...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.
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.
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.
Here's a hypothetical question for prof. (Remember,I'm speaking hypothetically) Lets say a new pair of Perspectives comes up in Black Ash,with a $4k discount,what do you do?????
The only positive I can see for black ash is that scratches are easily touched up with a black sharpie. Other than that little tidbit, no thanks...its horrid !
It's all about personal tastes. If the listening room is furnished such that the speaker finish is important then that's a factor. I have seen rooms that are so elegant with lush furnishings that the speaker finish can add or subtract from the overall appearance. That said.....While speaker appearance is one that can be important, overall performance of the speaker is the primary goal. If given the choice to purchase speakers offered in multiple finishes then certainly go with your preference. Black ash is a common finish quite neutral as presented in any room. Bottom line.....If the speaker of your choice is not offered in the finish you want then decide if you want the sound you want or just a piece of nice looking furniture.
I resisted joining, but once mullets and stonewashed jeans got mentioned, it was time to get it straight.
Are you a man enough to wear a mullet and stonewashed jeans?
When it comes to speakers, I see no problem with black ash (co)existing. The problem is lack of other choices at most of the manufacturers. They should charge something extra and, after some wait, you should be able to get your speakers in different colors. The way some cars can be ordered.
If you ever see yellow Revel speakers, it may be due to a dealer promising me he would bring it up under "what customers are saying" at some meeting they had at headquarters in California.
For some reason, strange to me now black (vinyl or veneer) was the colour of my first 3 speakers. In fact most of my Hi-Fi was in black, apart from the NAD stuff I started with. It just never occurred to me that other options were viable.
Then one day about 15 years ago I underwent a radical change of heart. All of a sudden I wanted my environment to be more friendly with more reflected light. This shift in outlook was complete when I developed a yearning for a more organic look in loudspeakers. Wood grain was no longer ugly to my eyes.
Then all of a sudden cherry, light oak, mahogany, white ash etc all started to look good. Even walnut became preferable to black.
Electronics in chrome, silver, or best of all gold became infinitely preferable to the standard black. So much so that I now feel that the best way to listen might be to have the equipment disappear or fade into the background (white) as much as possible to reduce distracting effects.
I know you can do a similar thing by drawing the curtains and turning down the lights in the evening but that's a bit of a hindrance in the day.
For those inclined, you can use Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and Chalk Paint Wax Clear finish on cabinets that you may want to hold onto for awhile. I have some older Monitor audio RS6’s with yellow oak finish that I really don’t care for and really clashes with our beach gray decor. My amp stands came out beautifully. Merchants that sell Annie Sloan paints with brick and mortar stores many times are also local artists and can refinish the cabinets for you or and/or match perfectly your room decor. Antique it, beach it, almost any effect you want. Also easy to diy and save a bunch. Just practice on some old furniture for the effect you desire. WAF goes up unbelievably.
All I could do is laugh as I looked over my sea of black ash speakers, subwoofers, and about 3 dozen flat black record crates. But hey, at least I've got wood paneling in my house, that must count for something on the classy scale.
Black wood sucks. Where in nature do you find black wood ? i had a used pair of Joseph audio speakers (RM25] once and the black rubbed of the edges where your palms would rub on the top corners when you would move your speakers around to position them, and it exposed the fiberboard underneath. They were really done bad. I Would never by black wood grained speakers again.
Buy a high grade oil paint in your favorite color, then search out a quality finish painter like Michelangelo and you'll have something you picked! After 5-6 coats you may find the black wasn't so bad after all!
prof, I agree, but Parkay is a margarine, parquet is a floor. That said, some of my favorite speakers from the past have been black ash just by chance because I bought them used. Spendor SP 100 and Celestion sl6si come to mind.
Firmly Against, for practical reasons: changing out one black box for another (much more) expensive black box is 'stealth upgrading'. No-one in the family will have the faintest idea what just happened.
I have a pair of Aerial Acoustics 7B towers in black ash. I did not choose the finish. And don't really care. But they are extremely well done. Looks and feels like fine furniture. Seams at corners and edges are imperceptible to touch or sight. Finish is not overly dull or shiny.
I might not have chosen that finish if I'd been buying new........but it certainly does not seem like anything to get worked up about.
And in the wrong application some fancier finishes, even when done well, seem to shout "look at me"......which is not exactly what I'm looking for in a speaker.
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