Is black the new err...err...black?

[plastic penguin]

Wondered whether any learned members know of a sea change when it comes to speaker colours. d_a_n 1979 has just purchased black RX6, Big Chris was tempted by black GS10 - most of the bigger retail outlets have had black speakers in the window. I've recently seen a couple of pairs of PMC speakers....(draws breath) in black.

Although other colours are freely available, it just seems black seems to be popping up everywhere; about ten years ago I can't even remember seeing one pair in a year, much less several pairs in a space of a few days.

I need enlightening...

 

[Anonymous]

For me, my electronics are black, but the speakers have to match with the colour of the walls and items within the room. So dark zebrano in the lounge, and then maple in the bedroom. Woman dictates this!

Started off with black speakers though for the first 15 years of hifi, and it freaked me out buying new colours. Now it is a matching exercise of the speakers I like, so they fit in with everything else.

 

[chebby]

I will always prefer a well finished wood veneer and pay extra for it if necessary.

Gloss/Piano black also shows up even the tiniest amounts of dust and every fingerprint.

Also it looks 'cheap', especially when partnered with the ubiquitous gloss back plastic television. Then there is a visual association. People are more likely to think the speakers are made of black plastic than that the television is finished in piano gloss lacquered wood.

I even like to see wood on amplifiers.

 

[Anonymous]

No No No PP, black is not the new black at all,

But wait for it, piano gloss black is indeed the new black apparently

 

[d_a_n1979]

Yup... As above; piano/gloss black is the in thing I think currently...

I simply went for the gloss black as my TV and surround sound system is all gloss black and so is the Atacama hifi rack

It is a gorgeous finish though

 

[Anonymous]

Got to admit, your speakers do look great in the gloss black finish.

How do you resist cleaning them every 10 minutes to keep them nice and shiney?!

 

[Big Chris]

Well. My 602s bought back in '02 are black

, but black ash vinyl wrap.

It's the gloss black thing that's got me hooked, hence the interest in the GS10s and the Roksan K2 TR5s.

Only issue ive got is what to do with my stands as I've got top spikes at the moment. it'd break my heart to put piano gloss speakers onto spikes, even if you never ever see the bottoms of the speakers.

 

[plastic penguin]

I can certainly see the appeal of (gloss) black, but I can imagine they are a rascal to keep clean.

The PMCs I saw for sale of fleebay were matt finish. They looked just dreary...

 

[AlmaataKZ]

Nice wood does it for me. But in some interiors I agree gloss black or even white can look very good.

 

[chebby]

AlmaataKZ:Nice wood does it for me. But in some interiors I agree glass black or even white can look very good.

Gloss white speakers can never look good.

 

[Big Chris]

chebby:

AlmaataKZ:Nice wood does it for me. But in some interiors I agree glass black or even white can look very good.

Gloss white speakers can never look good.

Tend to agree with regards to 'proper' speakers (My MT-30 in gloss white looks great).

Take the ADM 9.1s. Look sharp in gloss black, look cheap and nasty in gloss white.

 

[d_a_n1979]

potboyslim:
Got to admit, your speakers do look great in the gloss black finish.

How do you resist cleaning them every 10 minutes to keep them nice and shiney?!

Belive it or not I got a free Autoglym polish pack with the speakers; specially designed for Monitor Audio

They're clean currently but they'll soon attract the dust as the TV & surround sound system does. I've one of those anti-static dusters though and it works VERY well indeed... Weill until the cat walks past and then woosh... Cat hair TV lol

 

[d_a_n1979]

Big Chris:
Well. My 602s bought back in '02 are black

, but black ash vinyl wrap.

It's the gloss black thing that's got me hooked, hence the interest in the GS10s and the Roksan K2 TR5s.

Only issue ive got is what to do with my stands as I've got top spikes at the moment. it'd break my heart to put piano gloss speakers onto spikes, even if you never ever see the bottoms of the speakers.

Don't rule out the gloss black M/A RX2's Big Chris; they really are superb speakers and to me they sounded better than the GS10's

They do share similar technology though!

