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Audio that relies on "inner beauty"

Posted by Bambi B (A) on September 10, 2007 at 10:07:23

Mates,

I've noticed over the years that with audio gear, I'm almost instantly suspicious of stuff that's too glamorous looking- it seems to me when large sums are spent on a jazzy face, I'm prodded into being overly-critical of the sound. -This doesn't extend to many other items- cars for example can be so beautiful that other negatives are forgiven- that's a former Jaguar owner speaking,...

I have 5 pieces of Audio Research stuff and one of the attractions of Audio Research is the very plain, industrial styling with coincidental focus on the technical apsects and, yes- sound quality. Even the $10,000 REF 3 still comes in a plain painted metal cabinet and the appearance is still compatible with about ewverything ARC made except the SP3 of the early 70's. Last year I did buy a wood cabinet for my SP8 preamplifier, but this was purely as these are so uncommon- in 22 years, I'd never seen an ARC wood cabinet in person, plus, this was the only one in all that time I'd ever seen for sale! Another piece of gear that I aprrove of for appearance is the plain grey metal case with alligator knobs and toggle switches of the Peavey VMP-2 tube microphone preamplifier- and it's an amzingly good mic pre too with 6 X 12AX7 and 2 X 12AT7. My Vandersteen 2Cs put the cost into the drivers and corssovers and avoid large sums on fancy veneers by having the outer cabinet be a frame with cloth on it- I approve and I still think these are one of the great audio bargains. McIntosh: Of course, I have wood cabinets for the McIntosh stuff (MX110, MR67, MR77) as this completes the period appearance, but actually I wouldn't mind if 60's McIntosh didn't have the brushed chrome Cadillac fins on the sides!

Within the realm of the unbeautiful but amazing sounding audio gear, there are couple of clear winners- both legendary tube tuners, the REL Precedent, and the Rodhe & Schartz EMS broadcast monitor. The photo above is the Rodhe, which is about the closest to a military aesthetic of any audio gear I know. These mono broadcast monitors have 19 tubes and must be only of the most complex tuners made. The one in the photo is currently for sale and even in it's rusty dotage, it still has a great appeal. If I had a workshop at the moment, and knew how to bodge together an MPX stereo decoder of appropriate quality, I'd be bidding!

How about you- is there any ugly-duckling audio you're fond of?

Cheers,

Bambi B

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