Discreet delivery

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

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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.