If you wanted to put the speakers on to spikes get some of them sticky back felt pads that you use on chairs and table legs/feet for wooden floors. They're fairly thick and dense so the spikes wont penetrate them

 

[Anonymous]

Im hoping you don't have ocd for cleaning, or your life will be takem over with the polishing kit haha!

 

[plastic penguin]

d_a_n1979:potboyslim:

Got to admit, your speakers do look great in the gloss black finish.

How do you resist cleaning them every 10 minutes to keep them nice and shiney?!

Belive it or not I got a free Autoglym polish pack with the speakers; specially designed for Monitor Audio

They're clean currently but they'll soon attract the dust as the TV & surround sound system does. I've one of those anti-static dusters though and it works VERY well indeed... Weill until the cat walks past and then woosh... Cat hair TV lol

We have a very friendly moggy that likes to its aqauintance with my speakers by rubbing its nose on the side. hence why I would hesitate to have (gloss) black.

 

[d_a_n1979]

potboyslim:Im hoping you don't have ocd for cleaning, or your life will be takem over with the polishing kit haha!

Erm... I'm sayin nuttin'

I do like things that gleam to be polished! My car's get washed and AutoGlym 'Aqua-Wax'd' every weekend!

Dear god... Why did I buy Piano Black... lol

 

[plastic penguin]

d_a_n1979:potboyslim:Im hoping you don't have ocd for cleaning, or your life will be takem over with the polishing kit haha!
Erm... I'm sayin nuttin'

I do like things that gleam to be polished! My car's get washed and AutoGlym 'Aqua-Wax'd' every weekend! Dear god... Why did I buy Piano Black... lol

I know a good painter and decorator...LOL

 

[visionary]

chebby:
AlmaataKZ:Nice wood does it for me. But in some interiors I agree glass black or even white can look very good.

Gloss white speakers can never look good.

Can't agree with you there, Chebby.

My MA Radius 90HDs in gloss white look fab in our white kitchen

 

[chebby]

visionary:Can't agree with you there, Chebby.
My MA Radius 90HDs in gloss white look fab in our white kitchen

I can see that...

 

[matthewpiano]

Must admit, I love the look of my Roths (piano black top and bottom with matt wood effect sides) on my crackle black finished Apollo stands.

 

[gbhsi1]

chebby:
AlmaataKZ:Nice wood does it for me. But in some interiors I agree glass black or even white can look very good.

Gloss white speakers can never look good.

I have to disagree, gloss white can look fantastic in the right room & decor. My brother bought a gloss white finished genie 3 and it just looks fantastic in his home 🙂 I think it all depends how you compliment the rest of the room.

 

[crusaderlord]

natural wood for me - i have oak finish speakers and love them

my wife really hates black and for a while i even had a silver tv finish to avoid the black - however my latest ones are back to black as the fashion for other tv finishes has all but died out

i also like wood effects on the amplifier although havent bought one like that - the Leben CS-300X is one of my favourites

 

[The_Lhc]

My missus is odd, she wants everything in black (shut it you lot...). Refused the KRP-500A in white or grey (even though I thought the grey looked stunning), told me I had to get the speaker stands in black (the silver was a bit tacky I have to admit), didn't want anything other than black for the TV stand and ten years later is still mildly irritated that the centre speaker I bought was in a light wood finish and not black like the speakers, even though you can barely see it.

Odd really cos everything else in the room is pine, so I'd have thought she'd like it all to be matching that but no.

 

[AlmaataKZ]

gbhsi1:chebby:

AlmaataKZ:Nice wood does it for me. But in some interiors I agree glass black or even white can look very good.

Gloss white speakers can never look good.

I have to disagree, gloss white can look fantastic in the right room & decor. My brother bought a gloss white finished genie 3 and it just looks fantastic in his home 🙂 I think it all depends how you compliment the rest of the room.

Yes, in most instances wood, black etc is the best, but sometimes well-designed, unusual and striking can be fantastic. I for example never thought of the big ATCs in unusual colours, but when I saw the big 100s towers in gloss white (see thread in signature for visual evidence) - and these guys are big - the first thought that crossed my mind was: Wow, theese are great! Unexpectedly great looking!

 

[Anonymous]

I think that my high gloss zebrano finish on my SA1s looks great, even non Hi Fi friends and family that have seen them agree, they never mentioned my previous speakers............