What is the coolest looking or best designed HI-Fi you've seen.

[Dom]

Sorry.

 

[Jasonovich]

Sorry.
View attachment 5822

So much better than those dull black boxes, I wonder if the retro look will ever make a revival?

 

[plastic penguin]

Yes. When I was a teenager lots of amps had twin VU meters. Now not so many but they do have a certain visual charm I think. Were they dropped generally because they're unnecessary accoutrements which would ultimately lead to a degradation of the signal purity in an amplifier. I'm no expert in such matters. However that is my assumption. Is that correct or incorrect?

My first two amps (JVC stereo receiver and Pioneer integrated) were boys toys dream of flashing lights and VU meters. Only bettered by a retro graphic equaliser.

 

[plastic penguin]

So much better than those dull black boxes, I wonder if the retro look will ever make a revival?

It's still there with the likes of Accuphase, Luxman, Yamaha & Teac.

 

[Jasonovich]

It's still there with the likes of Accuphase, Luxman, Yamaha & Teac.

Yes, very true.

 

[Jasonovich]

These STANDMOUNT SPEAKERS EBTB are £1540 second hand, not so sure they're cool but certainly wins hands down, as one of the most weird speakers I've seen.

 

[daytona600]

Project 100th anniversary Ortofon

 

[JDL]

These STANDMOUNT SPEAKERS EBTB are £1540 second hand, not so sure they're cool but certainly wins hands down, as one of the most weird speakers I've seen.

View attachment 5823

There's some cream leather (hmmm lovely) ones on eBay.....£750.

 

[Stuart83]

Any amp with dancing VU meters. I have a genuine fixation with hands and meters.
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Any amp with dancing VU meters. I have a genuine fixation with hands and meters.

There's always these for ppl missing the vu meter dance if their setup hasn't got them.

 

[plastic penguin]

Nah, it's lacking knobs.

 

[Stuart83]

[

Nah, it's lacking knobs.

🤣

 

[Aasbakk]

I fell in love with this one, and still am
StereoKnight Lancelot S-40

 

[daytona600]

 

[Sir Ken Smith OBE]

Audio Innovations Alto amplifier and CD

 

[podknocker]

I'd love all these in a dark listening room in my dream soundproofed bunker! At the moment, I doubt I could afford to have this lot plugged in and switched on considering energy prices.

McIntosh 75th Anniversary

1949 – 2024: McIntosh Celebrates 75 Years of Audio Excellence

www.mcintoshlabs.com

 

[12th Monkey]

I'd love all these in a dark listening room in my dream soundproofed bunker! At the moment, I doubt I could afford to have this lot plugged in and switched on considering energy prices.

McIntosh 75th Anniversary

1949 – 2024: McIntosh Celebrates 75 Years of Audio Excellence

www.mcintoshlabs.com

That does look stunning - though I confess I don't like the look of McIntosh stuff up close. Not that this is likely to be an issue...

 

[daytona600]

 

[daytona600]

 

[Friesiansam]

View attachment 6002

Not much thought seems to have gone into the placement of the turntables...

 

[bp_reid]

Whether is sounds any good I don't know but this stuff from Transparent looks pretty good to me.



Transparent Turntable

 

[12th Monkey]

Looks like that'd be a nightmare to keep clean.

 

[daytona600]

 

[AJM1981]

The main difference between studio gear and Hifi is that Hifi is furniture and somehow compliments an interior. This is what everything ever made is kind of about.

As mentioned in another topic- Personally I consider gear made by Wilson Audio plain ugly, but when I would rebuild the interior of Star Trek's enterprise I would definitely drag in Wilson Audio gear because it seems like the set designers started an audio company.

Braun goes with a lot of these white timeless Ikea rooms and a lot of vintage inspired gear is based on mid-century modern design.

I personally like walnut finished cabinet loudspeakers and metal plated amps without bells and whistles (and no integrated tuners).

 

[JDL]

It's surprising how many B&W 800 Matrix speakers, undoubtedly a studio oriented monitor have made it past the "Gatekeeper" and the "WAF" into audio obsessed mens houses.
I've seen several of these mighty beasts of a speaker set up inside people's living rooms on a few different forums. I've no idea what they fetch nowadays but I guess it's got to be several thousand pounds. I have yet to see a pair on eBay.

 

[AJM1981]

View attachment 5983

Audio Innovations Alto amplifier and CD

That jet-age design piece would look good in a classic American Diner