Many higher end preamps are dated and ugly, why is this?

Conrad Johnson, BAT, VTL are all very good preamplifiers, they are dated and just ugly. Audio research is a prettier amplifier but it's not very well regarded due to it sounding more like a solid state, ie. Not really a tube preamp despite all those internal lightbulbs.

Cheaper preamps can be more pretty. Schitt makes a pretty preamp for about $1000. People like pretty.

D'Agostino by many is viewed as very attractive but kind of weird.

jumia05-19-2022 3:52pm

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wspohn Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 610 posts 05-21-2022 at 04:22pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete While I am not a fan of gear that looks like it was created by amateurs from articles in Popular Electronics I think that a lot of vintage gear is nice looking. Some of mine:
kingharold Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 304 posts 05-21-2022 at 06:17pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete To me the epitome of a beautiful preamp is the MBL 6010D.
mglik Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 911 posts 05-21-2022 at 08:30pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Looks are important. Surely speakers are most prominent and the most important visual. Personally, I find most box speakers somewhat unattractive. At least the square box ones. Sonus Farber has sculpted boxes which are very aesthetic pleasing. For box components, I have always liked AR. They are always substantial looking. But when it comes to performance of any speaker of component, if they sound good they become good looking… sort of.
oddiofyl Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 3,987 posts 05-22-2022 at 12:34am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I love ugly gear too..... some of my best sounding equipment has been plain jane.
mirolab Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 208 posts 05-22-2022 at 01:51am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Forget looks.... let's talk functionality! What's up with the new high end preamps that have NO controls at all. How is that a preamp?? Also, many just have one control knob, but no labeling. How would you ever know how to turn on the stereo without some instructions??