Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Starting to oggle new gear

Chessero,

Before swapping out I'd ask Debbie if the Boston Cherry wood version is close to the vinyl. You might be able to keep your older vinyl gear. Everyone who's commented on my vinyl Boston Cherry speakers thought the wood was real.

The only reason I ended up swapping them was to match the decor of the room they were moving to.

We've had compliments over the years about the vinyl as well. It is convincing at a distance but more evident if you:
1) touch it by hand and
2) see it next to a real wood veneer product.

Debbie said that it would not be an exact match for colour which of course makes sense. Hence, I would have a VP180 sitting between two older vinyl M60s. I think if i were to spot a difference, it would be obvious given that situation.
We were going to go with Boston Cherry again but since this idea came up that the wood veneer Bostons might not match the older vinyl Bostons, maybe we should consider looking at a different colour if we were to replace them all.
There is the cost factor of course. We weren't budgeting to be replacing the remaining speakers (QS8s and M60s) along with the rest. Unfortunatley we would have to decide in advance; keep the Boston colour and get wood veneer versions and then decide if they look different enough to replace the others knowing that we'd still have to stick with the BC colour. OR, we decide now that we'll move to the real wood veneer and as such give ourselves some options to choose a custom colour.

The Boston Cherry is certainly nice enough but the chestnut stain is really rich and the Rosewood veneer is incredible. The walnut grain is quite nice too. If anyone has a link to a pic of the bordeaux stain on some finished speakers, i would love to see that. I have a feeling it might be more red than we might like.
Will probably contact Debbie about maybe getting some samples if that's still possible.

Here's another thought, question; for those who have the wood veneers (let's say boston cherry), does it have any wood grain like the vinyl wraps do? Or are they perfectly smooth varnished surfaces? (asking about the satin finish here of course b/c any gloss finish should be smooth).

These Monitor Audios i just bought have a satin finish and are the first veneer bookshelf speakers i have which have a subtle wood grain rather than being smooth.

160 & M5: walnut natural satin

M2: walnut espresso

M2OW: walnut bordeaux

Cherry chestnut and walnut nutmeg. Got grain.

Love the cherry chestnut. The walnut nutmeg not so much.

Walnut grain

That's fantastic Mojo.
Almost like you've got the start of an Axiom museum there. You need a pair of old vinyl wraps to put on the side for comparison.

Do you think you could post a few more of the natural walnut and the cherry chestnut (perhaps in less strong a light like indoors?)

The walnut espresso was on our list but now that i see the better real world colour, i think we might skip that one. It looks rich but it's almost too dark a brown. We had interest in the chestnut colour because it adds that bit of deep red but it's not an option for the walnut (might not look good with that grain?)

All walnut natural satin except for the walnut espresso M2s perched on the inside of the active LFRs. I love that espresso!

My friend fell in love with the M5 sound and walnut and purchased a set for her living room. They sound perfect in her living room.

The walnut natural satin looks a bit orangey in the artificial lights of my basement.

Cherry chestnut in natural, overcast light. See grain.
Walnut nutmeg also.

Walnut natural satin in the artificial lights of my dungeon.