what is more popular silver or black face plates

Silver, since day one, in the '70's.

Evidence?

***champagne***

Beautiful and different 🙂

I like my components like I like my wheels:  beautiful and shiny, but not too shiny like chrome.  Black is too muted and easy to lose sight of.

I think the rest of the room and furniture matter, too, especially regarding wood and finish choices.  Black seems to do alright with shabby sheek antique furniture.

it amazes me all the reasons people have for their choices. As I am seriously considering the purchase of a Marantz HT processor and it comes in both colors, I am strongly considering the silver just because I think it looks better and is less likely to show dust and fingerprints. I’ve had a bunch of black equipment in the past and while it was ok, it was never a big deal to me either way. Its more important that the equipment work than look good.

Its more important that the equipment work than look good.

That would be my first consideration as well, followed by the price for which I could get what I wanted.  Face plate color would be way down low on my list of priorities.  But I honestly do like silver or probably almost anything, as far as the looks department, better than the standard black box.  But I will buy the black box in a heart beat if it is the one I want and the price is right!