Many Audiophiles revere what the coveted as youths.
In your case not so much.
I agree about beauty.
This is why I refuse to listen to certain brands for fear I might like them.
I won't mention which in order to avoid a war here.
Amp- Leben, Shindo, Mac
Speaker- Chord ELS 57,most else is pretty much ugly.
Let us know what you choose!
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Solid State:
Nagra
Dartzeel
Solution
Tube:
Air Tight
Tron
McIntosh |
For aesthetic beauty, it's hard to beat any component with exposed tubes. MC's lava light is nice too. |
"...not to mention the aircraft I flew on to get there." A pilot, or the designer, or the engineer(s)? |
Also, the Sony. SS-M speakers were darn cool: SS-M3, SS-M7, SS-M9. I don't know the geometric term for their shape; maybe someone else here does? |
....I'm still trying to wrap my head around 'sex on a stick'....*cringe*
B&O still comes across as 'audio Moderne'...fun to look @, tho'...
In a 'living space', 'minimalist' is good....you're there to Listen, not gawk.
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PATHOS "Logos" integrated amp.
Yes, the heat fins are a bit over the top; but, it is still a stunning and unique piece of audio gear. |
Just go’s by the person.
I will not have any piece of any thing I consider ugly in my living room.Except me .
My friend , a dealer, almost gave me a pr of KEF 700 , the deal was SO good I took those brown pups home . The were fantastic speakers for my
room , as good as good can be in every aspect .Save the color .
After a week i took those mint speakers @ 75% off back because I only like black speakers in my room with black and white decor .
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For current, new product I have found the new model VK-80i integrated amplifier from BAT to be exquisite. A nice blend of traditional tube look combined with modern day design elegance. And the BAT products are stunning sonic performers as well. Check it out...
VK-80i Integrated Amplifier — Balanced Audio Technology
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Cello
Pass Aleph
Shindo
Ojas |
Leben w devore o series speakers....looks and sounds fab.
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Looking at me tube gear at night listening to some old Blues/Jazz is the ticket!Lights out and 20 tubes glowing!
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I'm partial to my Scientific Fidelity "Tesla" speakers, and love their sound even more than their great looks. Corey Greenberg in Stereophile basically killed the company with a bad review. But Stereophile raves about others I've had in my listening room to compare (by PSB, B&W, MartinLogan), and they have all fallen short. Still, here's a link to that scandalous review for the sake of the image. https://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/492scifi/index.html |
Pro-ject Sigature 10 with olivewood plinth. Gorgeous tonearm also. Sonics match its good looks too. |
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Components: JRDG- audio jewelry.
Speakers: Marten Coltrane- I love the wood and carbon tombstone look. |
I have a small collection of silver-faced (1977-80) amps and receivers simply because I like the way they look. |
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Burmester makes the best looking gear in my eyes. Especially the 911Mk3 amp. Piece of art. |
Millercarbon, that is the ugliest pile of stuff, I've ever seen in one place at one time. Ugly equipment, ugly rug, ugly wall paper, ugly chair... and a lava lamp? Gimmie a break! And you're not even embarrassed about showing it... I guess some people have no shame! |
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Yamaha particularly their latest high end offerings.
Audio Note tube amps.
Luxman
Accuphase
Nagra
Pass labs
The no longer produced Mystere products.
For the money I think Schiit products have nice industrial design.Magico. I dig the “assemblage” nature of them. The pieces that make up the whole if that makes sense.
Focal Diablo Utopia.
I think Japanese designs are beautiful with some manufacturers going for a modern design with retro flair, while others go for ultra precise, simplistic designs. There’s a lot of nice looking stuff out there. I don’t buy for looks generally but looks were definitely part of my decision making with my Yamaha AS3000 integrated in silver. It’s a beautiful piece of equipment.
Merry Christmas everyone! Stay safe.
