Hi Fi seperates - Black or Silver?
Discussion
This will all be going in the Dining room, I have a set of Eltax monitor 3's in beech, and im looking an amp, cd player and later on a DAB tuner.
My main source is a creative wireless link from my PC (I have a HDD packed with mp3's) running through a home made (from kit) DAC box
Its just a budget system for occasional use, so im looking at entry level Cambridge Audio kit, which is decent enough for all I will be using it for.
Everything they do comes in black / silver but the black stuff seems to be easier to source for some reason, but the OH is insisting that it looks dated, and perhaps its more down to the design rather than the colour...
My main source is a creative wireless link from my PC (I have a HDD packed with mp3's) running through a home made (from kit) DAC box
Its just a budget system for occasional use, so im looking at entry level Cambridge Audio kit, which is decent enough for all I will be using it for.
Everything they do comes in black / silver but the black stuff seems to be easier to source for some reason, but the OH is insisting that it looks dated, and perhaps its more down to the design rather than the colour...
robinhood21 said:
It does not matter what it looks like 'tis how it sounds that matters.
BTW, mine is both black and silver.
BTW, mine is both black and silver.
Plus, if you are planning to keep the equipment for a number of years, it becomes a non-question as general preferences will cycle through both black and silver.
It seems to me that all the replies have missed the point. The question, surely, is which sounds better.
In my experience, silver or black suits some components better than others. I would never have a black tone arm as silver deals with the high frequencies better, but for a CD player - at least the transport - silver is a no-no as it is just too shouty whereas black is much smoother. For the DAC, silver or black is OK.
Records decks must be wood so black is the only choice really as, again, silver is a bit strident at the top end.
Black amps definitely sound smoother but once you get into pre/power amps you are on dodgy ground. Silver is great with valves as the valve sound is very smooth to begin with, whereas black can muddy the sound a little. Black works better on lower powered transistor power amps for some reason but once you get into big wattages, silver is the way to go.
Silver speakers can sound a bit thin for some reason whereas black gives a fuller, richer sound comparing like for like. The cables will be critical too as the wrong colour choice will make the system impossible to listen to for long periods at high volume.
You also need to consider the type of glass you are using for the stand as this will affect the sound of silver kit more than black due to the different frequencies each emits.
What you need to do is get a home demo of all the kit you are considering, in all black, then all silver and then mix them up to see which sound you prefer. It might take a few days but it will be worth it.
In my experience, silver or black suits some components better than others. I would never have a black tone arm as silver deals with the high frequencies better, but for a CD player - at least the transport - silver is a no-no as it is just too shouty whereas black is much smoother. For the DAC, silver or black is OK.
Records decks must be wood so black is the only choice really as, again, silver is a bit strident at the top end.
Black amps definitely sound smoother but once you get into pre/power amps you are on dodgy ground. Silver is great with valves as the valve sound is very smooth to begin with, whereas black can muddy the sound a little. Black works better on lower powered transistor power amps for some reason but once you get into big wattages, silver is the way to go.
Silver speakers can sound a bit thin for some reason whereas black gives a fuller, richer sound comparing like for like. The cables will be critical too as the wrong colour choice will make the system impossible to listen to for long periods at high volume.
You also need to consider the type of glass you are using for the stand as this will affect the sound of silver kit more than black due to the different frequencies each emits.
What you need to do is get a home demo of all the kit you are considering, in all black, then all silver and then mix them up to see which sound you prefer. It might take a few days but it will be worth it.
Mike400 said:
What do we all prefer? Black or Silver finish?
The OH reckons silver stuff looks a bit more expensive / modern and you can see where the money went, but IMO sometimes Silver can look a bit showy / blingy for some tastes, wheras black seperates look a bit more subtle / classy?
The OH reckons silver stuff looks a bit more expensive / modern and you can see where the money went, but IMO sometimes Silver can look a bit showy / blingy for some tastes, wheras black seperates look a bit more subtle / classy?
mybrainhurts said:
robinhood21 said:
mine is both black and silver.
Good grief...A bionic old fart...
Well the second part of your statement is certainly true. 
Just for the record; the silvery bits (brushed aluminium) are the Krell power amp and the PAM 1 preamp and the two off-board power supplies. TBH, I don't think black would look as good on the PAM 1.
Edited by robinhood21 on Wednesday 14th January 12:15
funk odyssey said:
Mike400 said:
What do we all prefer? Black or Silver finish?
The OH reckons silver stuff looks a bit more expensive / modern and you can see where the money went, but IMO sometimes Silver can look a bit showy / blingy for some tastes, wheras black seperates look a bit more subtle / classy?
The OH reckons silver stuff looks a bit more expensive / modern and you can see where the money went, but IMO sometimes Silver can look a bit showy / blingy for some tastes, wheras black seperates look a bit more subtle / classy?
women eh.....
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