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Why is black so popular for components?

A current post about the looks of gear got me thinking. How did black become the most popular color for audiophile gear? I can see it being popular for home theater where the gear might be at the front of a room where you want it as dark as possible but black was the color of choice well before home theater. Maybe it is as simple as people just like it but if that were the case I would think it would also be the most popular in other consumer items such as motor vehicles.  I remember when I wasn’t always fortunate to have a dedicated stereo room and my wife would ask me why I purchased black equipment because she thought it was ugly and I agreed with her but usually, I had no choice.  For manufacturers offering additional colors may be costlier but I am willing to pay for it. Fortunately , some companies that I like offer silver usually in the face plates which works for me. Odyssey Audio has numerous color options available for their faceplates for a nominal fee but as far as I know they are an exception.  A lot of speaker manufacturers offer different colors which is great, especially if you have to place them in a communal space like a living room.  So in summary why did black become the color for stereo gear ? How many of you would prefer color options?

128x128lwin
edcyn
1,876 posts
 
lou -- I'd swear my long gone, very early NAD gear (1970's?) was brown.
cd318
2,636 posts
 
Yes, my NAD amplifier and both NAD tape decks were all a shade of brown, with small variations. Not enough for incongruity but certainly noticeable.

NAD have stuck with brown, albeit a much darker near black shade nowadays.

Arcam on the other ditched the distinct brown shading of their gear in the 90s (curvy NAD?) and went for a more modern clean look with their Diva range and especially FMJ ranges.

Gone were the slight gentle curves and in came sharp straight lines. Both were available in dark brown and silver with the Full Metal Jacket Range managing to look very upmarket. As they should have with their more upmarket price.

Yet strangely enough Arcam seem to have changed the design once more and now their products once more look a little those of NAD, with a near black / brown finish.

You can only assume that these various changes have been carefully considered. NAD’s have been quite conservative but Arcam’s haven’t.

At a guess I’d say that the Diva and especially the FMJ range were adding unsupportable manufacturing costs so hence the revision to a basic functional look.

I bet Arcam now wish they’d copied NAD a little more.
invalid
1,208 posts
 
Seems like tube equipment has more color choices than solid state.
lou_setriodes's avatar
lou_setriodes
687 posts
 
Yes, you guys are correct and I am colorblind. The NAD’s were brown. I have a later model an NAD 4300 tuner which turned gun metal gray I think and not as nice as the older brown.

Funny how colors and cosmetics can be such a big thing!

Anyone remember when Perreaux changed their cosmetics from the ever classy white components to the stainless steel fat looking ass. I always thought the 80’s Perreaux was one of the greatest looking components out there.
milspec1
2 posts
 
I don't see how  black would be any cheaper to mfg.  Clear, black, or any color of dye for that matter cost the exact same.  Also if you are doing a large amount with a plating house there is definitely a discount. 
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