The latest trend in faceplate: Silver

polkatese
polkatese Posts: 6,767
edited April 2003 in Electronics
It is interesting to notice that gears in silver are becoming more and more common. I have an almost evenly divided gears with silver faceplates. It is a nice change, the first silver gear I bought was the Sony DVD DVP-S570D that supposedly match to the Sony WEGA series (even though I have a regular black XBR) The more I spend time in front of the gears, the more I appreciate the "new" finish. Anybody else think this faceplate change to be nothing short evelutionary and dramatic?
I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
Post edited by polkatese on
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  • HBombToo
    HBombToo Posts: 5,256
    edited April 2003
    I think it looks cool in the mags but thought it may be very stark in a rack. I have no experience with this but what do ya think?

    You don't find it distracting at all?

    HBomb
    ***WAREMTAE***
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,781
    edited April 2003
    Personally, IMO, I hate the silver look. I have seen some expensive Silver receivers and pre's that looked totally sweet. But right now, my favorite look is PE's Gloss Black finish. That junk totally effin rocks! I love it!
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited April 2003
    HBomb, not at all...that is distracting. It gives an interesting ambiance of sophistication or class. I'll shoot some pics this weekend...
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited April 2003
    I always loved the brushed face plate on my Carvers. I guess my least favorite is 'Nad' grey, but then again, I own several Nad amps, so looks only do so much for me.

    Actually, I'm not suprised silver-faced gear has come (or is coming) back around just like everything else, fashion, automobile design, even some music.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • steve simmons
    steve simmons Posts: 64
    edited April 2003
    When I bought my first stereo system back in the mid 80's almost all the gear was silver. I think it was 1985 or so when I noticed the new models were coming out in black. It's like Russ said- following a trend much like fashion.
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  • HBombToo
    HBombToo Posts: 5,256
    edited April 2003
    Originally posted by polkatese
    HBomb, not at all...that is distracting. It gives an interesting ambiance of sophistication or class. I'll shoot some pics this weekend...

    Cool, looking forward to it. I know at least Nascar Sunday the Evile Twin will be around. ;)

    HBomb
    ***WAREMTAE***
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  • ezc
    ezc Posts: 426
    edited April 2003
    I prefer the blacks or darker colors. Just my preference. Sliver looks good but most of my equipment including my rack is black or a dark color. I have a silver vcr that stands out, maybe beacuse its the only silver face I have in my system.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited April 2003
    I'm personally tired of all the dull black finish.Pioneer Elites is hot,I still love that look, but the silver thing is great.Yes back in the 80's I 2 owned just about all silver gear untill I got my first Pioneer Home Theater reciever....all black ever since.Well I'm about to change all that..........
    polkatese waiting on those pic's man......and the killer review even maybe a vs battle with the Rotel.I have conducted one,I'd like to hear your feelings
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,781
    edited April 2003
    I agree Mantis that Dust Magnet Gloss Black finish on the PE's totally rock the effin house! I love it! If I had the cash I would get a PE DVD Player, PE CD Changer, PE EVERYTHING! I love it! Just a MAJOR dust magnet, I gotta clean the faceplate weekly, if not daily sometimes.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • brettw22
    brettw22 Posts: 7,623
    edited April 2003
    Originally posted by RuSsMaN
    I guess my least favorite is 'Nad' grey......

    First of all, I don't wanna know ANYTHING about anyone's nads that have gone gray....... ;)

    Secondly, I actually like the Silver faceplates that I'm seeing (also of my new receiver) I think that it would also depend on what your other gear looks like. For instance, I have silver panels, or drawer covers on my other sources so it ties into the grouping well. If you have all black equipment and then a silver receiver, it may look a bit outta place. Here's a quick picture that I took the other day, but before I got my CDR back and worked it back in place of the Onkyo CD changer....... (more pics to come in my System Showcase)
    comment comment comment comment. bitchy.
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  • dthomps
    dthomps Posts: 352
    edited April 2003
    I like the little Buddha guy Brett. I have heard about those things, but haven't ever seen one. I hear they cost a fortune, but can make even a boombox sound like B&W Nautilus' driven by McIntosh...(In some cases, even better, almost Bose quality I am told...) I would like to hear about what it has done for your HT.



