I'm thinking I'll get a real wood finish when I start replacing my fronts, and I was hoping to get some input from you guys. So far, I think Mel's Rosewoods are the prettiest I've seen, so I'm leaning toward that.

I'm curious what kind of stain and gloss you think I should go for. I love the look of piano finish, but I'm concerned about reflections, especially when I eventually move to a projector. Should I go for satin low gloss? As far as stain, would you stick with Natural or move to something darker like Coffee or even Chestnut, perhaps?

Any other thoughts?

Jeeez, my only thought is that after reading the subject line, I was scared the body of the text was going to be about massage.

I don't have any REAL helpful thoughts other than: When you are putting your speakers into an existing room, I think that room's existing furnishings and decor dictate the speaker finish. You're lucky enough to be planning a build around the speakers, so I'd just choose what YOU like best and let the room match the speakers. I could see going lower-than piano gloss if you're considering a projector.

Reducing reflections is probably the best thing you can do to increase ANSI contrast when using an overhead projector. I think it is worth the effort, as ANSI contrast gives the image increased depth and that 3D'ish "pop" that you hear referenced. It isn't until you actually see it that the terms become visual and understandable. Once you see it, then you crave it.

Considering all that, I went through the same thought process as you Charles. For my living area system, I went with a real shiny piano black. But I don't care about reflections in this room. For the HT, I do not want reflections or bright stained speakers. When you have a light controlled room with dark, non-reflective paint, everything that isn't like colored will stand out like a sore thumb when you use a projector. But - when the lights are on, even when dim, it is nice to see a real wood, nice looking speaker. When the lights are off, who cares?? You can't (or shouldn't) see the speakers anyway. If you don't care what they look like, lights off or on, then the good ol' flat black with black grill is the best choice.

You obviously do care, and so do I. For a compromise, I decided to go with cherry, bordeaux stain, semi-gloss finish, black grill. They look nice when you can see them, this color matches my HT wall paint (which is a satin burgundy), but when the lights are off, they do not reflect too bad. They do reflect some, but it is not distracting.

Here's a link to a page that contains pictures my my real wood M2 that I bought. Only the last 2 pictures in the series are meaningful on this page.

Also the thread called VaSSallo is mine when I was buying my first real wood speaker.

Axiom mailed me 2 or 3 samples that I picked from, and I ended up with Nutmeg Cherry Satin finish.

The semi-gloss is enough shine to enhance the real wood. Real wood under satin can (depending upon species, stains color, etc.) look like laminate. The satin samples I got did make me feel that way, so I went with semi.

Most good furniture is semi (except for some of their tops). High gloss is used most frequently on exotic woods or stand-alone pieces. Almost all high-gloss, real-wood veneers in cars look fake to me. Woodfinishers sometimes refer to it as the wood-under-glass look.

Ha ha. I was thinking more along the lines of Mortal Kombat.

I appreciate the input, guys. Sounds like semi-gloss is the way to go. I'll have to order a couple of samples of the darker stains and see what I like best.

The only disappointing thing is that I'll only ever be able to justify the expense of replacing the normal channels, not my subwoofers. They would cost waaaaay too much to replace unless I suddenly get rich. I'll have to figure out a way to make them look good alongside everything else in the room.

But I'll give you $100 for each of them so you can recoup part of your original purchase price!

WTH does that mean?! Justification is a way of treating one's self unfairly. It is the first step on the road to low self-esteem, so please be more careful, CV.

Bob, would his self-esteem be raised if he gave us each one subwoofer?

I'm pretty sure he'd feel better about giving them to me.

To a glorious level like no other!!!!

I think, since he suffers like you do, that he'd rather give them to me and Mark, since we can enjoy them w/o having to wait three hours.

Charles, imo the natural colour of Rosewood looks the nicest...I don't really like to see any of the fancy woods stained, they look beautiful in their natural colours. Bob almost sounds like he knows a thing or two about finishes so I'll agree with him on the semi-gloss even though the piano finish is quite spectacular. Maybe the semi-gloss deserves a fancy name too....the "cello" finish?

Since I don't have a projector my opinion on this topic would be meaningless.

That doesn't stop most people.

I hear what you're saying. The reason I was considering the stains was to make them darker, but I'm not sure how necessary that really is. I'm also still up in the air on TV versus projector, honestly. I keep thinking maybe I should get a TV this time around, and hopefully by the time I want to upgrade again, laser projectors will be available and at reasonable prices. What are the odds? Of course, if I get a new TV, I still want it to be considerably larger than my current 60". I keep looking at the 75" LaserVue, but I'd want the price to drop a bit. I spent $4k on my current TV when I bought it, and I resolved not to spend that much again.

That would explain me being on the low road already. Maybe JP can prescribe something so I can take the high road.

Unless that price included home delivery by Regina.

I'm sure she'd look cool wearing white gloves.

I think that was what CV was angling for with the thread title.

Fred, you inspired me to use the new ::Like:: button for the first time. I see that it "Likes" the whole thread on FaceBook but, be assured, it was all about you!

