Yamaha AVR's - Basic Black and that's it?

[Ponzio]

Is there a reason that Yamaha USA only puts out their AVR models in black only nowadays? I've noticed that in the UK/Ireland, specifically the 2700, 3800 & 3900 models, came in with 3 different finishes; black, brushed silver & gold. I had an older SS unit, the RX-900, in the early 80's in brushed silver that looked really sharp.

BTW the unit is still going strong and in use by my 15 year old nephew with a set of Athena Technologies AS-B2 speakers that I also gave him. I liked the aesthetics of the thing so much, that the other day I offered to replace it with a more powerful model, the RX-V1070. It's has 25 less watts but I thought it would be a nice conversation piece because of its looks, as compared to the bland black 1070. The weasel turned me down. He tells me that all his friends & girlfriend thinks it looks "cool".

 

[3db]

*LMAO* The kid knows what he's got. Good for him.

 

[fuzz092888]

It seems like a lot of major brands do that. All the other countries get colors, while the US gets black.

 

[Adam]

I'm guessing that it's based on market research and projected profit.

But, it might all just be a conspiracy. Fuzz has me all freaked out about them government radio waves now. *Puts on tin foil hat*

 

[Ponzio]

It seems like a lot of major brands do that. All the other countries get colors, while the US gets black.

Don't the muckety-mucks here have a relationship with Yamaha? Maybe they can get us/me an answer. I'm getting the impression it's cost. The UK/Ireland site doesn't show different finishes either, for the latest Aventage line.

Maybe that old adage is true; one you go black, you can't go back.

I keed, I keed.

 

[3db]

But, it might all just be a conspiracy. Fuzz has me all freaked out about them government radio waves now. *Puts on tin foil hat*

They already left with everything you once knew and just left some change.

 

[Adam]

They already left with everything you once knew and just left some change.

And all this time I was blaming alcohol and my head injuries. Well played, government rays. Well played.

 

[Lulimet]

I bet it's because not enough people bought silver or gold here. People here have different taste than those in Europe or Asia.
If enough people really wanted other colors, I am sure Yamaha would start offering different colors here.

 

[3db]

Its funny .. my first amp was a radio integrated amp by Radio Shack putting out a whopping 25w/per channel. It was built in this nice walnut case with a black grid that took up 1/2 the top for ventilation and its facia was gold. I really wanted to have black components back then and I still do to this day.

 

[Pyrrho]

It isn't just Yamaha. Most brands sell only black for most AV gear in the U.S. If I had a choice, I would go with a plain brushed aluminum because it is easier to see the controls that way. I have an old Pioneer SX-1250



and it is extremely easy to see how the controls are set. I have a black CD changer hooked up to it because brushed aluminum is hard to get in the U.S. for CD changers. It is extremely annoying how hard it is to see the controls on the CD changer; the light must be bright for it, whereas the light of the dial of the Pioneer receiver is enough to see how all of the controls are set.

 

[Plexmulti9]

I'll tell you what.... I WISH electronics came indifferent finishes these days!

 

[Ponzio]

It is extremely annoying how hard it is to see the controls on the CD changer; the light must be bright for it, whereas the light of the dial of the Pioneer receiver is enough to see how all of the controls are set.

Exactly!!! It's bad enough that the volume level is cell phone font sized 10 ft. away from my listening/viewing position. YAMAHA, if you're listening, PLEASE INCREASE THE LED VOLUME LEVEL FONT SIZE.

Add in the wood trim on the sides and then you really have something. Have you noticed that the new Yamaha integrated amp (A-S2000) has that finish option? But am I going to pay $2K plus for 2 channels & 120W? Not only no, but hell no!

Take the new Aventage RX-A3020, add the wood/silver combo finish and charge another $200 to $300 and I'd bet you they'd be flying off the shelves.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

this thread need more pitchers

 

[Adam]

BSA, Freud would love the subject line of your last post.

 

[Pyrrho]

Frankly, if any company made a reasonably-priced carousel CD changer with a brushed aluminum face (for the U.S. market), I would probably buy it. But as things are, I put in a little light to shine on my stupidly black Integra CD changer (that otherwise, I like fairly well). I like having a 6 disc carousel changer instead of only 5, but I would be willing to give that up for a proper one with an unpainted brushed aluminum face. (The really irritating thing is, mine has an aluminum face, but instead of leaving it beautiful, they covered it in black paint, making it look much more like plastic than it otherwise would.)

