Enter to Win: Pair of x-ls Bookshelf Speakers from AV123!

[Jack Hammer]

Black

What is your favorite finish on a loudspeaker and why?

I like a flat black, preferably with a slightly roughened texture. Mainly because It's something that I'm always able to match with something. Black is really not the best looking finish, but it is timeless and won't look cheesy three years later. That and everybody's black is the same color, unlike wood grains.

 

[viking68]

I like 'em in cherry. I just purchased a set of Bohlender Z7s in cherry (the Z5 center is black ash and the R-18i surrounds are in off-white) and they look great. I have an Onix/Rocket sub in another system that is also finished in cherry (cherry stain on Russian maple), and it, too, looks terrific. Too bad nobody can see it, though!.

 

[Davidt1]

Glossy black here, too. It has a modern, classy look to it.

 

[malvado78]

I would say I like the piano black as well as a nice cherry finish. But I would probably be more apt to buy the piano black before the cherry because of black's ability of matching most decors better.

 

[Pianoman84d]

"What is your favorite finish on a loudspeaker and why?"

it depends on the room...

if it is a nice open room with lots of light (i guess that rules out a projector), then a light beech color probably is best. For me, if it is a darker room, I still do not like black. I'd rather go with something light a dark cherry or rosewood because it is more personal than plain black. just MHO.

 

[BobBart]

Well I like the aluminum extruded look. Like the speaker is made out of a large chunk of aluminum. I currently have my speakers painted with that color. I wanted to use the metal look formica but it was more than my budget would allow.

 

[Mort]

What is your favorite finish on a loudspeaker and why?

I like cherry/dark furniture however, I like black speakers

 

[jhanley]

Any finish that has a "real" wood look to it is preferable to something that looks fake.
With that said I always go for black, since it goes with anything.

 

[John D]

My favorite finish on a loudspeaker would be the same as my favorite finish for an entertainment center or other furniture, and that would be some type of dark reddish woodgrain color (cherry or similar). The reason for this is that everyone else already has some type of black, white, tan, maple, etc. color for speakers and I want something that is not the same as everyone else.

 

[Blundaar]

I've got to admit- as much as I wish for another finish besides black (see sig), it blends in better or provides the perfect contrast to any room. Other finishes like cherry or ash tend to commit one to a stricter pattern of interior decorating (HEY! a lot of us have wives, you know).

 

[soundsfine]

Black, black, black. Our viewing room has modern furniture with black metal frames, the tv is black, the component stand is black, etc., etc.

 

[Tomorrow]

Oak. Definitely oak. It makes it much easier to gain the required WAF!

EDIT: Oak is so prevalent in today's home decor. I wonder why it isn't offered more readily by speaker manufacturers. Yes, it's a tad more expensive than the common cherry or "black ash", but at volume purchases by the manufacturer, one would think that it can't add 'that' much to the cost of a speaker.

 

[jcPanny]

Speaker Finish

Contest Question: What is your favorite finish on a loudspeaker and why?

I like the south american rosewood finish on the rocket and Onix reference speakers. On the X-LS, I prefer the maple finish because it is real wood and doesn't look like a generic black bookshelf speaker.

 

[schoultz]

I like the white maple finish. It is different and unique.

 

[nm2285]

I love rich, dark colors. piano black is great too. i hate the new silver trend.

 

[gellor]

Real wood, black ash. I don't want wood tones to match the furniture because that can change. I don't like glossy black because that's just one more thing for the dog hair to stick to. I just think that a matte black, real wood finish looks very elegant and clean. Especially when sitting next to components and furniture that are already black.

 

[westcott]

Good speakers should be like good furniture, a nice wood finish that goes with the rest of the decor. Walnut, Cherry, Birdseye Maple, Rosewood, or any of the exotics.

Black was not an option for our family room\home theater.

 

[FLMike]

My favorite Finish

Cherry/Dark wood--It goes with the furniture and the blinds. I don't have the luxury of a dedicated listening/HT room, so it's helpful if speakers look good as well as sound good.

 

[SKINNER]

What is your favorite finish on a loudspeaker and why?

Call me weird but I don't like piano black at all. I think it looks cheap. . .

I actually prefer the true wood grains, but with one caveat. The wood must have a look of 'quality'. I'm not looking for a cheap laminate. If the wood is a true quality veneer with a nice grain structure and color that matches (or at lease compliments) my current furniture count me in.

 

[turbosir]

Pair of x-ls Bookshelf Speakers Contest

I would go for the Satin Black as they would go with the Black theme of my audio/Video setup