Completely disregarding sound quality or performance, what speakers are the most beautiful?

If I had to chose one pair of speakers that always take my breath away in terms of aesthetics, it would be the Acoustic Research AR3a's



There's nothing really ornate about them. It's such a simple design. But I think that's what makes them so gorgeous. The off-white, cream-colored grill cloth with a beautiful solid-wood cabinet. They're perfect in my opinion.

 

If you ask me, there are not very many things nicer in a speaker (design-wise) than white/off-white cloth.

 

I look at the AR-3a's and I can hear the box. Call it synesthesia if you will, but I can't help but 'hear' the effects of an enclosure when I see a speaker. And the AR 3a is one boxy sounding speaker. In that regard, these are the most 'beautiful' speakers to me, sound unheard:

 

Quite a contrast in opinions I suppose, those look like two doors to me. Never liked the over imposing look of panel speakers.

 

You might like the look of these vintage Wharfedale W30's:



I think the grills were originally a bit lighter, but they have a patina now. They sound really good for their age. The design isn't as clean as the AR's though.

 

Meadowlark Audio Kestrel 2 is one of my favorites if we're talking looks. Simple, sleek, unobtrusive, classy; any of these adjectives works for the Kestrels.
Here's a pic of the pair I owned probably at least five years ago.

 

Yin and Yang?

http://www.goodsoundclub.com/Site_Images/GIP_Speaker_1.jpg

(I coun't get a direct image link to work, hope the hyperlink is okay)

 

They sound as good as they look. Sonus-Faber Cremona M.

 

Original Quad 57. Most beautiful speaker ever made.

 

I suppose you wouldn't be a fan of these then??

 

Whoa ... serious open baffle and built like a tank!

 

These are pretty cool if you're into Eames Mid Century Modern style furniture, etc.

 

LOL......The Gaia's (pictured above) cost about as much as a decent (used) Tank too..........$249K

Of course you can have the cheap and nasty entry level Kronos' below for only...................$110K

 

That RCA LC1A looks like a heater!!
Actually the other one does a bit too!!.....as well as looking like one of those old Mark Levinson Amps
I'm guessing they both have a "warm" midrange?
Oh yeah....and the wooden one looks like a mailbox crossed with a clothes dryer!!

 

I dunno........they look pretty small and boxy to me!!

 

Yeah, I was gonna mention SF when I oprned the thread. I always thought they were gorgeous - Italians know how to make a bella machina.

I like the RCAs quite a bit, but don't know if I would call them the most beautiful. They had a wood version of that that was nicer, I think:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/47/7b/1a/477b1a59386619b7136b980a54559b96.jpg

This set was really nice., as well.

http://b0.ultimist.com/uploads/tmp/IMG_9051-RCA-LC-1A-speakers.jpg

 

Ok....so Beowulf got his pics loaded and killed my feeble attempt at humor!!!

Cool time alignment and a bit of an SF looking finish.

Is that spaceship thing the matching centre??........Looks like something from War of the Worlds!!

 

The JBL Paragon: https://shard2.1stdibs.us.com/archivesE/upload/9025/14_13/8_2/8_2_l.jpg

 

Look heaps better like this.......similar to Tannoys

Elvis!!!!..........Really??

 

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I guess I'm biased, but I love the simple, understated yet elegant look of the KLH Model Six speakers. They sound good too. These aren't mine, but look identical...

 

I was attracted to the looks of Dunlavy Aletha before I heard them.

 

Sonus Faber or Goldmund.