Discreet delivery

A slim, stylish Scandinavian on-wall system impresses Mark Craven with its handling of the sweet stuff

System Audio, self-proclaimed maker of 'cool Scandinavian loudspeakers', isn't one for gigantic cabinets and ostentatious designs. Even its flagship model, the three-way Silverback Legend 60.2 floorstander, is a slender thing, and its entry-level Saxo series is similarly petite. Particularly the on-wall models.

There are various reasons why you might opt for an on-wall loudspeaker installation. Most obviously, it saves you carpet space, which could be vital in a compact room. It might be the only way you can get the loudspeakers in their optimal positions. And you might just prefer the discreet style of on-wall speakers, and the idea of adding a system by stealth.

System Audio's Saxo range comprises eight models. Five of these use conventional cabinets (the Saxo 60 and 40 floorstanders, and the 1, 5 and 10 standmount/monitor speakers), while one is a compact subwoofer. That leaves just two on-wall models, both of which feature in the multichannel array tested here.

The bigger of the two is the Saxo 16 (£400 each), a three-driver model with central lin dome tweeter (with patented DXT acoustic waveguide) sandwiched by dual 4in bass/mid units. The Saxo 6, meanwhile, sells for £299 a piece and pairs its tweeter with a single 4in woofer. Both are 10cm deep, making them not quite the shallowest of on-wall design but ensuring a decent cabinet volume. Colour options are white or black.

Screwhole fixings on the rear are in all corners, letting you hang the speakers either vertically or horizontally (for centre channel use). Each unit comes with two, colour-matched magnetic grilles - one with the logo pivoted for horizontal installation. It's worth noting that these are impressively grippy; I've experienced some loudspeaker grilles that need only the gentlest of nudges to send them clattering to the floor, but these lock on well. Similarly, the speakers feel robust and look smart.