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Speaker appearance vs quality sound or eyes over ears (1 Viewer)

AbsolutePower

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How important is the appearance of your speakers? do you to some degree choose with your eyes when shopping around or is it all about the sound
For me appearance plays a big part in selecting my speakers .I have a pair of Paradigm studio 100v5 in high gloss black and they dominate the room there in there appearance alone commands respect and if you want to know how they sound you will find out for you self (you can't hear with my ears)
I've listened to B&W nautilus (shaped like a snail) paired up with Macintosh and it was awesome but there's no way I'm putting those snails in my house
Money can't buy taste
 

Phil A

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The cabinet in almost all speakers of decent quality is usually the most expensive part. Room appeal is important. I've heard and seem many things. While I can appreciate many of them, they probably wouldn't work too well in a large portion of real world rooms (with wall space, audio rack, TV, etc.) vs. a room set-up to demo them. Here is one speaker (I think they list for around $365k give or take) that the size/configuration would be hard to fit in a good portion of rooms (never heard them) - http://www.dynamikks.de/Ultima.htm
 

Phil A

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If I was to get new speakers (not that I'm in the market), I'd definitely go the route of a good company that does custom veneer. Below is a recent one from Vapor Audio


IMG_0024.JPG
 

AbsolutePower

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Phil A said:
If I was to get new speakers (not that I'm in the market), I'd definitely go the route of a good company that does custom veneer. Below is a recent one from Vapor Audio

attachicon.gif
IMG_0024.JPG
That veneer finish is awesome but are you selecting these because of there finish or there sound also what's the price tag on them
 

Dave Moritz

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Sure you want speakers that look good because your going to have to look at them all the time but sound quality IMHO is the first thing I look for. I also found that for some time now companies have done a good job at making good looking speakers. Now in the late 70's and 80's there where some ugly low quality veneers but I do not think that is the case anymore. The competition is more intense now and companies really have to make sure there speakers look nice and sound nice in there price range.
 

Phil A

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AbsolutePower said:
That veneer finish is awesome but are you selecting these because of there finish or there sound also what's the price tag on them
They were actually purchased by someone I know and I went to his place (a bit over 2.5 hrs. one way) to meet the designer/manufacturer. There are many manufacturers that make speakers with awesome finishes. Salk was mentioned earlier (and pictures, including the one I posted don't even do them justice once you see them in person, including pics of my speakers below). I have a pair of Ohm Microwalsh Talls in one system, a pair of Thiel 3.7s in the main system (in birdseye maple) and even in the guest bedroom I have a pair of Mobile Fidelity OML-1s with a really nice finish.


Ohm.JPG


Thiel 3.7.JPG


Mofi OML-1.JPG
 

ChromeJob

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Phil A said:
...Here is one speaker (I think they list for around $365k give or take) that the size/configuration would be hard to fit in a good portion of rooms (never heard them) -
Your link is broken. Verify the URL before posting please.

I choose based on sound, component value, quality of manufacturing. If looks are commensurate with those, great. If it's better, vunderbar. If it looks like ugh, well then I think twice. I guess I'm lucky that most of the components I shop for come in black, as I don't want my speakers to stand out visually, but aurally. Besides, fancy pants speakers with a certain look need to fit into their environment. Would you put some eye catching speakers with nautilus shapes and superb veneers in a room with a Renoir?

I also prefer a matte finish for any speaker near a screen ... don't want light bouncing off the speakers and creating glare or distractions.
 

Phil A

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URL worked when it was posted (I don't maintain the internet or websites - main co website is here - http://www.dynamikks.de/) - pics of some expensive speakers are here - http://www.higherfi.com/spkrlist/speakerlist.php


The cheapo ( :wacko: ) $365k ones are the 11th one down. Some of them just wouldn't work in many listening rooms due to the size, room and the need for space for audio components.
 

Dave Moritz

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I will take my Altec Lancing A-7's over those mega dollar speakers with exotic veneers. I just need to get working again so I can take them to a professional and have them painted a high gloss piano black!