    :D Just havin fun with ya.
    I personally like the look of the silver faceplates coming out, I think it looks classier and not as "plasticky" as all black components. I just wish I could afford to match everything in silver- For now, I take what I can get and oogle at photos posted here. Have fun. Mike
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  • PETERNG
    PETERNG Posts: 918
    edited April 2003
    I love the glossy black color of the Pioneer Elite series, very attractive, the only thing that missing on the new Pioneer Elite series in the side rosewood panel (da*mm, they try to cut expenses). I don't like the silver and gold color at all.
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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited April 2003
    nice system, Brett! simply better! what are those couple gears on the bottom left corner? microwaves? :-)
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • brettw22
    brettw22 Posts: 7,623
    edited April 2003
    Originally posted by dthomps
    I like the little Buddha guy Brett. I have heard about those things, but haven't ever seen one.

    My lil Buddha is my own personal version of a Vibrapod. That lil sucker is holdin my rack/stand together VERY nicely. With that hole in his stomach, you might almost think that he was a drink cup from Benihanna's. ;)

    The 'couple gears' in the lower left corner are my NCR UPS units. The power in my apartment fluctuates all the damned time, so there have been times where I've lost power completely to lights and whatnot, but still had my equipment running without problem. They also give me a lil extra time also to properly shut down my equipment than to let some freak power zap do it for me. Every component, computer, fax, modem or fan in my place gets plugged into these things. Not that I have any sort of technical data to support this, but I think that they also help prevent noise from being fed back into the lines as well. I know in other apartments I've heard line noise when a fan was running, etc..........who knows......peace of mind mostly. :D
    comment comment comment comment. bitchy.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited April 2003
    Brett,
    I think polkatese wants to start a Simply Better Club......I'm cool with that.I do however took notice that you might wanna lower that self.The B&K will get hot and you can ruin it.Leave about 6 inches above it for heat.And I would also drill some small holes behind it to allow air flow.

    I will say this,your gear is one of the cleanest Iv'e seen in here.Wire management is nice.I can respect a clean install.I hate nothing more then looking at gear with wire everywhere......funny as much as I love wire,I hate looking at it,in a mess is worse.
    I love the silver faceplate,I can't wait to get mine.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited April 2003
    Wire management is my weakness, I just hate dealing with them, and within the constraint of wall unit with not enough room to work with, it's the worse. Good thing it's dark inside....
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • HBombToo
    HBombToo Posts: 5,256
    edited April 2003
    Originally posted by brettw22


    Not that I have any sort of technical data to support this, but I think that they also help prevent noise from being fed back into the lines as well. I know in other apartments I've heard line noise when a fan was running, etc..........who knows......peace of mind mostly. :D

    I agree with that!

    HBomb
    ***WAREMTAE***
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited April 2003
    Originally posted by polkatese
    Wire management is my weakness, I just hate dealing with them, and within the constraint of wall unit with not enough room to work with, it's the worse. Good thing it's dark inside....
    even with your custom cabnet ,you can get wire management.It takes time and patience.Wire management is very inportant not just for looks but for seperating the power cords from the analog low voltage wires.If you Install all your gear without the preamp or amps hooked up you can gewt a really clean look.Patience and time.....what more can I say....**** I really want to see some pic's now man,my foot is cocked back and ready;)
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited April 2003
    Will do, soon....
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • brettw22
    brettw22 Posts: 7,623
    edited April 2003
    Originally posted by mantis
    I do however took notice that you might wanna lower that self.The B&K will get hot and you can ruin it.Leave about 6 inches above it for heat.And I would also drill some small holes behind it to allow air flow.

    As it currently sits, the B&K was just swapped with the place of the Onkyo that was there before. It does get VERY warm to the touch, and I have been checking out a few options with fans to cool the space. The other thing that needs to be changed about the stand is that there is a single hole out of the back, which does get plugged up with wires (both power and speaker cables).

