converting oiled walnut to "rosenut" color

My experience has been any color stain added to an already dark color, darkens it even more, even if it does change it towards the color you want. Trying the bottom of the speaker first is very good advice although alot of speakers may not be veneered on that side.Darkening also can destroy the texture of a beautifully grained wood depending on the style of the veneer cutting process.This is from someone who has destroyed a few finishes and learned the hard way. Good luck.

I would get a couple pieces of walnut at you local lumber yard or woodworking supply store and test a few stains before even touching the speakers. The veneer on the speakers is probably thin and won't permit much sanding.
If you can't get good results with the sample pieces you will have to re-veneer the speakers with rosenut or a wood tha can be stained to match the color/effect you seek.
But the re-veering may change the cabinet dynamics of the speakers.

This is going to sound extreme, but I think that you need to "bleach" the existing finish out to get it as light as possible before re-staining. A risky undertaking. If you even consider this route, I would try it on the bottom first.

Thanks for the suggestions..all good. I've stained & finished enough wood over the years to appreciate the comments about dark wood just getting darker with added stain. I hadn't considered that..yet, but no doubt it's true. Typically on fresh wood I use Transtint dyes and often make several applications of different colors without it going muddy & dark. A "Mission" finish starts out with fresh (qs)white oak getting a canary yellow dye and ends as a glazed golden reddish-brown. Transtint has some pretty pure colors, but hitting the speakers with a straight red dye may not get me there. The Transtint carrier (you mix it up from concentrate) is either ethanol or water. Not thrilled with wiping down the speakers with either, but ethanol would be better. Though any ethanol you can buy contains 5% water and this could raise the grain...requiring a light sanding. I'm sure the veneer is paper-thin.

The suggestion of bleaching and then restaining is actually a very good one that I hadn't considered. There are a number of options to bleaching..the ones I know involve water. Lots of risk with this path though. It could only be done as a shortcut to reveneering..as, if it didn't work, I'd be reveneering anyway. In the end, the "shortcut" may turn out to be going straight to reveneering in the first place.

hmm..nuthin's easy...

I haven't pulled the bottom halves of the speakers out of the closet they are in, but I don't think the bottoms are veneered. I have some walnut in the shop..guess some experimenting may be in order...thanks..

keep'em(stock)walnut..they're classics.