Poll: "Ugliest" receivers and speakers?

[kexodusc]

Come to think of it, you could add just about any computer speaker too...
I get a kick out of these cyber-geeks who build their massive computer entertainment centers and try to tell you their Altec Lansing 6.1 computer speakers have 1200 Watts that'll kill any 400 watt B&W/Yamaha HT setup you can build, and do it for half the price.

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing better than hearing my recycle bin erase stuff in 6.1 audio, or that cool windows ding when you try to do something you're not suppose to, but please...

[Tarheel_]

Receivers
yuck...Denon, looks like a decade behind
attractive...Rotel, HK & Elite(but hate the orange display)

Speakers
attractive...Sonus Faber, B&W
yuck...RBH, Mordaunt Short and Wilson

[woodman]

I wouldn't characterize them as UGLY ... I think stoopid-looking is the more appropriate term for the loudspeakers from B&W and Swan that have the tweeters mounted outside the enclosure. I couldn't live with such an atrocity, for it would remind me on a daily basis of just how bizarre and "off-the-wall" some audiophiles actually are when they think that mounting a tweeter outside will somehow have some magical effect on the overall sound (it won't).

For receivers, I don't classify any of them as actually ugly. If the question was asked in reverse ... what receivers are the most handsome, I'd answer that by saying - any of them that aren't BLACK! Give me gold - give me silver - give me titanium - give me ANY color other than black ... PLEASE! I'm somewhat encouraged that the pendulum seems to be starting to swing back away from black - but it can't happen too soon to suit me. I'm a bit perturbed at Yamaha for eliminating the importation of anything other than black into the U.S. In Japan, gold finish is the dominant color ... here, they claim that gold finish simply doesn't sell. This makes no sense to me at all. A black finish shows every speck of dust - every fingerprint - they're virtually impossible to keep looking pristine - yet that's what "sells" ... go figure!

[zapr]

I wouldn't characterize them as UGLY ... I think stoopid-looking is the more appropriate term for the loudspeakers from B&W and Swan that have the tweeters mounted outside the enclosure. I couldn't live with such an atrocity, for it would remind me on a daily basis of just how bizarre and "off-the-wall" some audiophiles actually are when they think that mounting a tweeter outside will somehow have some magical effect on the overall sound (it won't).

For receivers, I don't classify any of them as actually ugly. If the question was asked in reverse ... what receivers are the most handsome, I'd answer that by saying - any of them that aren't BLACK! Give me gold - give me silver - give me titanium - give me ANY color other than black ... PLEASE! I'm somewhat encouraged that the pendulum seems to be starting to swing back away from black - but it can't happen too soon to suit me. I'm a bit perturbed at Yamaha for eliminating the importation of anything other than black into the U.S. In Japan, gold finish is the dominant color ... here, they claim that gold finish simply doesn't sell. This makes no sense to me at all. A black finish shows every speck of dust - every fingerprint - they're virtually impossible to keep looking pristine - yet that's what "sells" ... go figure!

............They should offer black or silver as choices for all audio equipment. I'm not about to change all my equipment just to keep everything the same and current. I think they would prefer that though........Zapr

[kexodusc]

If you have a Sony Store in St. John's you should be able to find them...I have a confession to make. I sampled these speakers compared to some PSB Alpha's that were just a bit more money in the same store, and the Sony's held their own until we put some Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto on...don't remember the model #, but they were the best Sony brand speakers I've ever heard, and I'm not a Sony fan by any means.
Don't know why they had green drivers...but they're probably targeted towards high school/college students on a budget. I couldn't afford stuff like that when I was in high school

[joel2762]

I'm going to the mall this Sunday where the Sony Store is..haha i'll have to take a look at these!

[kexodusc]

Sony X-Series...pretty ugly, here's a link to some of the models:

http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/ser...th=32100n32105

[stan2]

I wouldn't characterize them as UGLY ... I think stoopid-looking is the more appropriate term for the loudspeakers from B&W and Swan that have the tweeters mounted outside the enclosure. I couldn't live with such an atrocity, for it would remind me on a daily basis of just how bizarre and "off-the-wall" some audiophiles actually are when they think that mounting a tweeter outside will somehow have some magical effect on the overall sound (it won't).

For receivers, I don't classify any of them as actually ugly. If the question was asked in reverse ... what receivers are the most handsome, I'd answer that by saying - any of them that aren't BLACK! Give me gold - give me silver - give me titanium - give me ANY color other than black ... PLEASE! I'm somewhat encouraged that the pendulum seems to be starting to swing back away from black - but it can't happen too soon to suit me. I'm a bit perturbed at Yamaha for eliminating the importation of anything other than black into the U.S. In Japan, gold finish is the dominant color ... here, they claim that gold finish simply doesn't sell. This makes no sense to me at all. A black finish shows every speck of dust - every fingerprint - they're virtually impossible to keep looking pristine - yet that's what "sells" ... go figure!

clearly, black components are better looking. gold? silver? gold and silver? jeez. how could you get this so wrong?