IMG_1200 (2a).jpg
 

Phil A

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Dave Moritz said:
I will take my Altec Lancing A-7's over those mega dollar speakers with exotic veneers. I just need to get working again so I can take them to a professional and have them painted a high gloss piano black!


attachicon.gif
IMG_1200 (2a).jpg
They look like a real vintage version of the more modern Cathedral Speakers - http://www.cathedralspeakers.com/


They exhibited at the Capital Audiofest for a few years as did - http://www.voltiaudio.com/vittora.shtml


Very nice speakers.
 

Walter Kittel

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Seeing as how...


I run a front projector so during most viewing the lights are down, and

Often I will close my eyes while listening to music -


Speaker appearance means very little to me in practical terms.


That is not to say that I can't appreciate lovely looking speakers. One of my all time favorite speakers, on the basis of looks, is the Sonus Faber Amati Homage, but I'll never afford those guys in this life. :)


- Walter.
 

Phil A

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Walter Kittel said:
Seeing as how...


I run a front projector so during most viewing the lights are down, and

Often I will close my eyes while listening to music -


Speaker appearance means very little to me in practical terms.


That is not to say that I can't appreciate lovely looking speakers. One of my all time favorite speakers, on the basis of looks, is the Sonus Faber Amati Homage, but I'll never afford those guys in this life. :)


- Walter.
Those are beautiful speakers as are these Sonus Fabers - https://app.audiogon.com/listings/full-range-sonus-faber-stradivari-homage-red-violin-piano-gloss-2015-06-30-speakers-bh12-4hu


Not cheap.
 

gene c

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Beauty doesn't add to sound quality but it does add to pride of ownership. Same holds true for electronics. I always thought Swan gave you quality, looks and value. Too bad Jon Lane doesn't associate with them anymore. It was good stuff. Should have kept my Diva's.


http://www.swanspeaker.com/product/htm/view.asp?id=122


http://www.swanspeaker.com/product/htm/view.asp?id=123


http://www.swanspeaker.com/product/htm/view.asp?id=168


http://www.swanspeaker.com/product/htm/view.asp?id=152


http://www.swanspeaker.com/products/products.aspx?cid=4&sid=0&pid=54&cmenu=gallery


I also like the looks of my Paradigm Studio v2's in Rosewood


http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/649191682-paradigm-studio-40-v2rosewood/images/952037/
 

AbsolutePower

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gene c said:
Beauty doesn't add to sound quality but it does add to pride of ownership. Same holds true for electronics. I always thought Swan gave you quality, looks and value. Too bad Jon Lane doesn't associate with them anymore. It was good stuff. Should have kept my Diva's.

http://www.swanspeaker.com/product/htm/view.asp?id=122

http://www.swanspeaker.com/product/htm/view.asp?id=123

http://www.swanspeaker.com/product/htm/view.asp?id=168

http://www.swanspeaker.com/product/htm/view.asp?id=152

http://www.swanspeaker.com/products/products.aspx?cid=4&sid=0&pid=54&cmenu=gallery

I also like the looks of my Paradigm Studio v2's in Rosewood

http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/649191682-paradigm-studio-40-v2rosewood/images/952037/
I agree the rosewood finish on the Paradigm is gorgeous and I struggled over piano black or the rosewood finally settling on the black cause it matched everything else I had
 

AbsolutePower

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Phil A said:
The cabinet in almost all speakers of decent quality is usually the most expensive part. Room appeal is important. I've heard and seem many things. While I can appreciate many of them, they probably wouldn't work too well in a large portion of real world rooms (with wall space, audio rack, TV, etc.) vs. a room set-up to demo them. Here is one speaker (I think they list for around $365k give or take) that the size/configuration would be hard to fit in a good portion of rooms (never heard them) - http://www.dynamikks.de/Ultima.htm
Theses look like someone read the IKEA manual wrong
 

Brent Reid

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Jeebus, call me a philistine but those Nautilus and Dynamikks speakers are among the ugliest things I've ever seen and as for the price... Do men (I'll bet no woman's ever bought any) really buy those things, regardless of whether they can afford them or not? Talk about the emperor's new clothes!


You deffo need to practice your link-building Phil! ;)
 

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