Fed Up Lurker wrote:
This is my own personel subjective opinion on the issue
of the aesthetics of expensive audio hardware.
There are many who feel the "hi-end" is worth every penny,
but I'm not one of those.
Back in the good old days if we do a correlation with the auto
world, we could find the audio equivalent of a Corvette Stingray,
A Bentley Azure, Jensen Interceptor, or an Aston Martin DB5.
Something that had "The look", an instant appeal. Now sadly
missing from the world of audio hardware.

**You're not looking hard enough. Whilst there are abundant examples of
audio horrors, like this monstrosity:

http://www.stereophile.com/integratedamps/201mf/

Which looks like it was designed by a Chinese farm worker. Form follows
function has been tossed out, whilst being substituted with gold plating and
cheap knobs accompanied by fake Allen head bolts. The thing, both inside and
outside, make me want to puke.

But then, we have this, quite beautiful, creation:

http://halcro.com/productsDM88.php

Form follows funtion with some utterly beautiful design touches applied with
great restraint. Both inside and outside, this design shows how well a
product can be designed.

Here is a product that first caught my eye many years ago, as a delightful
example of how well a design can be implemented:

http://www.thevintageknob.org/THEVAU...ON/LECSON.html

Again, form follows function in a slightly whimsical form. One of the best
looking audio products of all time, IMO.


--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au