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Why is black so popular for components?

A current post about the looks of gear got me thinking. How did black become the most popular color for audiophile gear? I can see it being popular for home theater where the gear might be at the front of a room where you want it as dark as possible but black was the color of choice well before home theater. Maybe it is as simple as people just like it but if that were the case I would think it would also be the most popular in other consumer items such as motor vehicles.  I remember when I wasn’t always fortunate to have a dedicated stereo room and my wife would ask me why I purchased black equipment because she thought it was ugly and I agreed with her but usually, I had no choice.  For manufacturers offering additional colors may be costlier but I am willing to pay for it. Fortunately , some companies that I like offer silver usually in the face plates which works for me. Odyssey Audio has numerous color options available for their faceplates for a nominal fee but as far as I know they are an exception.  A lot of speaker manufacturers offer different colors which is great, especially if you have to place them in a communal space like a living room.  So in summary why did black become the color for stereo gear ? How many of you would prefer color options?

128x128lwin
motown-l
181 posts
 
I recall reading something in a design journal, several decades ago, that black was associated with "professional" equipment, beginning in the early 60's. They referenced both chrome and black Nikons, Canon's and Leica's.

In the 70's, higher end separates, from mainstream companies like Technics, Kenwood and Sansui, would have black faceplates while their  receivers were generally available only in silver.
trebor33
38 posts
 
Silver for me. Can’t see the dust so easily!
mikey99
20 posts
 
Indeed I recall it was associate with "pro" equipment. Black, rack-mounted equipment was big in the 80's, and black became almost universal in the 90's. This ruined it for me, it became associated with cheap, mass market stuff in my mind. I know that is just a perception, but I can't shake the association.
bluebottle20
3 posts
 
Yep, Motown and mikey99 are correct. When first introduced for retail , most manufacturers had the option of silver or black, but eventually , that went away. 
I used to prefer silver, now I prefer black. Small blemishes are not as noticeable.

hshifi
572 posts
 
Hello,
To start is was due to cost, heat, and what was available due to technology . Ayre components are silver because they are brushed aluminum. If you wanted a black anodized finish it was a $400 option but the remote is still going to be silver if the remote is aluminum. My Denon Receiver and SACD player were silver by choice. I have a mix of black and silver. A lot of companies are now mixing the two like Rotel, NAD, and  Mark Levenson. The only thing I prefer is blue lights on everything or give me a choice for the led color. I prefer silver or grey vehicles. Even my Ferrari was anthracite or metallic grey with deep red interior very nice. I had a black car and it is impossible to keep clean. 
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