Well, this explains why you just popped up on our Internet Watch List Mark. Between the current signature pic, and [liking] a thread called "Finish Me" on Facebook, you just climbed to into the top 100. Right behind some Mr. Dotcom fellow.

I can have your name removed for a small fee in Axiom dollars.

I was going to put an order for samples in through the website, but I'm curious if the samples are for the wood varieties only, not the stains. I was going to compare the Natural Rosewood to the Coffee and Chestnut stained Rosewood, but when I click to order a sample, they don't differentiate in the shopping cart. They simply say "Rosewood." I'll be calling tomorrow, but I was just curious if anyone had any experience ordering samples of different stains through the website. Oh, and type of gloss isn't mentioned, either, which makes me think that it's only the type of wood I'm getting samples of.

HI CV,
The samples are for all possible finishes. Each one will reflect exactly your request down to the stain, the gloss, the grille colour and the accessories as well. In doubt, don't hesitate to dial the toll free number (866-244-8796) it is always a pleasure talking to an Axiom customer.

Yeah, but this is Charles.

Thanks for the clarification, JC! I ran out of time before work today, or you would have already heard from me. I'll call sometime soon so I can get the samples in the works.

By the way, what's your phone number? I'll call you, too.

I've been reconsidering.... It's hard not to want to go with rosewood, but I'm thinking of maybe going with the paintable finish so I can have more flexibility with how I do the room. Of course this means they'll look pretty boring for a while, but maybe that will be extra motivation to get it all done. What do you guys think? Also, the extra cost of the real wood finishes do make it harder for me. Maybe I should still order a sample or two of the real wood as well as a sample or two of the custom vinyl finishes to see what I can live with.

Well, I got impatient and went ahead and ordered 4 samples. In the Custom Vinyl (CV - Is this a sign?) section, I ordered samples of Vermont Maple and Ebony. In Real Wood, I'm trying out Walnut with a Caramel stain in semi gloss and Natural Rosewood in semi gloss. I'm optimistic about being able to choose from one of these four.

One odd thing is that in the expedited shipping options, both the 2-day and overnight shipping are listed as being $15. Naturally, I opted for the overnight.

Walnut is a beautiful wood.

I'd be interested in seeing the Vermont Maple, it has always been a consideration of mine, but I am too cheap to go for anything other than what I already have.

It's actually pretty similar to Boston Cherry, a bit darker and a bit less red. That's what I've got.

Yay, Amie shipped my finish samples today.

Bad luck. FedEx tried to deliver my samples today, but I was in the shower. I guess I didn't realize it was a signature required package. This always seems to happen when I order something with expedited shipping. At least when it isn't something I'm getting with Amazon.com Prime. In any case, I'm not in THAT huge of a rush now that my speaker purchase is pushed back, perhaps until the new line is released. I'm still eager to see what the finishes look like. Maybe I'll collect them like baseball cards so I can show people the full catalog of finishes when I start hosting auditions. You know, when the basement is done and I'll be proud to have people over. Whenever that thing I've been talking about for forever happens.

CV, you need to stop taking 5-hour showers.

CV,
I live pretty close to Boston and my email is on the audition list. I have never had someone contact me for an audition. Very strange. I thought I would have weekly inquiries.

How else am I going to fit my crying in?

Hi,
I have a pretty good idea why . . . Often discussing with potential owners asking for a place (most of the times they are looking for a store) to audition the Axiom speakers when I tell them that many Axiom owners gladly offer this service they are more than impressed and their urge to audition them vanishes away.

Also there is the fact that a lot of people are shy to go on a stranger to listen to their system. As you might have read somewhere else before . . it even makes these enthousiast Axiom owners somewhat suspicious to competitors' speaker owners.

Plus, they hear about the pink speakers and say "Ummmm, noooooo, that's OK".

mean

I'm gonna have to check in on you. Your post has only a sinlge word, yet it was edited. 'severything OK?

Oh, yeah, I finally got the finish samples yesterday. I kept missing the delivery attempts AND forgetting to set the door tag out with my signature on it, so after the final delivery attempt, I had them hold it at the nearest FedEx Office, which I was finally able to get to yesterday.

While I do like the grain on the natural Rosewood the best, I think I would prefer the high-gloss to the semi-gloss if I went that route. The Ebony vinyl finish is pretty flat-looking, which is fine, but I don't think I could commit to it. I was surprised that I preferred the look of the Vermont Maple vinyl to the Walnut with the Caramel stain. What Ken said about it being similar to Boston Cherry only less red seems accurate.

For me, I think I'd only go for a new finish (of the ones I'd sampled) if it was Rosewood in high-gloss, but since I've already eliminated that possibility due to an eventual projector scenario, I'm leaning toward sticking with basic Boston Cherry vinyl. I'll hang onto the samples and see what other people in my life think. I'm not known for my great taste in decor.

Just a thought Charles..... but you can always get some black velvet, cut it to size and throw it over the offending 'reflective' speakers when watching a movie, then put them out of the way when you want to show off the fancy finish. Or, just throw the Axiom shipping bag over them, which is black.

I love the Rosewood in Piano finish, very very classy.