View Full Version : Ugliest. Equipment. Ever.
okay so de gustibus non disputandum est which for those who don't know and can't be arsed to Google it means 'In matters of taste there is no dispute'.
But thought it might be fun to put up some pics of what we think is ugly kit - and then argue about them.
I'll got first. I think this one is shocking especially when the old Michi equipment was so fabulous:
https://i.ibb.co/4dNMTXy/michi.jpg (https://imgbb.com/)
I'm sure that back in the 1980s there was an Amstrad midi system with a very similar styling cue.
yeah its obviously made for the digital age. a bit ott for me..
this is pretty horrendous, but he has a habit of showing his conceit.
http://i.imgur.com/o9UzqGP.jpg
Going nuclear from the off then? :D
This one just looks wrong to me:
https://i.ibb.co/y82HqyC/audio.jpg (https://imgbb.com/)
https://i.ibb.co/Wn2VKHc/quiescent.png (https://ibb.co/zs46fmS)
walpurgis
31-12-2023, 15:41
No idea of make but it's hilariously awful.
https://i.ibb.co/yndQvgB/Screen-Shot-12-31-23-at-03-34-PM.png (https://ibb.co/3y4C6SY)
Pieoftheday
31-12-2023, 15:47
No idea of make but it's hilariously awful.
https://i.ibb.co/yndQvgB/Screen-Shot-12-31-23-at-03-34-PM.png (https://ibb.co/3y4C6SY)
What is it?
No idea of make
It's the Ming 'The Merciless II'
Comes with its own Dr Zarkhov.
and the winner is.....
https://i.pinimg.com/474x/96/4c/20/964c2020912cb33afc1e919e483314b2--audio-studio-high-end-audio.jpg
walpurgis
31-12-2023, 15:53
What is it?
Described as a steam punk music centre I think.
walpurgis
31-12-2023, 15:55
and the winner is.....
https://i.pinimg.com/474x/96/4c/20/964c2020912cb33afc1e919e483314b2--audio-studio-high-end-audio.jpg
Stop trying to scare the children! :lol:
Stop trying to scare the children! :lol:
dunno about kids; it scared the hell out of me :eek:
rigger67
31-12-2023, 15:59
https://hifilounge.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/MA352-Angle.jpg
Looks more like something found in the kitchen of a high-end restaurant than an amplifier.
I realise they're probably seen as iconic, but I think the entire Macintosh range just looks really kitsch and dated.
rigger67
31-12-2023, 16:02
https://i.postimg.cc/J4fwgSy6/qqp0x39vxmn31.jpg
Toshiba toploading CD player from the late 80s.
It was only ten inches wide and very cheap.
I know it's ugly though because I looked at one of them every day for a year or two when I was a poor student ...
hifi_dave
31-12-2023, 16:29
and the winner is.....
https://i.pinimg.com/474x/96/4c/20/964c2020912cb33afc1e919e483314b2--audio-studio-high-end-audio.jpg
Actually he looks like me before I started the diuretics..:trust:
I don't mind that Toshiba. I'd take it over this monstrosity any day
https://i.ibb.co/ZhjCQjP/tirfen.jpg (https://ibb.co/303Hx3q)
Lawrence001
31-12-2023, 16:47
https://i.postimg.cc/J4fwgSy6/qqp0x39vxmn31.jpg
Toshiba toploading CD player from the late 80s.
It was only ten inches wide and very cheap.
I know it's ugly though because I looked at one of them every day for a year or two when I was a poor student ...Hey I've got one of those [emoji23]
Actually I'm quite proud to be the owner of one of the items on here. Just a pity it's not the Dan D'Agostino one.
walpurgis
31-12-2023, 17:20
https://i.postimg.cc/J4fwgSy6/qqp0x39vxmn31.jpg
Toshiba toploading CD player from the late 80s.
It was only ten inches wide and very cheap.
I know it's ugly though because I looked at one of them every day for a year or two when I was a poor student ...
That was the first CD player I had, I quite liked it. Worked perfectly for years then I passed it on to a mate.
Audio Al 2
31-12-2023, 18:00
I could live with that.
https://hifilounge.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/MA352-Angle.jpg
Looks more like something found in the kitchen of a high-end restaurant than an amplifier.
I realise they're probably seen as iconic, but I think the entire Macintosh range just looks really kitsch and dated.
Agreed!
Years ago I started a thread here called 'Eye-Fi'. It was a catalogue of audio items which I thought looked good/elegant regardless of sound quality.
Perhaps I should resurrect the thread so new Members can contribute.
https://hifilounge.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/MA352-Angle.jpg
Looks more like something found in the kitchen of a high-end restaurant than an amplifier.
I realise they're probably seen as iconic, but I think the entire Macintosh range just looks really kitsch and dated.
im not sure if i like or hate that... a foot in each camp i think
this is pretty horrific and you get it all for just short of £100,000
https://www.hifisound.co.uk/images/kronos-audio-discovery-turntable-p5522-32912_image.jpg
walpurgis
01-01-2024, 10:25
That's fairly horrible. Looks like a schoolboy's idea of a fancy record deck.
What is it with "steam punk" styling? I think it looks awful.
That's fairly horrible. Looks like a schoolboy's idea of a fancy record deck.
schoolperson surely these days :D
walpurgis
01-01-2024, 10:55
schoolperson surely these days :D
Dunno. Ask a schoolboy :).
hifi_dave
01-01-2024, 11:20
this is pretty horrific and you get it all for just short of £100,000
https://www.hifisound.co.uk/images/kronos-audio-discovery-turntable-p5522-32912_image.jpg
Truly hideous but they have to overdo it to justify the immense cost.
