I find a lot of hi-fi component design to be lacking in design. I think some of that is driven by the fact that most manufacturers are aiming for somewhat "standard" component dimensions for given typologies but there is a lack of creativity in even the front panel of most components. There is something to be said about the timeless beauty of some of Dieter Rams' audio designs for Braun or B&O's early Beo turntables and speakers. I have yet to see a tub pre/integrated/amp that tries to step out of the proverbial box that when I look at it, I get a little design lust. The same can be said for many of the solid-state stuff out there.
Speakers are another thing altogether. Few manufacturers make anything other than boxes with some grille tweaks and veneer choices. I'm not asking that every speaker be a one-off thing, but I also think some thought about aesthetics should trickle down from flagship models into lower models. I think that's why I like PS Audio's current speaker line up. There is a consistency of aesthetic follow through all the way down the line. Sonus Faber is another that make beautiful speakers.
But...I also don't want components trending in the opposite direction where every design is aping Apple bevels and rose gold tone choices either.
I think aesthetics is important as much as sound quality. Especially if you have the Wife-Acceptance-Factor to consider.
It is amazing to me that people got paid real money to come up with these designs. On top of that, the designs most likely had to be approved by multiple people at these organizations. The wadax is the least offensive to me. Tectonic and McIntosh are close but Tekton gets the edge because I could put the Mc in a cabinet to hide.
The ugliest thing about the McIntosh is that it lacks MDMI. Something that is reportedly fixed with their forthcoming pre-amp! Who cares what the form factor is if there's no function
I’d say its a toss up between that laughable Tekton speaker pictured above and the supreme joke of Tralfamador...actually I think the real prize should go to complete system composed of Mac separates with Tektons as the main left and right with Tralfamadors as the surrounds with a phantom center. Anyone support that notion? And now for the real question: Who among you could walk into a room filled with a system like I just described without laughing out loud?
While no particular component comes to mind, anything with a polished mirror finish that reflects the image of a 75-year-old, well-worn audiophile back at you (in my case) has to be near the top.
The person who owns these horns cares ONLY about the sound. He puts together custom systems that are much more practical than ones with that giant horn. That horn was meant to be used in theaters where it was hidden behind screens or curtains so looks were totally irrelevant. The sound is a great example of how one can engineer something that works despite what would otherwise be considered a major flaw. If you suddenly stop the music, you will hear a very long echoing decay of the music, which means that the horn is ringing like crazy. But, it rings over a broad range of frequencies so that the decay sounds utterly natural and there is no sense of the music being muddled or tonally altered by this ringing. Once I heard that ringing, I found it hard to accept, in my mind, that this was not a BIG problem. But, the more I listened, the more I came to realize that it was not a problem and that this horn is fantastic. It is very impractical, requires at least four, and up to eight very expensive midrange compression drivers for a stereo pair, but it IS something one should hear if one has the chance. It is on display and plays in the museum dedicated to vintage gear in Seoul, South Korea.
Those are some horns…Personally, I wouldn’t care to own them but I believe some people pride themselves in owning something rare as this regardless of its appearance. They may sound phenomenal but for me, striking a balance between form, function, and how a piece integrates into its surroundings is an important aspect of ownership. It’s about creating harmony in the space as well as in the sound, which makes the experience even more enjoyable.
I have another anatomically suggestive speaker system for you to consider. It is the Western Electric 16A horn from the 1920's. I know someone who owns two of these beasts. Although it has two drivers, it is a single midrange horn. I've heard them run full range with Western Electric 555 fieldcoil drivers and also YL compression drivers. The setups I heard did not employ any woofers. Being a midrange horn, and given that the drivers were also meant to only operate in the midrange, it was shocking how much bass this horn delivers (goes down to somewhere around 70 hz). A bullet tweeter crossed in at around 15 khz. Whether it is ugly or beautiful is really hard to say. It is like what someone said about Nat King Cole--I don't know if he is the handsomest or ugliest man.