    What I'm planning on doing (maybe this weekend) is to take everything out of the stand and rework it a bit. I need to add a few holes out the back, and a couple sideways through the center board. Then I can work with giving enough space for the receiver by dropping it down to the base level, and also lower the DVD player one notch to balance out all the visable area that is going to open up. I will also be installing a fan or two around the amp level, but also going to try to conceal it so that from the couch you're not looking at two fans right above the amp looking all gaudy. Somehow in my head this stuff takes up less space than it does typing it out. :lol:
    comment comment comment comment. bitchy.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited April 2003
    Brett,
    good thinking.Allow me to give you some helpful tips with cutting holes in cabnets.
    You wanna buy a holesaw kit if you don't own one.Drill 2 1 inch holes behind every piece of gear.Make sure you cut them rear whaere the wires will exit the cabnet,you don't want ANY wires shown or have the ability to see the holes once the gear is Installed.Cutting 2 holes one for the power cord and the other for the interconnects.Keep all power wires seperate form the interconnects.
    The receiver area I would cut the back out,skip drilling holes but again when you cut out the back where the receover will live,make sure you leave anough backing so that it looks like the back is fully on when looking at the reciver installed.This will yield the easiest hookup and MAX air flow not to mention the cleanest look.
    This will take you a good couple hours but the end result will be a fantastic looking rack that will function.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,090
    edited April 2003
    A hole saw, to cut holes? Do tell........I never would have thought of that.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited April 2003
    'Dan's helpful advice tip #142: You can buy a hole saw to cut holes'

    Cheers,
    Bob Vila
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • eugene65
    eugene65 Posts: 29
    edited April 2003
    The new silver looks cheap on some of the gear, plastic fake metal. The thin brushed metal looks cool.... I'm sticking with black : ) The new Parasound " Halo" stuff looks cool in silver with blue neon lighted controls, your getting into $$$, as a polk fan i like value. I think denon is the best value in HT. Is denon doing anything in Silver? I still see black at my dealer.
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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited April 2003
    Dan, here is one of the new pics of the system. The rest are in my system profile..
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • brettw22
    brettw22 Posts: 7,623
    edited April 2003
    Originally posted by eugene65
    The new silver looks cheap on some of the gear, plastic fake metal. The thin brushed metal looks cool.... I'm sticking with black : ) The new Parasound " Halo" stuff looks cool in silver with blue neon lighted controls, your getting into $$$, as a polk fan i like value. I think denon is the best value in HT. Is denon doing anything in Silver? I still see black at my dealer.

    I looked at the Parasound Halo line, and while the silver looks good, they use cheap flimsy plastic buttons that I wasn't impressed with.

    Denon does have silver units, but they use the silver for their overseas products. Problem with that is that they're 220v.

    Here's the 3803 out of the UK:

    Denon 3803

    Their silver looks good, but almost more of a champagne look than a true silver.....
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  • gshisme
    gshisme Posts: 1,038
    edited April 2003
    Polkatese,

    Wasn't to keen on the silver front thing but your setup looks freagin great!! More pics please.

    Greg
    suds, suds and more suds!
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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited April 2003
    Greg,
    thanks! I thought so too (faceplate wise), I took a calculated gamble on it, and it pays off...Like most of the folks here, black faceplate was my color (even the wife), 'till I got the philips SACD, and that messed up my system color coordination. I had several more pics on my system showcase, let me know what you think..thanks
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • gshisme
    gshisme Posts: 1,038
    edited April 2003
    polkates,

    Saw your pics in your showcase. Spend some time with that camera and photoshop if you have it. Your system deserves it!!

    The silver looks great with the cabinent stain. By the way, I would kill to hear your B&K..LSi system.


    Mantis,

    No matter how hard I try to seperate wires and cables it never seems to quite work out the way I would like. Will be getting two more rack sections this week so I will be moving all the components around AGAIN. See if I can do better with the cable management thing.

    Greg
    suds, suds and more suds!
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited April 2003
    gotta go check out the rest of your pic's man,nice.......hey we need to talk about the placement of that DSS box,homes it's not going to work here,it gets hot and will self destruct clogged in like that

    SBC member
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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