Black Ash.....


...is the speaker finish that never should have been allowed to escape the bowels of hell. It is the parkay floors of speaker finishes.

Black Ash is the universal declaration of "cheap-#ssed speakers" or, even worse, if chosen as the finish on even a relatively expensive or quality speaker, it’s the sign that the purchaser has lost his mind or was likely wearing cargo shorts, socks and sandals at the time of purchase.

Where do you stand on this?

You are either with me or against me.

prof

rocray

Ha!  It's like the audiophile equivalent of "The Trolley Problem"!

Either not buy them or buy them and have them re-finished.


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Cripes, had to go to Best Buy recently.  Ended up in the audio/home theater section.  It was nothing but a sea of Black Ash speakers as far as the eye could see (mostly Polk).   The stuff of nightmares.
I needed time in my "safe space" afterwards.

I think the man made veneers made from poplar and stained to imitate exotic timbers are are worse.
At first blush I would say, yes, black ash is horrible and cheap looking.

However... today Part Time Audiophile published a review of the Volti Razz finished in... black ash! I gotta admit they look pretty stunning accented by the tan cloth grill. 

And for a big heavy floorstander, black ash is going to have touch up advantages mentioned earlier if they get nicked up.