It is galling seeing them for foreign markets. I would be tempted to import one, but that would add significant shipping costs, require the power supply to be altered (in most cases), and essentially eliminate the warranty, which combined with the extra bouncing around for long shipping, would not be a good thing at all.


I don't know why so much audio equipment is black. I don't like speakers to be black either; I like a natural wood finish. It is especially bizarre when they put real wood veneer on a speaker and then paint it black instead of leaving it natural. My guess is that many guys would have less trouble with their significant others if they had something other than a bunch of ugly black boxes all over the place. Black electronics, black speakers; all black. People often select furniture and even wall covering (paneling) with natural wood finishes, as it adds a warm look to the room. Pretty much nobody adds a bunch of black to a room to try to make it look good.

 

[fuzz092888]

Frankly, if any company made a reasonably-priced carousel CD changer with a brushed aluminum face (for the U.S. market), I would probably buy it. But as things are, I put in a little light to shine on my stupidly black Integra CD changer (that otherwise, I like fairly well). I like having a 6 disc carousel changer instead of only 5, but I would be willing to give that up for a proper one with an unpainted brushed aluminum face. (The really irritating thing is, mine has an aluminum face, but instead of leaving it beautiful, they covered it in black paint, making it look much more like plastic than it otherwise would.)

It is galling seeing them for foreign markets. I would be tempted to import one, but that would add significant shipping costs, require the power supply to be altered (in most cases), and essentially eliminate the warranty, which combined with the extra bouncing around for long shipping, would not be a good thing at all.


I don't know why so much audio equipment is black. I don't like speakers to be black either; I like a natural wood finish. It is especially bizarre when they put real wood veneer on a speaker and then paint it black instead of leaving it natural. My guess is that many guys would have less trouble with their significant others if they had something other than a bunch of ugly black boxes all over the place. Black electronics, black speakers; all black. People often select furniture and even wall covering (paneling) with natural wood finishes, as it adds a warm look to the room. Pretty much nobody adds a bunch of black to a room to try to make it look good.

You could always find someone to take the faceplate off, lightly sand blast it and polish it

 

[Pyrrho]

You could always find someone to take the faceplate off, lightly sand blast it and polish it

The problem with that is that there would be nothing telling me what each button does. It would remove the labels as well as the black paint.

Really, someone should be selling what I want. But they are very rare in the U.S. The thing is, several companies sell them in other countries, but they do not offer them in the U.S. I should have as much choice as people in the U.K. and other such places, but the simple fact is, in the U.S., you don't have as many choices on this.

The U.S. is treated like some backwater and not given the same options that companies offer in other countries.

 

[fuzz092888]

The problem with that is that there would be nothing telling me what each button does. It would remove the labels as well as the black paint.

Really, someone should be selling what I want. But they are very rare in the U.S. The thing is, several companies sell them in other countries, but they do not offer them in the U.S. I should have as much choice as people in the U.K. and other such places, but the simple fact is, in the U.S., you don't have as many choices on this.

True. I don't know how it would look, but the label maker I just got does clear labels (IIRC). If you had some hi res images of the front faceplate you could always do something like that. This is starting to get a little elaborate, but I guess the point is, where there's a will there's a way.

However, as I stated above and I'm in agreement with what you're saying, I think it would be much better if they would just offer the things that way in the first place for us.

 

[Jeepers]

Really, someone should be selling what I want. But they are very rare in the U.S. The thing is, several companies sell them in other countries, but they do not offer them in the U.S. I should have as much choice as people in the U.K. and other such places, but the simple fact is, in the U.S., you don't have as many choices on this.

The U.S. is treated like some backwater and not given the same options that companies offer in other countries.

I had the same problem but the other way around; I like black (not for speakers) but the amplifier I purchased is only available with a brushed aluminium faceplate so my dealer, who is rather handy, made a black faceplate for me to put in front of it. He cut out the holes for the buttons; luckily the amplifier only has 4 buttons.

There may be more finishes available in Europe (at least for electronics) but the prices are higher in Europe than in the US. E.g. if you pay $2000 for a Yamaha receiver, we pay 2000 Euro or GBP.