Ugliest Component of the Year 2024!

Shoot me, but I like the McIntosh designs. A bit retro, which I like. Come on, who here wouldn’t want a big honkin’ Sansui or Marantz receiver in their rack, even if it was just for show? I have a C220 preamp, and love the LED lit front panel. It sits on the top of my rack.

Frankly, I think the Chord designs look like R2D2 vomited out his lunch. I tend dislike asymmetrical designs.

I have more generous thoughts towards Chord's looks, they just remind me of those toys that are supposed to make toddlers smarter.

Although to be fair, some of their better products look quite good. 

As far as Tekton, unfortunately I’ll never unhear the cretinous fight they took to ASR, in which they successfully demonstrated that the speakers ASR trashed in a review were in fact trash, but not for the reasons ASR said. They lost their credibility and gained nothing. Why anyone would think that the self-infliction of a PR disaster is good business is incomprehensible.

And going back to the original topic, Ugliest Component of the Year® is a vigorously defended trademark of Wilson Audio 😂😂🤣

Anything that uses LEDs to light up the tubes is ridiculous in my book.