Question Black, White, or Silver?

[Fandango Andy]

From the responses to a recent post I got the impression most people on here don't really care about the visual aesthetics of their systems. Some even downright dislike the look of HiFi equipment. I was surprised having read lots of comments in the past about people not buying something because of how it looks, or the colour of it. For me sound comes first, but I don't want an eyesore in my room.

So I thought I would post a poll for fun and see if people really don't care.

If you were starting again with a new system, assuming your chosen components come with colour options, which would you choose?

 

[davidf]

Depends on the decor of the room, as well as what the equipment looks like - some products look better in a particular finish. And whether I want it to stand out or not 🙂

I prefer a darker titanium to silver, bordering on gunmetal grey. Silver can be a little too bright and sometimes cheap looking.

 

[Shrek]

I wouldnt buy anything i dont like the look of Silver for me .

 

[Cricketbat70]

Depends on the decor of the room, as well as what the equipment looks like - some products look better in a particular finish. And whether I want it to stand out or not 🙂

I prefer a darker titanium to silver, bordering on gunmetal grey. Silver can be a little too bright and sometimes cheap looking.

Gunmetal gray. I love that colour. I had my alloy wheels redone in that colour when I had them refurbished. It would be a close run thing between gunmetal and the titanium of my Yamaha AV receiver if I was starting again. My current system is a right mix of colours. Titanium, champagne, black.

 

[Jasonovich]

If I'm upgrading, I try to stick to the same colour theme but if it's a must have product and they have no option for alternative colours, I'll probably say; sod it and buy it because I want it!

 

[Al ears]

Depends on the decor of the room, as well as what the equipment looks like - some products look better in a particular finish. And whether I want it to stand out or not 🙂

I prefer a darker titanium to silver, bordering on gunmetal grey. Silver can be a little too bright and sometimes cheap looking.

I'd agree. If all my kit came in Titanium I would be a happy man.
that said it took me a good while to find my amp that wasn't black.
glad I held out...

 

[Angle Poise-Lamp]

If I ever get round to saving for a Pathos InPolEar, I will order it in red.

 

[Jasonovich]

If I ever get round to saving for a Pathos InPolEar, I will order it in red.

Love your style! 🙂

 

[Messiah]

I want good sound but I also certainly want it to look good.

Whilst I currently prefer black to go with decor, colour by itself is not the main criteria. I do want components that match.

 

[RTHerringbone]

I've voted "Other", meaning "It Depends".

My latest stuff has been silver because when I finally settled on the bits I wanted, one part was only in stock in silver and it was easy enough to secure the other component in a matching finish. I think I'd probably have gone all-black otherwise, but black really shows up dust.

In my main system I've a mix of black and silver and really it doesn't matter as they're all separated in a unit, so it doesn't look like an assorted jumble.

Ultimately I think I'd always prioritise the component over the colour. I wouldn't go with a Plan B just based on colour.

 

[RoA]

If I had to pick one it would be matte black but more important, don’t mix with silver components. Ideally, for aesthetics, a one brand system, tucked out of sight or integrated into a nice book wall or a non Hifi piece of furniture. Unfortunately mine currently resides in a rack and I intensely dislike it. Showing off Hifi is a bit like wearing heavily branded clothing.

 

[jjbomber]

Speakers have to be in wood.

 

[Al ears]

Speakers have to be in wood.

Unless someone is going to give me a pair of Magicos.....

 

[Gray]

Ultimately I think I'd always prioritise the component over the colour. I wouldn't go with a Plan B just based on colour.

Same here, plan A or nothing.
Colour alone should never be the decider.
I've got black, silver, grey and gold.
At one time I had the matching 3020/4020 NAD amp and tuner, but before and after that nothing of mine has matched - not the same manufacturer, colour or size.

 

[Steve983]

I must admit I have been put off by the current silver finish of most of Cambridge Audio's units, silver seems rather 70's to me. My Cambridge AXC 35 cd player sticks out in an otherwise black or gunmetal grey hi fi stack but I've learnt to live with it 🙂