Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end Subject: Re: Why is all hi-fi black? Summary: Expires: References: <36rvrj$jr3@tolstoy.lerc.nasa.gov> <36v2o0$esr@tolstoy.lerc.nasa.gov> Sender: Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: University of Maryland, Baltimore County Keywords: Cc: In article <36v2o0$esr@tolstoy.lerc.nasa.gov>, ManEdTAS wrote: >I think it's time for gold to make a comeback. My vintage Scott gear looks >great in my living room; it gets more compliments then my High End gear! >While we're at it, how about the return of wood cabinets? >Frank Doris >The Absolute Sound I wholeheartedly agree! I'm only 31, but I do remember going into hi-fi stores back in the early to mid 1970s and later. The equipment was so much more pleasing to the eye back then than it is today. I'll also add that much more work apparently went into the designs of the cabinets, faceplates, etc. than it does now. Brushed aluminum and gold faceplates, which were nicely contoured,, very solid chasis, nice wooden cabinets, analog tuners that "glided" when one turned the tuning knob, real (useful) analog VU and tuning meters (some with peak-indicating LEDs in the corner), tastefully colorful panels when powered up (such as tuners with blue back-lights and a glowing red pointer, etc.), etc. Much more imagination and good taste was required to design these units. I can see that when one purchased such equipment, one must have felt as though one was getting one's money's worth. Today, even the cheapest rubbish on the market comes in similar appearing black cabinets, so, to a casual observer, such as the "average" consumer, the mass-produced rubbish appears quite similar to the more expensive and equally boring looking equipment. I fail to see why black is so popular.