Pretty much anything from Chord.
I mean, have a look at this beauty - https://chordelectronics.co.uk/fr/product/ultima-pre
https://images.app.goo.gl/37yyxYq4Js5njVEL8
hifinutt
01-01-2024, 12:03
yeah its obviously made for the digital age. a bit ott for me..
this is pretty horrendous, but he has a habit of showing his conceit.
http://i.imgur.com/o9UzqGP.jpg
one chap just got entered for a photo competition after taking a pic of it !!
walpurgis
01-01-2024, 12:26
one chap just got entered for a photo competition after taking a pic of it !!
Well it does look pretty posh for bathroom scales :D.
Pretty much anything from Chord.
I mean, have a look at this beauty - https://chordelectronics.co.uk/fr/product/ultima-pre
https://images.app.goo.gl/37yyxYq4Js5njVEL8
They try too hard. In fairness in the flesh their stuff does look better, you can see there's some serious build quality going on even if the look is a bit marmite.
ianlenco
01-01-2024, 12:37
this is pretty horrific and you get it all for just short of £100,000
https://www.hifisound.co.uk/images/kronos-audio-discovery-turntable-p5522-32912_image.jpg
I watched a rerun of Close Encounters the other day and I'm sure I saw this flying around in that movie.
As for steam punk - every summer here in Stroud they have a steam punk festival and we like to go down to the Farmer's Market on a Saturday and sit with a coffee to watch all the steam punkers wandering around. I've come to quite like it :lol:
Talking of record players the McIntosh one is pretty bad. I appreciate it has to match the look of their other stuff but they could have made a better fist of it
https://i.ibb.co/RBrLV6s/mac-deck.jpg (https://imgbb.com/)
rigger67
01-01-2024, 14:11
Talking of record players the McIntosh one is pretty bad. I appreciate it has to match the look of their other stuff but they could have made a better fist of it
https://i.ibb.co/RBrLV6s/mac-deck.jpg (https://imgbb.com/)
Looks like something these two would cobble together from bits found in a shed ..
https://i.postimg.cc/zX2X6r4Y/271904318-5063059223769972-3411621740806121055-n.jpg
Pigmy Pony
01-01-2024, 14:38
Not a fan.
https://audioxpress.com/assets/upload/images/1/20210624124752_NaimAudio-Solsticetop-TWeb.jpg
Pigmy Pony
01-01-2024, 14:43
https://hifilounge.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/MA352-Angle.jpg
Looks more like something found in the kitchen of a high-end restaurant than an amplifier.
I realise they're probably seen as iconic, but I think the entire Macintosh range just looks really kitsch and dated.
Looks to me like something Gomez Addams cobbled together from bits he'd found under Uncle Fester's bed.
Pigmy Pony
01-01-2024, 15:07
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/v58AAOSwQ7Nj9NE~/s-l1200.webp
Well it does look pretty posh for bathroom scales :D.
:lol:
Lawrence001
01-01-2024, 20:49
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/v58AAOSwQ7Nj9NE~/s-l1200.webpNice raw cabinets though.
Some of this equipment puts me in mind of some of the watches you chaps are so fond of.:lol:
Pigmy Pony
02-01-2024, 11:11
Some of this equipment puts me in mind of some of the watches you chaps are so fond of.:lol:
https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/5d57b98e-ddc7-46f5-8281-4f2007405f40.3f5e93f7f81e58a47ff2baebfd3ff5ec.jpeg
https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/5d57b98e-ddc7-46f5-8281-4f2007405f40.3f5e93f7f81e58a47ff2baebfd3ff5ec.jpeg
seems to have an identity issue??
walpurgis
02-01-2024, 12:29
seems to have an identity issue??
At least you can wind the valves up :).
Sherwood
02-01-2024, 13:23
the tacky Formica case on my Rogers Cadet 3 amp was quite ghastly
Pigmy Pony
02-01-2024, 13:43
Probably good in its day, but God was it hideous.
https://www.hifinews.com/images/styles/600_wide/public/821vint.promo2_.jpg
Probably good in its day, but God was it hideous.
https://www.hifinews.com/images/styles/600_wide/public/821vint.promo2_.jpg
horrendous but I know some like it.
Pigmy Pony
02-01-2024, 20:42
It looks like it's made of tarmac.
Another contender:
https://i.ibb.co/ZHFctq7/magnetar.png (https://ibb.co/gvftHkh)
Another contender:
https://i.ibb.co/ZHFctq7/magnetar.png (https://ibb.co/gvftHkh)
I quite like it. At least the display seems muted and not over bright as are some.
It gets very good reviews, but it is not clear if it is a region free player. Not that I am going to spend £2,600 on it as it's made in China!
Most similar units you can select variable brightness levels I'd be surprised if you can't on that one.
There's just no need for that chequer effect. Get rid of that and put proper feet on it and it'd be fine although still a bit bland.
not my cuppa tbh.. looks like redesign of another older player whose name escapes me
It looks like it's made of tarmac.Cast Aluminium, not sure of an official weight but it's ideally a two-man lift!!
Sent from my moto g32 using Tapatalk
Most similar units you can select variable brightness levels I'd be surprised if you can't on that one.
There's just no need for that chequer effect. Get rid of that and put proper feet on it and it'd be fine although still a bit bland.
If you did away with the 'Battenburg' quartering, it really would look bland.
Point taken about the brightness of the display. I have turned down the brightness on my machine to the minimum; any lower and it would be off, which some would say can improve the sound.
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