HiFi as Home Decor?

[Fandango Andy]

I visit a lot of homes with my job. Most people don't have what you would recognise as a HiFi. But them we have the other extreme, systems they don't use. HiFi as home decoration to look nice and/or impress their friends.

The most notable example on this was a few years ago when I saw stunning 1970's setup. Marantz receiver and record player and big Tannoy monitors. I immediately spotted that the record player was missing a stylus, on closer inspection there were no cables attached to amp! Admiring the pristine equipment I noted it wasn't connected up and enquired if it was a recent acquisition. The response was that it was just for show. "the amp doesn't work, and I am rebuilding the record player over time. don't know if I will ever use it I don't have any vinyl". It transpired the speakers worked and were connected to a streaming amp hidden in the cupboard below.

While this was an extreme example of HiFi as home decoration, I see more and more homes with record plays, often very good ones, and only a handful of records. Some of this is novelty value, but others, its for show! If HiFi s becoming home decor accessories for some, will this impact the the aesthetics and appearance for some manufacturers? Will we see more retro looking equipment? Or a return to the style over substance hayday of Bang & Olufsen? There seems to be a recent trend for bright coloured loudspeakers, some of these have a retro-future vibe.


Images are for illustration not the actual components I saw. I guessed at the receiver from memory, but do remember the record player was a Model 6300.

 

[Dave_]

Hi-fi is an bloody eye sore that collects dust and clutters the room, I'm buggered if I'd tolerate it just for show!

 

[matthewpianist]

Perhaps strangely, for someone who has been so obsessed with hi-fi for most of my life, it's the last thing I would choose as home decor, but perhaps that's because I've become tired of big boxes taking up lots of space and dominating a room.

 

[jjbomber]

I visit a lot of homes with my job.

Are you a burglar?

 

[RoA]

Hi-fi is an bloody eye sore that collects dust and clutters the room, I'm buggered if I'd tolerate it just for show!

110%. To be heard, not seen

 

[RoA]

Are you a burglar?

😀

 

[RoA]

I visit a lot of homes with my job. Most people don't have what you would recognise as a HiFi. But them we have the other extreme, systems they don't use. HiFi as home decoration to look nice and/or impress their friends.

The most notable example on this was a few years ago when I saw stunning 1970's setup. Marantz receiver and record player and big Tannoy monitors. I immediately spotted that the record player was missing a stylus, on closer inspection there were no cables attached to amp! Admiring the pristine equipment I noted it wasn't connected up and enquired if it was a recent acquisition. The response was that it was just for show. "the amp doesn't work, and I am rebuilding the record player over time. don't know if I will ever use it I don't have any vinyl". It transpired the speakers worked and were connected to a streaming amp hidden in the cupboard below.

While this was an extreme example of HiFi as home decoration, I see more and more homes with record plays, often very good ones, and only a handful of records. Some of this is novelty value, but others, its for show! If HiFi s becoming home decor accessories for some, will this impact the the aesthetics and appearance for some manufacturers? Will we see more retro looking equipment? Or a return to the style over substance hayday of Bang & Olufsen? There seems to be a recent trend for bright coloured loudspeakers, some of these have a retro-future vibe.

View attachment 10163View attachment 10165
Images are for illustration not the actual components I saw. I guessed at the receiver from memory, but do remember the record player was a Model 6300.

Sorry but those are awful (imho).

 

[Juzzie Wuzzie]

I use the Primalunas in the public area of my apartment as an element of them is for show. But they are working dogs as such.

 

[plastic penguin]

No, hi-fi is purely for musical pleasure for the family and I.

I've never seen hi-fi related wallpaper, either except the amp, speakers etc etc for what it is or don't bother at all.

Friends of ours had a B&O lifestyle system -- that was an eyesore and anti-room.

 

[Sanglier]

I visit a lot of homes with my job. Most people don't have what you would recognise as a HiFi. But them we have the other extreme, systems they don't use. HiFi as home decoration to look nice and/or impress their friends. ..

I'd never thought of that. I too have seen a great many private homes, mostly with very superior decor - I spent many years as a freelance photographer & writer, doing complete words/photos packages as features for the glossy home interest titles. Mostly in UK but a few in Continental Europe. I don't actually recall seeing any interesting upmarket hi-fi at all in these homes - though one couple with a super modernist place in Ibiza had an early streaming setup, speakers all over. Maybe those interested in high end decor & furnishings aren't necessarily keen on hi-fi? I don't know. As I said, it's not something that ever occurred to me, since although hi-fi has always interested me I don't recall noticing it in private homes from Edinburgh to Land's End, Suffolk to Fishguard.
rgds S

 

[daytona600]

Friend sold Hiend kitchens & bathrooms for 30+ years & visited thousands of luxury homes & never Once saw a decent hifi only the odd Sonos

The people that can afford expensive Hifi do not know it even exists or see the need for it
He did show pictures of hundreds of Heliports , Underground garages full of Ferraris , Huge waterproof TVs in showers , Heated Lawns , Tennis courts & a few £500k + Home cinemas