Hi-end audio hardware aesthetics?
 

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.
But where did it all go wrong with audio hardware?
Above is just to annoy you with another of my YT clips this is
just some examples (of many) that I feel are seriously lacking
in aesthetics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTmOrl27HzE

It's just my personnel subjective opinion of the ergonomic
unattractiveness of expensive "hi-end" audio hardware.
http://www.ergonomics4schools.com/lzone/aesthetics.htm

http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/res...uar-E-Type.jpg
http://imagecache6.allposters.com/LR...6/WKOL000Z.jpg
http://sturtevant.com/reed/db5-007a.jpg
http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/ima...rceptor-SX.jpg
http://autooboz.omega.kz/foto/bentle...zure(1997).jpg

Hi-end audio hardware aesthetics?
 

"Fed Up Lurker" wrote in message
...
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.

Such as?

Now sadly
missing from the world of audio hardware.
But where did it all go wrong with audio hardware?
Above is just to annoy you with another of my YT clips this is
just some examples (of many) that I feel are seriously lacking
in aesthetics.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, clearly some people must like the
appearance of the things you don't, otherwise they wouldn't be on the
market. But what do you like?, you haven't given any examples of your taste.

Personally I think that "form follows function" as far as audio kit is
concerned. The most important thing with audio kit is the performance, then
the ergonomics with the aesthetics following on from those. I've always
liked the look of Naim amplifiers, even though I was never convinced that
they were worth the money. But too much "high-end" stuff looks as though a
"designer" has been at work on the visuals, usually with fairly off-putting
results (IMO).

David.

Hi-end audio hardware aesthetics?
 

For every example you provide, there are probably 100 pieces that are
downright gorgeous. Then again, you complained that my T&Fs were too
good-looking. So you're just one of those grumpy audio guys who hates
everything.

If you've gotten to the point where you hate much more than you love,
it's time to swallow lead and just be done with it. No one really
cares what you think anymore.

Hi-end audio hardware aesthetics?
 

Hi Boonie,
Are you still sulking? Yet again you are conjuring up an image
of yourself thumping your laptop in petulent indignation.
Now try to relax.....

"Boon" wrote in message
...
For every example you provide, there are probably 100 pieces that are
downright gorgeous. Then again, you complained that my T&Fs were too
good-looking. So you're just one of those grumpy audio guys who hates
everything.

Well, actually I didn't complain I just pointed out that you made claims
for their performance that just isn't possible with their specs, not even
the OEM makes those claims. You just copied their specs from their site
and *you* made the claims about their bass.
They seem to be standard 5 inch metel drivers comeserate with
an enclosure of those dimensions, the OEM's specifications state they
are minus 6db at 44hz, that won't be a brickwall drop, the roff off would
have began well before, probably at 250hz, which is standard for stand
mounts of those dimensions. So how could they sound as you describe?
You need to do some homework on loudspeakers, start by typing into google:
Thiele Small Parameters

Did you really have them playing in your system? If you did then you
would've taken a few pictures of yourself posing beside them. upload
the pix to something like Flickr, I only suggest this so as to cast aside
any doubts some may have....
I Live in Austria, I'll be having a word with one or two peeps...

If you've gotten to the point where you hate much more than you love,
it's time to swallow lead and just be done with it. No one really
cares what you think anymore.


But you care, it seems that my opinion arouses much passion in you?

Hi-end audio hardware aesthetics?
 

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

Hi-end audio hardware aesthetics?
 

On Oct 15, 3:50*pm, ScottW wrote:
On Oct 15, 1:46*pm, Boon wrote:

For every example you provide, there are probably 100 pieces that are
downright gorgeous. Then again, you complained that my T&Fs were too
good-looking. So you're just one of those grumpy audio guys who hates
everything.

If you've gotten to the point where you hate much more than you love,
it's time to swallow lead and just be done with it. No one really
cares what you think anymore.

*Doctor, cure thyself.

....says the guy who spends his weekends playing Chicken Little,
scrutinizing right-wing blogs and whining about all the terrible
things going on in our government. ROTFLMAO!

Hi-end audio hardware aesthetics?
 

"Trevor Wilson" wrote in message
...

snip

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

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


That is indeed an excellent example. Alarmingly the reviewer refers to it's
"aesthetic refinement"?? If Johnny Atkinson is reading this...... tut tut.

snip

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

http://halcro.com/productsDM88.php

Well, the link is indeed to a description of a power amp, but the image
I saw appeared to be one of those trouser press things or maybe a vanity
unit awaiting a sink to be fitted?

snip

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


Pipes!

Hi-end audio hardware aesthetics?
 

On Oct 15, 4:17*pm, "Fed Up Lurker"
wrote:
Hi Boonie,
Are you still sulking? Yet again you are conjuring up an image
of yourself thumping your laptop in petulent indignation.
Now try to relax.....

You're just another grumpy old man who spends too much time on the
Internet and thinks he says things others take seriously.

You and Scott should LOVE each other. LoL!

Hi-end audio hardware aesthetics?
 

On Oct 15, 4:17*pm, "Fed Up Lurker"
wrote:

Did you really have them playing in your system? If you did then you
would've taken a few pictures of yourself posing beside them. upload
the pix to something like Flickr, I only suggest this so as to cast aside
any doubts some may have....

Or, you could look at my blog (the one you said that you read, heh
heh) and see the evidence.

I Live in Austria, I'll be having a word with one or two peeps...

When you're proven wrong, will you be a man about it and admit it?

Hi-end audio hardware aesthetics?
 

On Oct 15, 4:52*pm, ScottW wrote:
On Oct 15, 2:40*pm, Boon wrote:

On Oct 15, 4:17*pm, "Fed Up Lurker"
wrote:

Did you really have them playing in your system? If you did then you
would've taken a few pictures of yourself posing beside them. upload
the pix to something like Flickr, I only suggest this so as to cast aside
any doubts some may have....

Or, you could look at my blog (the one you said that you read, heh
heh) and see the evidence.

I Live in Austria, I'll be having a word with one or two peeps...

When you're proven wrong, will you be a man about it and admit it?

*I noticed Boon refuses to address the salient points made about their
anemic bass response.

That's because I don't hear an anemic bass response. The last time I
heard an anemic bass response was when you tried to set your Quad ESLs
on rickety wooden footstools. THAT was anemic.

*I'm sure they would benefit greatly from even a modest subwoofer, but
sub integration is beyond Boons setup knowledge.

Except for the fact that I've reviewed subwoofers and had the
manufacturers stop by to determine if I had set them up properly...and
I had. The proof is in print.

You know, Scott, you keep saying really stupid things to me, and I
just shoot them down all day long. I think makes you the bottom in our
relationship.