America is tired of black only hifi gear

F1nut

While there are some smart manufacturers that offer a choice there are far too many of you that think we only want black and you couldn't be more wrong. This is America, we demand choice. It's not like you have to make silver gear just for us as you offer silver and black for the rest of the world markets. So, enough already.......bring it on!

BlueFox

And maybe a platinum finish.

mantis

Years ago I looked at equipment like this and thought " I need something different other then just damn black stuff". At that time I decided to get Silver rails on my Salamander stand. Then Rotel and got Silver face plates.
I was considering getting all Silver everything. I thought that would be badass. My TV then was silver.
Today I care less about the face colors, I'm actually very cool with flat black gear. I do however wish Pioneer Elite would come back with the Urusei Finish and I'd even be cool with Rosewood side panels again. last of the greats if you will.
I get it as I think about these things from time to time.

motorhead43026

I am good with flat black. I thought of silver for my new Halo but was concerned I would tire of it easily, so black it is.

EndersShadow

I want a RAINBOW OPTION DANNNG IT!

gce

And if you get a scratch, where do you find black paint.

tonyb

xcapri79 wrote: »

We live in a free market and it is simply a case of supply and demand. Through marketing research, there appears to be little demand in North America for other than black.

I dunno X, in my over half a century of walking this planet, I've yet to come across a survey that asked me which color I prefer or would like to see. I don't know who is doing this marketing, but it doesn't appear to be happening in the audio community of which the products will be used.

I would imagine black/silver is simply the most wide spread acceptable colors in audio gear, but not necessarily the preference of many. Cost controls probably play into it as well.

A good example would be TT's....many different colors today.

motorhead43026

Black being a neutral color is why it is more prevalent. Much like the women's little black dress, it goes with anything.

Mikey081057

My tube amp is silver black and GOLD. Could have had silver on silver, black on silver or gold on silver and chose this scheme. Gold is nice too.

tonyb

motorhead43026 wrote: »

Black being a neutral color is why it is more prevalent. Much like the women's little black dress, it goes with anything.

Ha....when it comes to womans dresses....the best dress is one left on the floor.

gmcman

I guess I'm ok with black gear since it's been so widespread, but at the same time the silver Halo does look sweet. I do like a nice light wood/glass rack with light colored components though.

Of course, this comes to mind also..lol.

txcoastal1

I generally prefer black but since the Threshold's are silver I will be paring them with a silver Modwright LS 100. The amps will stand out sitting on Walnut amp stands with silver coned feet

gmcman

txcoastal1 wrote: »

I generally prefer black but since the Threshold's are silver I will be paring them with a silver Modwright LS 100. The amps will stand out sitting on Walnut amp stands with silver coned feet

Sweet stands...very nice.

Not dismissing the amps either...

nooshinjohn

Granite works for me.

txcoastal1

John you know I still drool over those amps

gce

I posted this awhile back. Not mine, but what a beauty this is in black!

cnh

xcapri79 wrote: »

tonyb wrote: »

xcapri79 wrote: »

We live in a free market and it is simply a case of supply and demand. Through marketing research, there appears to be little demand in North America for other than black.

I dunno X, in my over half a century of walking this planet, I've yet to come across a survey that asked me which color I prefer or would like to see. I don't know who is doing this marketing, but it doesn't appear to be happening in the audio community of which the products will be used.

I would imagine black/silver is simply the most wide spread acceptable colors in audio gear, but not necessarily the preference of many. Cost controls probably play into it as well.

A good example would be TT's....many different colors today.

Do you believe that we live in a free market and it is simply a case of supply and demand? Demand is determined through market research and there are various methods that can be used to determine demand.
Do you believe the choice would be there if there were sufficient demand?

Well, yes and no! Your "need" and "desire" for a certain product is also created and imprinted through advertising, etc. It's NOT just marketing, it's also indoctrination. No rational being needs to change his/her clothes as often as the fashion industry changes their styles. No rational human needs a new car every year or couple of years, and so on. Young females on red cars scantily clad? Twenty somethings chilling at home to the latest 4K wireless tech. Photo shopped images and videos of fast food? Sure marketing is important. But creating markets, fabricating them, and selling them are equally so. And since our society is so wonderfully materialistic. Since consuming and spending is almost all that gives life meaning these days for most people (how sad), the market becomes a giant breast that provides sustenance for its infants and keeps them forever dependent. lol

Back to Jesse's post. Anyone who has traveled extensively in East Asia has seen the plethora of platinum, gold, and silver faced offerings in audio. In fact, they are preferred there. You'd have a tough time buying a black one!

F1nut

gce wrote: »

I posted this awhile back. Not mine, but what a beauty this is in black!

That black faceplate came about because an American wanted one, so he had them made and sells them now. Marantz didn't offer it in America at the time, your only choice was silver. Just as the only choice Marantz offers now in America is black, while they offer silver and black to the rest of the entire effing world.

It's about CHOICE!!!

motorhead43026

Where can you get silver paint?

[Deleted User]

F1nut wrote: »

gce wrote: »

I posted this awhile back. Not mine, but what a beauty this is in black!

That black faceplate came about because an American wanted one, so he had them made and sells them now. Marantz didn't offer it in America at the time, your only choice was silver. Just as the only choice Marantz offers now in America is black, while they offer silver and black to the rest of the entire effing world.

It's about CHOICE!!!

No joke. I was excited to see the new Marantz 7010 in silver only to find out it was not available in the states. I settled with black.

Nightfall

I'm okay with black. I do wish we could go back to gear with metal silver faces and real wood accents though.

Soooo purdy

F1nut

Nightfall wrote: »

I'm okay with black. I do wish we could go back to gear with metal silver faces and real wood accents though.

Soooo purdy

I'll give Yamaha some credit, they are offering some of their products in silver and black with wood side panels in the US today.

treitz3

Wood rocks on audio gear IMO. I love the Dodd pre I have for having a wood faceplate.....looks especially good in-between the wood subs and mains.

One of my favorite looks for faceplates is Burmester. Very nice!

Tom

BlueFox

I started will all black gear, but the Shunyata Triton was silver, but they now also offer black. Anyway, as I upgraded gear, silver was the only option, and now the two channel is all silver. Except for the Triton in the HT, all that gear is black. Silver would be a disaster in the HT as it reflects light.

boston1450

I have the Denon POA 2200 amp & Denon PRA 1100 both w-wood side & even the Sony cd player w-wood sides & all being black & being that age era im ok with them... Then there's new tube int amps that are silver & i prefer silver. I prefer meters too but cant/dont want to afford them in newer gear

mhardy6647

scan0004a by Mark Hardy, on Flickr



it's all good.

Nightfall

I wish they would put those meters on an integrated priced less than a good used car. They can't be that expensive to implement.

Toolfan66

Wyred for sound offers their gear in black or silver.. I think Yamaha has some nice looking gear today as well..

I like black myself..

mhardy6647

They (Yamaha) always did...

DSC_0241 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

(in the interest of full and complete disclosure -- I am something of a fanboy)

pitdogg2

I'm with you Larry I like mine to be so subdued that when the walk by creeps come looking in my window they can't see it. Yamaha tried several colors back in the 80's and they didn't sell well.

tonyb

pitdogg2 wrote: »

I'm with you Larry I like mine to be so subdued that when the walk by creeps come looking in my window they can't see it. Yamaha tried several colors back in the 80's and they didn't sell well.

Hey now, I take offense to that. I wasn't looking at the gear....you need to tell the wife to stop prancing around in front of the windows in those low cut jammies.