Whats the deal?


Why do people, myself included, place so much emphasis on build quality and appearance over sound?  It’s so strange that I’ll do just about anything to make my system sound better apart from using tone controls or buying / enjoying speakers that don’t use high quality drivers, cabs and crossovers.  It’s like I have an audiophile checklist of dos and don’ts

A good example would be the fact that I have bought and listened to many different models of Paradigm speakers and the only ones that I loved were the Signature 2 V.2.  I have loved the way  many other Paradigm speakers that I owned looked or were built but when it comes to sound they were all too bright.  Sure they image well and have good dynamics but I see so many posts about paradigm that have a similar tones (no pun intended).

Why oh why do we spend all kinds of $ trying to make speakers that we don’t like sound like speakers that we do like.
Wouldn’t it just be easier to buy new speakers as opposed to new amp, source, wires, room acoustic treatments trying to put band aids on speakers that we don’t like?

Kind of reminds me of marriages where the Wife is a total jerk yet the Husband will stay with her forever because she’s beautiful.  
128x128b_limo
I don't know many hobbies in which the appearance of the gear/object is a non-issue. Cars. Trucks. Guns. Cameras. Computers. Wrist watches. Boats. Horses (and the gear you put on them). Heck, even tractors.

I also don't know why there is any reason that beauty and function can't coexist. And when they do, its a win-win. And sometimes sublime.

And as mentioned, stereo equipment goes in our homes. Some people care what their homes look like.

Beauty and function are not mutually exclusive; my wife is pretty and a wonderful person. (I'm the troll she stays with....who knows why.)
Heh Erik, agree 100% about your cable comments. The room is really the most important thing to get right IMO.
Larry
Okay, I guess what I was trying to say is this...

Whats the prettiest, most expensive, highest pedigree speaker that sounds like garbage?  Someone chime in here.

Next, whats an ugly speaker, off brand perhaps, inexpensive, could be old (?) speaker that just blows the doors off said above speaker?

Which do we choose?