Black Ash.....


...is the speaker finish that never should have been allowed to escape the bowels of hell. It is the parkay floors of speaker finishes.

Black Ash is the universal declaration of "cheap-#ssed speakers" or, even worse, if chosen as the finish on even a relatively expensive or quality speaker, it’s the sign that the purchaser has lost his mind or was likely wearing cargo shorts, socks and sandals at the time of purchase.

Where do you stand on this?

You are either with me or against me.

prof
Black has some advantages: 1. They look smaller than white and may appease a doubting mate. 2. They disappear when lights are off -good for home theater. 3. Easy to repair if laminate starts to peel off (that's why pro equipment is always black). 4. You think that cheesy wood veneer over chip board is fooling anybody? The veneer on my former speakers was so thin it would separate due to temperature changes. I'm amazed they could apply it to the MDF!
On the enclosures I made myself (subs), I painted them Hot Rod Black, which is a very cool black with a sheen between matte and flat black, used by, as its' name suggests, 1950's Hot Rod customizers. John Deere, the maker of tractors, offers a real good version, believe it or not!
And yet a beautifully done burl is so much more attractive than black ash veneer.