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How your gear looks ... does it really matter?

Who doesn't love a mint condition piece?

But i honestly could care less in most cases. My eyes can't hear. I've built up most of my collection by fixing flea market finds and trash scores.

I can sense time affecting this, but the extra expense of condition isn't an option right now. Nor does it really make sense. I picked up my newest project for about 10% of what a 9/10 piece would demand. Another 20% will cover all the parts. So 30% of retail and arguably better working condition. Just doesn't math for me.
 
the looks of my gear is second only to the sound of it. It matters quite a bit to me. I'm not willing to live like a college student, with mis-matched pieces in questionable condition sitting on cinder blocks and 2x12s. The aesthetics of my living space matter and that extends to the gear I use to listen to music.
 
Gigantic said:
The aesthetics of my living space matter and that extends to the gear I use to listen to music.
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This is exactly what I'm going for! I want a great looking living room that includes a great sounding system.

It is really easy to find audio gear that has (to me) both; Good looks and performance. For this reason, I will not consider any sub-par looking (ugly) pieces of gear.
 
I've actually had men in Facebook groups tell me that "caring about your space is unmanly and effeminate." This was regarding a broader discussion regarding acoustic treatments, which they regarded as mere "decoration," but those sentiments are germane to this topic as well, as if having a nice, well considered system and a treated room makes you less of a man than if you had mismatched, old, junky gears arranged without a care to how it looks (or sounds). I suspect there's classism involved as well, or as some call it, "reverse snobbery," but I'm just a working class slob who appreciates art and likes having nice things. My decidedly mid-fi setup and room isn't as well-sorted as @tomlinmgt's, but considering my modest means, I'm doing ok. :dunno: I can't imagine having my audio gears relegated to a dirty garage or dingy basement, I would find that too depressing; listening to music is my "happy place" mentally, and that extends to my physical surroundings as well. How my gear looks and integrates into my space is a big part of that.
 
Personally for me, it's all function and results.

The aesthetic side of audio gear never captured my eye.

Guess I'm more so into the music side of the audio, and having had Brit "Quad" gear, there's really no great deal of switches/knobs and moving pointers to deal with.

It's reliability and the production of sound, and the enjoying the end results, albeit CD, tape or vinyl that matters to me.

But...each to their own. :dunno:


Q
 
I also prize sound quality, uniqueness and style but the contrarian in me reacts against the impulse to own or display a “brand name” luxury product, so I really prize old gear that is under the radar but performs as well as the expensive stuff - vintage lesser-known tube amps, custom planar speakers, self-assembled turntables, and other treasures.
 
The largest part of any 24-hours day, my audio setup is silent. It does not emit sound then, but – as during the rest of the day – it does »emit« looks. And I definitely like those looks to be enjoyable.
 
All of the above aside from brand name. I am not a fanboy of a brand name. When I was a noob I lusted after the 3 brand names, but as I serviced / collected more gear I am more inclined to avoid it.
 
H2oman7.62mm said:
I chose my vintage gear specifically for how it sounds to my ears in my room (not the specs) ... repairability and restorability are two additional factors that weighed heavily in my decision making process ... I'll whisper this fact: the way my gear looks (aesthetics) is near the bottom of my list of wants and needs.

Let's face it, nobody blurts out a WOW! when they see ADS bookshelf speakers with metal grilles installed, and my Harman / Kardon 730 twin powered receiver ain't winning no beauty contest either, at least not until the talent competition.


What about you, how high on your list of wants and needs is how the gear looks?
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It matters to me a lot, but I don't care about "repair-ability or restorability" that is simply not the point of the hobby for me. For me, it is the joy of the music, not some "vintage" or more accurately, "antique" stuff where I have to worry constantly about failure and electronics Richard Nixon would have smiled at in the White House. :biggrin:
 
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Natasha Bell said:
It matters to me a lot, but I don't care about "repair-ability or restorability" that is simply not the point of the hobby for me. For me, it is the joy of the music, not some "vintage" or more accurately, "antique" stuff where I have to worry constantly about failure and electronics Richard Nixon would have smiled at in the White House. :biggrin:
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So how your gear looks really, really matters to you, got it :jump:
 
Quadman2 said:
ersonally for me, it's all function and results.

The aesthetic side of audio gear never captured my eye.

Guess I'm more so into the music side of the audio, and having had Brit "Quad" gear, there's really no great deal of switches/knobs and moving pointers to deal with.

It's reliability and the production of sound, and the enjoying the end results, albeit CD, tape or vinyl that matters to me
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That's where I come from also. If I was into the 'furniture' aspect, I would have bought a console.
 
It is very important how my gear looks.

Also important is a most possible perfect cosmetic condition. Just a little scratch in a woodcase almost kills me. And so I do anything I can to remove it.

Once I had a 1300DC with a new customized woodcase, but the word "Peak" was hardly legible anymore. It drove me crazy because I did not know how to fix it.

Same with women, by the way. I am not only interested in how they sound.
 
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