To my eye installation has to allow you to use the room for something more than a private listening space just for one person to enjoy. It isn't just the "look" of the boxes that matters to me---a box is a box exclusive of those truly weird designs that scream "look at me." It is more about the total impression of the room and whether it invites use for other than admiration of stereo junk. I prefer that a family playback system perform at studio grade with soundstage clarity from multiple listening positions---not just at one sweet spot but at multiple seats so that others may enjoy the sound. I also have another specific playback room for monitoring and mixing---but this is not for the public---that room is for work that needs to be done. The problem with full range playback in large "family rooms" is that speakers that can handle that size tend to be rather intrusive. Most setups that can put out a truly big picture typically take up lots of real estate and look overbearing as they can dominate the room. My solution for this room was to low mount my mains and put the truly large boxes (the subs---I use four subs in this case) toward the rear where they intrude less visually. By carefully setting relative volumes of all the drivers you can create a seamless speaker system that floats the sound into holographic images that are not coming from the boxes. It is quite nice to enter Holodeck Three of the Starship Enterprise and be transported to Carnegie Hall while listening to Karajan doing Beethoven. Oh yeah baby. That's what I'm talking about. And for this room we have Harbeth Monitor 30s with Velodyne 15 and SVS 12 inch subs, Not my biggest system but it does the job and the wife likes this room and reads books while playing my stereo---and yes she knows how to turn it all on!
I like my Opera Grand Mezzas. Not sure if they're "beautiful" but they do strike me as attractive compared to a lot of speakers out there. Black ash sides with faux leather fronts-the faux is actually quite good looking. Not cheap and cheesy.
These look very similar to the M-Series of stereo / home theater speakers by Boston Acoustics. This is their M-350 flagship model. The cabinets are finished in a flawless high gloss piano black. Boston Acoustics M Series loudspeakers are distinguished visually by their elegant rounded cabinet designs, high-gloss finish and premium quality, leatherette covered baffles. All speakers are available in gloss black with black faux leather trim (on top). The M Series lineup features seven speaker models all together, three floorstanding speakers, the flagship 3-way M350 ($2,499/pr), with four 5-1/4″ woofers and a 4” midrange, the slightly smaller 3-way M340 ($1,999/pr) with four 4-1/2″ woofers and the smaller yet 2-way M250 ($1,499/pr) with one 5-1/4″ midrange/woofer combination and dedicated 5-1/4″ woofer. Also included in the series is a 2-way bookshelf model M25 ($799/pr), with one 5-1/4″ woofer, as well as the compact center-channel MCenter ($599) with dual 4-1/2″ woofers, the satellite MSurround ($748/pr), and the powerful MSubwoofer ($1,199). This is rare to have their entire line finished in a beautiful high gloss black finish, even the subwoofer. Looks very classy in any room where a high gloss black finish would work.
Honestly I think this is very true when you are buying a pair of speakers but if you are an audiophile it's not long before the beauty of the sound (or lack thereof) trumps the looks of a speaker. I know I have a gorgeous pair of speakers I recently bought that I am going to be selling soon.
