Ugly components?

[ckelly]

Which would you consider to be the ugliest vintage components?

I'd vote for:

Kenwood KR-9600
McIntosh pro amps - they are like the MC50, MC25, only butt ugly

any more?

Chris

 

[bully]

gosh, I think my 9600 is quite handsome, in that rugged sorta way!
I do have some big amplifiers that are big and ugly in a real mean sorta way, y'know, big and hulking things. Oh, gosh, they're beautiful.
Never mind

pete

 

[bigmacc]

All you guys who have those butt ugly components send up to this old butt ugly Cannuk. ( Actually l'm being very modest l'm really an older version of Thors" MAN WHORE" )

 

[Kamakiri]

Ugliest piece of gear I own is my McIntosh MAC1700. Looks like some piece of ham gear you'd find at the curb. Can't wait to hear how it sounds once I get it fixed though.

 

[Don]

I personally would have to vote for all the yamaha gear that has these ugly "knobs". I know some here like these. I think the knobs look broken.

 

[car67]

what I find ugly is that squirrel!

And scary too! I thought squirrels were supposed to be cute. hee hee

Jack

 

[THOR]

Yeah thoots thats an evil looking squirrel is it rabid?

I also find those weird knobs on the yamahas disturbing, I don't like the looks of the Sansuis that aren't the G series, they also have that ham radio look.

 

[Lefty]

Kenwood KR-9600 ugly, no freekin way!!!

Those rack handles are the nicest machined and chromed and very massive. I think the problem is that the large KR just does not photograph very well. Up close and personal it is a very pretty and impressive front panel. The lettering is all engraved and filled and with the backlite meters and tuner scale it is very impressive looking. The knobs have a deep knerling pattern and the lever switches are very positive acting. This is one of those receivers that you like better the longer you own it.

This is really is one of the best TOTL receivers from the golden era, with FM performance second to no other receiver I've come across. By the way if the unit way bought with the optional wood case then the handles were removed and chromed bolts were placed instead to secure the panel to the wood case. I've only seen one KR-9600 listed with the wood case on E-bay and I think I like the look of the rack handled version better.

 

[monkeypaw1]

Marantz TA-100 receiver. "Gold" plastic face. Fake tuner and separate amplifier one piece facade. Brutally unnatractive and cheesy looking piece of gear. Designed in Chatsworth CA and made in Japan.

 

[Quadman2]

"Ugly" is akin to beauty as in the eye of the beholder.

I've got Brit "Quad" gear: 33pre-amp/405amp that I consider plain/simplistic. Some might regard it as "ugly". No shiny lights/metallic front.
It's more functional/simplistic in design.

Q

 

[Thierry]

Of course it is a matter of personal taste but this one would be on my podium for Ugliness Championship. I find it wrong in every possible way

 

[avionic]

 

[harman/kardon]

Wow! This thread is older than any dust particle in my man caves!

 

[harman/kardon]

Okay, how about this one?

 

[avionic]

Wow! This thread is older than any dust particle in my man caves!

Your just to tidy..

 

[gslikker]

for the most ugliest stuff, we could just copy the whole "most beautiful electronics" topic

 

[Blue Shadow]

for the most ugliest stuff, we could just copy the whole "most beautiful electronics" topic

agreed and stated so in the other ugly components thread.

 

[OMGCat!]

for the most ugliest stuff, we could just copy the whole "most beautiful electronics" topic

I agree for the most part. Since CNC machining became easy to contract out, manufacturers have decided that 19mm thick slabs of aluminum machined into funny shapes with added LEDs and maybe some wood is the thing to do these days. IMO a good chunk of it flies past attractive and lands straight into gaudy/new money/"please, please look at me and acknowledge how much I spent on this stuff" territory.

 

[Thierry]

I agree for the most part. Since CNC machining became easy to contract out, manufacturers have decided that 19mm thick slabs of aluminum machined into funny shapes with added LEDs and maybe some wood is the thing to do these days. IMO a good chunk of it flies past attractive and lands straight into gaudy/new money/"please, please look at me and acknowledge how much I spent on this stuff" territory.

Well said

 

[Ds2000]

I agree for the most part. Since CNC machining became easy to contract out, manufacturers have decided that 19mm thick slabs of aluminum machined into funny shapes with added LEDs and maybe some wood is the thing to do these days. IMO a good chunk of it flies past attractive and lands straight into gaudy/new money/"please, please look at me and acknowledge how much I spent on this stuff" territory.

And low grade aluminum is plentiful and cheap. Modern machinery can do away with nearly all visible imperfections in the polish/finish phase.