaker is also extremely strong. Allison Krause sounded like she was in the room with me while listening to The Beatles remake of "I Will." The punch from the snare came to life in Kean's "Somewhere Only We Know."
If these speakers do have a weakness, it would be in the low end. While System Audio has succeeded in producing one of the cleanest sounding speakers I have heard at this price point, the bass and low level drive leave something to be desired. The low end is reasonable but does not match the punch and drive of competing similarly priced speaker. However, it is always easier to make up for lost low end in systems with a sub woofer then trying to improve high end. (audio purists are wrinkling their nose at this point.......)
Due to the weakness in the low frequency range of the speaker, the speakers will require a sub woofer for ultimate movie and home theater enjoyment. However, it is again the mids and highs that are reproduced extremely accurately that will leave you astounded and feeling as if you are part of the scene. In "Open Range," during the main shoot out scene you will be convinced that it is your own windows breaking as the bullets fly about. There is no sharpness or edginess to these speakers. They are refined and wonderfully engineered.
Overall, I was very pleased with the SA1750's from System Audio. They are a speaker made for the true reproduction of sound. The only weakness I could find was in the low end and average performance in imaging. However, the mids and highs that come out of this speaker are to die for, and what really makes this speaker one of the best that I have ever heard. I highly recommend that if you are tired of sharp treble and annoying brightness in speakers, give the folks at System Audio a listen. I think you'll like what you hear.
Summary:
Speaker Class | Mid Tier |
Build Quality | 4.0/5.0 |
High Frequency | 5.0/5.0 |
Mid Frequency | 4.5/5.0 |
Low Frequency | 3.5/5.0 |
Value | 4.0/5.0 |
Overall | 4.5/5.0 |
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