Stylish amp design . WIFE factor

[sonnya]

I am just curious.. We can all build amps but they in most cases looks like ugly from a female side of view. And they are mostly right about it!!!!

So what should a good looking amp look like.

Ask you wife. Maybe she could write too..

[tade]

KISS

If the amp needs more than one knob, the rest should be placed behind a panel. During operation, it should be a black or silver box with maybe one LED. That sort of box still looks like equipment but is completely nondescript. It doesn't attract attention to itself, and goes with any decor.

maybe a smoked acrylic front panel, on a hinge, covering all of the controls save maybe a volume knob (large looks simpler : ) ) and a headphone jack. Power amps basically look like this already.

I think a really groovy volume knob would be one from a variac.

What do you think?

[destroyer X]

Some of them loves when the sound is not playing too.

Big Magic to make them satisfied.... oh!..yes...go shopping with her.

They are lovely, mine one, for instance, is silent all time long during the 3 seconds a day she does not complain about something.

Wonderfull...observe her hands.

regards,

Carlos

[Nordic]

My wife never complains
I would not put up with my ****, but she does, like an angel.

[Stormrider]

For DIY, Function > Form.

[Magura]

All it really takes, is putting some effort into making an elegant design.

The above comment about just making anonymous simple boxes, is sure a no-go.
I can relate to those women, whom don't really feel like having a living room, that looks like something she saw on a factory tour of a motor manufacturer.

Something that could solve part of this, would be if people figured, that there is an option to make a prototype of the cabinet, step back, take a look, refine, or maybe reject and start over.


Mostly just about any piece of electronic equipment, is just tossed into a box that is big enough to fit.

Oh, and it just might help to actually ask what the respective woman thinks looks good


Magura

[thinkbad]

My woman dislike big unfished boxes with a "technical" look, be it loudspeakers or amplifiers.
She allways seems to prefer "cute" things in small packages
Oddly enough, she like big panelspeakers

JB

[unclejed613]

actually an amp doesn't need any controls on the front panel. i don't use volume controls on an amp, i save that function for a preamp. the power switch can be on the back panel, along with a bridging switch if you decide you want one. a pair of signal/ clipping indicators behind a smoked plexiglas window would be about all you need on a front panel. for the preamp, keep the controls sparse and neatly and logically laid out (function switch on the left, then tone/filter controls, then volume and balance on the right. no level indicators, as your wife will probably think they look too tech or tacky.

[destroyer X]

A small table to telephone or some stand to lamps...well...cannot look alike eletronics.

Also small flat speakers, alike paint pictures into the wall... into not deep frames.... small speakers hidden behind curtain.... those things they like.... knobs, ligths, wires, switches are something they dislike, for sure.

regards,

Carlos

[mpmarino]

Just make it look like Bose made it, then you'll be all set