I'll throw klipschorn and other giant boxes by them in the mix. Don't like how they sound either which makes it worse for me.
And yea the rant on ASR was not a good moment for Tekton. To be fair I didn't think their base model Lore was that bad measurement wise. Go check the stereophile article on the impact monitors if you want to see the response of the seven tweeter array. I have a +/-3 DB response from 20 hz to 20 khz with minimal room EQ from the listening position. I also have a fully treated space and two rhythmik F12s working sub 80 hz. Speaker designers are human too and he clearly takes pride in his products to light Amir up like that lol
Holy s**t, that is a real looker, although what looks like a port when the thing is closed is really going too far. I recall people talking about putting toilet paper over the tweeter on Klipsch Heresy speakers; toilet paper stuffed in that port would really be too much to even think about.
LEDs tend to increase noise to the power supply circuit. Perhaps, that improves the sound of some gear where noise is preferable to what the amp puts out.
As far as Tekton, unfortunately I’ll never unhear the cretinous fight they took to ASR, in which they successfully demonstrated that the speakers ASR trashed in a review were in fact trash, but not for the reasons ASR said. They lost their credibility and gained nothing. Why anyone would think that the self-infliction of a PR disaster is good business is incomprehensible.
Shoot me, but I like the McIntosh designs. A bit retro, which I like. Come on, who here wouldn’t want a big honkin’ Sansui or Marantz receiver in their rack, even if it was just for show? I have a C220 preamp, and love the LED lit front panel. It sits on the top of my rack.
Frankly, I think the Chord designs look like R2D2 vomited out his lunch. I tend dislike asymmetrical designs.
The Washington Post did an article where a non-audiophile reporter went to a local high end shop. The reporter described the Avantegarde speakers as looking like an air raid siren from a Tex Avery cartoon. I thought that was a terrific description, albeit one that younger readers might not understand.
I could never buy an exposed horn speaker like the one lubachi has shown, or Avantegarde no matter how they sound. For a positive comment, those Vitus amplication products from Denmark have me drooling for an upgrade. Just gorgeous.
Agreed, Lalitk, The Frankenstein look of the MCD85 is, IMO, unbeatable in this little contest of yours.
It is (obviously?) a reference to the MC2100, which I owned for some years, but never appreciated for beauty. It sat on a bottom shelf, largely in the shadows of a dark listening room, and nobody ever approached it to "get a closer look".
I am digging your sense of humor and take on Tekton’s. And I agree, horns belongs in a nice wood cabinet with one exception. Check out WVL 33221 Berlin. If I have the room with high ceilings, I wouldn’t mind these bad boys.
@gemoody+1 Hifi-Mac: The worst combination of ostentatious and ugly. I have yet to see a Mac product I could bring myself putting in my home. Maybe Bose will rectify that?
Great list so far. Mc is definitely not for everyone. If it has those blue meters I could go for it. Glowing green tubes just add to the fun. My question with Tekton is, when do they know they’ve added enough drivers? When they reach the top of the step stool? My add would be any equipment with giant horns visible. (Tried adding a picture or link without success). Honkin’ on Bobo indeed. I love the spinning sound of a Leslie but the horns are usually placed in a beautiful wood cabinet.
Tekton dude, Eric, clearly doesn't want to do gloss paint lol. As a businessperson, probably one of those things where it's like "if they want it, they'll pay for it otherwise I can just do the part I like doing"
I own the double impacts and impact monitors and I love how they sound. Not extremely gorgeous but they honestly look much nicer in person. My friend has the moabs. They are a bit more to take in but I wouldn't say I hate them by any means with the ceramic and beryllium drivers. I understand if you're able to fork out 10's of thousands to get insane sound and gorgeous cabinets. I can only afford one of the two. And I prefer insane sound over gorgeous cabinets
You must have a verified phone number and physical address in order to post in the Audiogon Forums. Please return to Audiogon.com and complete this step. If you have any questions please contact Support.
