Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. However, for what its worth, my opinion is that burled maple is an exceptionally attractive wood veneer. Bird's eye maple is also very attractive. Regular plain old maple in itself is somewhat plain and boring. However, it contrasts very attractively with black drivers on the speaker. Also, it looks very good if your decor is modern and/or minimalist, particularly the downtown, yuppie, loft condo type of decor.
For me, the choice of speaker veneer isn't driven by a personal, absolute favourite. It is driven more by what goes best with the rest of my furnishings. At least it will in the future. I bought speakers with a cherry veneer, because I thought it was the nicest looking choice available for the brand of sepaker which I bought. I had a rosewood rack, because I thought that was the nicest looking choice for the brand of rack which I bought. When I put the cherry speaker beside the rosewood rack, it's an awful contrast. So something has to go in the interests of decor and esthetic. Thus, I'm shopping for a new rack. The lesson I learned was that the speaker veneer should complement the rest of the decor, even if the veneer isn't your absolute favourite when viewed in isolation.
This presumes, of course, that you care about such things as overall decor when choosing a speaker veneer. Many audiophiles may not give a rat's tail what colour the speaker is, so long as it fits their system and sonic taste.
Consider this Machiavellian thought however. If a speaker comes in alternative veneers, and if you have a significant other who is more interested in decor and appearance, then why not indulge your significant other's veneer preference? After all, it doesn't affect the sound of the unit so it's no difference to you. And if you let her choose what appeals to her, involving her in the process, then it may pay dividends. For example, there may be less resistance by her in allowing you to buy that new speaker since it fits "her" decor.
I'd better not let my wife see this post.
For me, the choice of speaker veneer isn't driven by a personal, absolute favourite. It is driven more by what goes best with the rest of my furnishings. At least it will in the future. I bought speakers with a cherry veneer, because I thought it was the nicest looking choice available for the brand of sepaker which I bought. I had a rosewood rack, because I thought that was the nicest looking choice for the brand of rack which I bought. When I put the cherry speaker beside the rosewood rack, it's an awful contrast. So something has to go in the interests of decor and esthetic. Thus, I'm shopping for a new rack. The lesson I learned was that the speaker veneer should complement the rest of the decor, even if the veneer isn't your absolute favourite when viewed in isolation.
This presumes, of course, that you care about such things as overall decor when choosing a speaker veneer. Many audiophiles may not give a rat's tail what colour the speaker is, so long as it fits their system and sonic taste.
Consider this Machiavellian thought however. If a speaker comes in alternative veneers, and if you have a significant other who is more interested in decor and appearance, then why not indulge your significant other's veneer preference? After all, it doesn't affect the sound of the unit so it's no difference to you. And if you let her choose what appeals to her, involving her in the process, then it may pay dividends. For example, there may be less resistance by her in allowing you to buy that new speaker since it fits "her" decor.
I'd better not let my wife see this post.