Hi Fi seperates - Black or Silver?
Discussion
rlw said:
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.
Scarily, this was intended as a joke but not a single smiley back. Don't say you all took it seriously please.....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.
rlw said:
rlw said:
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.
Scarily, this was intended as a joke but not a single smiley back. Don't say you all took it seriously please.....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.
Suffice to say I am a little relieved now!
Thats the biggest problem with AV - there is such a massive case of "emperors new clothes" syndrome, no one is willing to call bulls
t for fear of looking stupid themselves.Anyone fancy some worn in speaker cables?
All my gear, bar the speakers, is of a silvery nature - well, a kind of "brushed" effect on the Sony DVD player and QS receiver - and I quite like it that way. Or maybe I've just become used to it.
Anyway, perusing the net to find my "dream upgrade" (we've all done it) I find that the "next step" stuff (and I'd like to stick with Sony, so it's QS to ES) is pretty much only now available in black, which always puts me in mind of Aiwa "hi-fi's" with graphic equalisers mounted on naff '80s black ash stands.
Black AV gear is all very well if you live in the Death Star, or if your kitchen is white with red gloss doorframes and matching accoutrements, but for me it's silveryness all the way.
Anyway, perusing the net to find my "dream upgrade" (we've all done it) I find that the "next step" stuff (and I'd like to stick with Sony, so it's QS to ES) is pretty much only now available in black, which always puts me in mind of Aiwa "hi-fi's" with graphic equalisers mounted on naff '80s black ash stands.
Black AV gear is all very well if you live in the Death Star, or if your kitchen is white with red gloss doorframes and matching accoutrements, but for me it's silveryness all the way.
rlw said:
Scarily, this was intended as a joke but not a single smiley back. Don't say you all took it seriously please.....
Being 'into' Hi Fi and knowing the lengths that some will go to, I did wonder. 
Not wanting the 'How much !?! for a wooden-knob brigade, dancing a merry dance across this thread, thought best to ignore.Anyway, black does sound best but, 'tis the law of diminishing returns, so best to paint to match interior decorations.
robinhood21 said:
rlw said:
Scarily, this was intended as a joke but not a single smiley back. Don't say you all took it seriously please.....
Being 'into' Hi Fi and knowing the lengths that some will go to, I did wonder. Not wanting the 'How much !?! for a wooden-knob brigade, dancing a merry dance across this thread, thought best to ignore.Anyway, black does sound best but, 'tis the law of diminishing returns, so best to paint to match interior decorations.
A bit OT but if you play the trends right you can pick up bargains. When I bought my current widescreen TV silver was all the rage. The shop had one left in black that they couldnt shift so I convinced them that half price would mean cash in the bank rahter than stock earning nothing for them.
I've got a lot of old Technics seperates which are neither black or Silver. It's a very dark brown.
IMO it's a colour that other manufacturers should use, particularly since Technics don't make seperates any more.
Edited to say that I used a pictrure from Ebay. My amp is the mark 1 version.
IMO it's a colour that other manufacturers should use, particularly since Technics don't make seperates any more.
Edited to say that I used a pictrure from Ebay. My amp is the mark 1 version.
Edited by M400 NBL on Wednesday 14th January 13:28
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