Best looking Amp/Preamp/Integrated?


Forget what the equipment sounds like - what is the best looking amp, preamp, or integrated piece of equipment?

One of my current favorites is the Opera-Consonance Forbidden City-Calaf Power amplifier
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Showing 3 responses by jax2

No contest: Electronluv - nothing comes remotely close. It's a look that can easily polarize the beholder (you either love it or hate it). To my eyes it is industrial art - nothing mentioned here is even in the same category as far as this is concerned. Josh Stippich is a brilliant artist! I guess he had a hand in the design of the more mass-produced line of speakers called Studio Electric (which I've heard at RMAF and are outstanding - they are there again this year). Not nearly as wildly creative as Stippich's own designs, and clearly compromised for a mass-market pricepoint, but a unique design nonetheless.
Jax2; His amps would be right at home in "Flash Gordon".
Nice stuff, but remains a 'contest' contender.

I beg to differ. The entire list you referenced as links is nothing more or less than glorified boxes. I've seen it all before and it's boring. Stippich creates stuff entirely out of the box and stretches the boundaries and limits of ones imagination of what this stuff could look like. Granted it is bent towards his own imagination and if you don't like that you'll have to go back to your boxes or something else. There is absolutely nothing else like it - it is entirely unique. A Nagra or a Wavac follows basic conventions for component designs and just sprinkles fairy dust on them to add the bling factor. But they all still fit neatly into the shape of a box. Ain't nothing unique or innovative in that...IMHO, of course ;-) Electronluv is virtually the only components I'd consider having out on display as worthy of casting one's eyes upon. All the rest can be hidden behind cabinet doors to allow me to enjoy the music in peace and wihout the distraction of something that is basically ugly. It's like looking at a TV set...why would anyone really want to stare at a electronic box, aside from the content it's presenting (and even then TV programming is worthless for the most part - haven't had TV reception for 10 years now). I like watching movies so I can relate to it on that level. Unless there's something truly unique and expressive about the box, why would I want to give it my consideration. The only one on your list that I think I'd have a bit of agreement on is Rogue in that wasn't it them who build the components in the shape of a doughnut? Or perhaps that's someone else. I didn't see it on their site. At least that's a step in the right direction. I guess I have some appreciation that at least an effort is being made to make the boxes prettier. But if you want to talk about creativity and visual seduction... something I'd want to look at for more than a few seconds, you'd have to do a whole lot better. I may be in a small group in this respect, but that's how I see it. Needless to say, my modest system is behind closed doors.
Metro 04 - You sussed me out! I'm definitely passionate about my opinions. If I didn't have a passionate opinion I would likely have not posted at all - that's just me. I'm also a very visual person so that compounded my fervor. I thought my reasons were worth an explanation, but I guess I just like to hear myself write. Make no mistake about it though; my shit stinks just like the next guys - you can just take my word for that. It's only an opinion - you are dead right. Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain. Keep your eyes on the funny sock monkey. Just an opinion folks, you can all go home and stop milling about...there's nothing to see here, move along now. Get the facts elsewhere...there are only opinions out here. You folks get'on home to your families, there's no debate here. Check the tele on Wednesday evening if you want debates. We just got a bunch of tired old opinions here so you can quit your gawkin'. You there - sir, you need to get on the other side of the yellow tape!

Thanks for setting me straight on that. I was thinking everything on these forums were based solely on factual information that I could take to the bank and cash in for some Krugerrands or Pandas, but instead your telling me these words are just like some fiat currency only worthy of some of that cabbage paper they're printing up for us with only faith and a prayer to back it. My world is shattered. I hope you're happy.