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I like smaller and unobtrusive. Bel canto designs are nice looking and unobtrusive. Ohm Walsh speakers the same. |
I run custom made Linkwitz Orion loudspeakers. The stock design is a kind of Danish Modern look and I live in a 100 year old Craftsman bungalow, so I had them custom made in a Mission style. They look terrific and sound awesome. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/5659 |
I think the Naim Uniti Atom is a stunning piece of industrial design. Also happen to like the Naim Mu-so 2. |
Based On Looks -
Vinnie Rossi L2
Pre and Integrated
Lampizator - Pacific
Bespoke Audio Company
Ypsilon Electronics -
Ayre Acoustics - R series
Kaiser Acoustics - External Cross Over
Artisan Fidelity Plinths
Avantgarde Acoustics - Duo, Trio, Amp
Sonus Faber Amati Futura
Tidal HiFi - Contriva G2
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@russbutton Nice job integrating your speakers and rack into your aesthetic. I had a 1928 Craftsman home about 20 years ago that I loved. Just had a certain coziness imbedded. Like audio gear it was eventually time for a flavor change and I’m now in a 1956 MCM home. |
EAR Yoshino V12. A thing of beauty to look at. When visitors enquire about it I always introduce it as "my Mickey Mouse" amplifier Of course there is nothing Mickey Mouse about it. It has been part of my set up for over six years and sounds magnificent. I will likely see my days out with this one http://www.earyoshino.com/V12/ |
Leben
AirTight
VAC PA90
WAVAC
(pretty much a tube thing)
Devore
Avantgarde horns
Auditorium horns
@snilf I was a college kid selling hifi when Mke Mahoney showed up with the Tesla’s. They looked great, but man did the top end just sizzle. Mated with warm tubes like the VAC, they sounded nice if a bit muddled on the bass. I personally liked them but after CGs review, we couldn’t give them away unless the customer wasn’t an audiophile and didn’t read Sphile. |
Sevi01 elevates this thread by introducing Dieter Ram, one of the most influential designers in our lifetimes. I don’t really want to own a Braun stereo, but the man is an amazing designer (and team player). So many Braun products are icons, and have influenced a couple of generations of our best designers. Most hi-fi products look like absolute shite. |
I think that Avalon males some of the most decorative speakers, not to mention generally excellent sound. You probably have to have modern decor for them to fit in, mind you.
As for gear, the champagne coloured Conrad Johnsons stuff looks nice with just about any decor. |
Thanks to all for your input. Could not agree more...loved the looks of my CJ ART pre and the champagne color was/is "out of the norm".
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As evidenced by the range of responses, “ good design looks” can mean eye candy or museum level cabinetry.
I never had a listening session with plasma speakers, but imagine if you like tube amp aura then turning down the lights with plasmas running would float your boat. Me, I REALLY wonder what they sound like.
in my early 20’s I had a Sound Shaper III equalizer, 35 red lights glowing and a pair of level meters doing the dance as music played. Gadgetry ruled.
Regarding earlier post stating they thought Vandy wood Quatros are beautiful, yeah but only if you compare them to how ugly earlier sock covered Vandys were.
In todays offerings, I don’t much like the look of Blades speakers although I admit it took guts to push them to market. They sounded awesome in one showroom, mediocre in another.
i think if the founder of Green Mountain audio was still with us, he would have come up with a new audacious design, his last design, Calypso, was interesting to look at
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For audio racks, Core Audio Designs racks are stunning. On equipment, I prefer understated clean lines and elegance like on the Innuos Statement. |
JBL Paragon Integrated Stereo Loudspeaker, without a question. JBL has always been stylish in most of its designs, but this late '60's speaker is without question the most stylish loudspeaker ever mass produced. |
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Ikeda tonearm, especially in contrast to the 4Point. I was considering buying one but the ambiguous setup is a headache I do not want. |
jacksky
The Conrad Johnson ART Pre-amp, was far from "eye candy". In it's day it was considered SOTA....state of the art. But I do agree that sometimes looks seem to be more the objective than sonic merits. But the same can be said for automobile design for decades. Like when Ferrari was making the original GTO and Porsche had their 356 and Detroit was trying to make barges that ate gas and could barely be stopped without brake fade....but they did have fins that looked like sci-fi movie space ships. |
Yeah, those Tektons are among the ugliest components, and certainly as residential pieces of furniture, that I have laid eyes on .
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@mikeydred
Yeah, those Tektons are among the ugliest components, and certainly as residential pieces of furniture, that I have laid eyes on .
As wonderful as all the reviews are on Tektons, in fact claiming to challenge and beat out many $30K speakers, I've often wondered why Tekton doesn't put another few hundred dollars into improving the aesthetics in each pair. This would not meaningfully alter the price point they are building to, considering their reportedly profound value. In fact when I read threads of folks seeking $20K speakers Tektons often get mentioned so consider the market. It just seems like they could capture an immensely larger market if the things just looked presentable in a normal living space as opposed to dedicated rooms that have been relegated to basements or rooms that are embarrassingly finished with red carpet and cheesy wanscoting. They should at least offer a slightly higher-priced trim package for those who love the sound but would be otherwise embarrassed or put off by the looks. |
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agree w vermonter. also most of the older generation krell’s. they were so unique and macho.
virtually all ML gear has looked good to me.
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