Looks do matter.

[jaxwired]

Sound quality is job one, but that doesn't mean that looks don't matter at all. The appearance of equipment still matters to me. It's much less important than sound quality and I would be prone to ignore most offenses, but having the drivers just hang out the back of the speaker like Emerald Physics does is crossing the line for me. Drivers and the "internal" cabling is not attractive in my opinion.

I'd also say that Emerald Physics must agree with me since it is very difficult to find an internet pic showing the back of these speakers...

[jimmydep]

I think it looks cool, and very unique, but looks aside, sound is what matters most.

[Face]

It's much less important than sound quality and I would be prone to ignore most offenses, but having the drivers just hang out the back of the speaker like Emerald Physics does is crossing the line for me. Drivers and the "internal" cabling is not attractive in my opinion

It's an open baffle speaker, what else would you expect?

[packetjones]

Those are pretty cool looking. I like the interchangeable wooden veneers. There is no way that I would but them but they look cool. lol

[jaxwired]

Here's my take. While the speaker might look cool to techno friendly guys, if we use the WAF scale of 1 to 10, this speaker is maybe a 2.

[steveinaz]

AFAIC, a speaker can be a wonderful performer, but if it's extremely goofy looking I'll look to something else that performa as well and looks better. So for me, asthetics is definitely a factor.

[hearingimpared]

I think they look pretty cool however, I wonder how hard they would be to set up with that open baffle design. How far from the back wall would those have to be to sound right on the money. I've heard Phil's AADs and while not an open baffle design it has a rear firing port and needs to be like 6' from the back wall to keep from getting overwhelming or boomy bass.

[treitz3]

To each his own.

[maximillian]

I don't think they look bad. I would be more concerned about protection of the exposed wiring.

[thuffman03]

I do think that a speaker has to look as good as it sounds.

[Montoya]

I'm sure they sound awesome but they are fugly. I agree with jaxwired WAF scale would be a 1-2 on a 1-10 scale.

[treitz3]

What else would you expect with an open baffle design? I mean, come on folks. If you want an open baffle design, you get what you get. Nothing more, nothing less.

[jaxwired]

What else would you expect with an open baffle design? I mean, come on folks. If you want an open baffle design, you get what you get. Nothing more, nothing less.

Well Magnepan speakers are baffle-less and they are much more attractive.

[treitz3]

One could always construct a custom enclosure for the back, much like Carver did for all of the ALS series if the want the WAF gettin' it on.....

Although, his were included and not custom.

[Hawkeye]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Gordon

[cnh]

Those would not fly with my wife..she'd think I'd turned our livingroom into a

LABORATORY and that I should be walking around in a white lab coat like Mr. Polk?

Or maybe that men in 'white coats' should come get me?

No go!

cnh

[comfortablycurt]

Having exposed drivers is part of the design of the speaker...not simply an aesthetic choice.

I don't think these were exactly designed with WAF in mind anyway.


Personally, I think they look pretty cool...and I wouldn't mind giving some a try someday. I've heard great things about Emerald Physics.

[cnh]

I don't disagree..they may sound great in a room where they are the most important occupants. But really, they look like something from a bad '70s sci-fi film....not bad just really 'dated'. This is the 21st century let's see some more advanced furniture/speaker design/appearance. It ain't your HAL computer anymore!

Open Baffle speakers..ho hum...now that's something NEW!!

The back end supports remind me of some low budget Twilight Zone episodes?

cnh