Call an av source and get them in a WALL. Even audiophiles eschew these.

Incredible sound is available in much more inconspicuous ways.

I agree those huge speakers are no longer required for fabualous sound there are tiny ones that pack just as much as those big ones do. I do not find wall speakers as good as for color what color is the rest of your stereo equipment that is the color I would go with

Unfortunately, while speakers have come a long way it's physically impossible for a small speaker to put out the sounds I'm looking for. The speaker decision and research that goes with that has taken place over 7 years so while I still need to decide on the color, the speaker options themselves are less flexible. There are some massive In-wall speakers that can get close but I'm currently in a rental so in-walls wouldn't be an option.

Fortunately, the rest of the stereo equipment will be hidden so that isn't a concern. Unfortunately, unless I put my speakers behind a false wall which isn't an option in a great room, they can't physically be hidden. It's going to be more of a case of either making them blend into the interior or going the other direction and making them accent the room. I don't think the latter is possible with speakers of this size.

No amount of research seems to help me envision colors in a space as interior designers seems to have a special gift.

There is no way to visualize what will look best in your future space; absent home style, wall color, decor, furniture, etc. Buy cheap "one-year" speakers for the rental. Invest in the perfect speaker for your home--after you own that home.

My main consideration is that the speakers are going to last a lot longer than my interior design choices, so no matter which home I live in I'm wondering which color will be more flexible. I have no doubt that a white speaker will look better in either of my spaces over the next couple of years. however, I'm concerned that they'll look terrible in 5 years as many fashions do. Is white a fashion or could it still look good in 10 years?

I would purchase white then; and when I wanted a change, I would spray paint the casing. It shouldn't be too hard to change to a matte black or charcoal when desired. You can DIY or have it done professionally. I personally know nothing about speakers and whether that somehow changes your sound. These days, it is hard to imagine any electronics that outlast my decor choices. YMMV

Safest: white. But you could minimize visual clutter by going with home theater 2.1 system, two bookshelf speakers plus a subwoofer (e.g., Klipsch Synergy Black Label B-200 2.1 home theater system)

You say that the speakers you currently own are too "big and ugly" - do you mind posting photos of them? Not trying to be critical, but the ones you posted aren't super aesthetically pleasing (super shiny black finish plus an odd curved shape to them) - they are probably top of the line functionally and provide great sound, but if the only reason for upgrading is looks, it may not be worth your $$$ (if the current ones perform just as well). I'd try to make the current ones work in the rental if possible.

Thanks all. White sounds promising then. I don't think spray painting speakers would impact the sound, @highdesertowl, but it might void the warranty. I'd be a little hesitant to DIY $20k speakers but I think it's worth looking into having it professionally done.

I would be using a subwoofer @wdccruise but just to cover the lower frequencies that the floor-standing speakers can't reach.

@andrewtodd3, as expected, most of your answers are not from audiophiles! I'm not one, but my spouse is, with a room built and set up to maximize 2 channel audio and also integrated into a surround sound system for movies. I make the design choices though, and have picked piano black whenever he has upgraded/traded speakers. Black is a classic and goes with everything. Most of the components are also black, so I like to have all of them be one color.

Hi @chispa. Yeah, I imagine most interior designers will be banging their heads against the wall that I'm even considering these speakers. How the house looks is important to us but so is having a decent pair of speakers (for me at least. My wife would be happy with the tv sound).

I've always gone with black for a dedicated room because you want the room as dark as possible. Would you have still gone with black if the speakers were going in your main living area? I've also just realized that most my walls are off-white so rather than disappearing, the speakers may make the wall look dirty.

@andrewtodd3 Yeah, I would be happy with the dinky TV speakers too! lol

When we didn't have a dedicated room, the speakers were black, but my decor is transitional. Think about it this way, imagine wearing a tux to a party. Who stands out more, the guy in the black tux or the guy in the white tux? Black speakers also tie into the black TV. Resale for black speakers is probably better too.

I prefer all the components to be black. Black will always match the TV. FWIW, here's the setup in our house. Hubby has huge, ancient speakers that he loves. He is willing to replace but comparable sound is more than either of us wants to spend. So we have his dark espresso tv stand, vintage 2008, with the black tv, dark brown speakers and subwoofer with black grill. My "solution" is to pretend the speakers are bases to display sculptures and use them to display my favorite sparkly accent lamp and candleholder. At night, I dim the other lights and just use the lamp and candle. :) It looks great then! LOL

I prefer all the components to be black. Black will always match the TV. FWIW, here's the setup in our house. Hubby has huge, ancient speakers that he loves. He is willing to replace but comparable sound is more than either of us wants to spend. So we have his dark espresso tv stand, vintage 2008, with the black tv, dark brown speakers and subwoofer with black grill. My "solution" is to pretend the speakers are bases to display sculptures and use them to display my favorite sparkly accent lamp and candleholder. At night, I dim the other lights and just use the lamp and candle. :) It looks great then! LOL

Why does Houzz double post for me sometimes? Anyone know???

Some photos from Houzz

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Partially hidden. Not best for sound but probably a spouse compromise!

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These are white, but I still think black would have been better.

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This white works because everything is white!

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Thank you for the photos @chispa. I don't know how you found the Meridian ones as I've spent days searching and hadn't seen these.

My house will likely always have off-white walls, some white cabinets, and transitional furniture (For context this is the furniture in the house we just sold https://www.compass.com/listing/16724-cory-cactus-drive-austin-tx-78738/736096133813581529/)

I think I'm now leaning towards the black. I still think the white may look better in the short term but the black is less expensive and will arrive 3 months earlier, and I'm starting to feel a bit better about it.

I would be concerned that the white will yellow with age and uv light.

Thar was a big concern of mine, @ker9@ker9 but from what I've been reading that doesn't seem to happen with

Assuming that you'll have the speakers on either side of the TV, do you know what color or tone of console you would choose? In the house you just sold, I think white would have looked best because it would stand out the least against the white walls and light colored console. Although the black fabric over the speakers is going to stand out.

In my house, my audiophile husband needed subwoofers on either side of my dark wood antique console that goes under the TV. I don't love them, but they make him happy so they stay. I could happily live with small speakers, but I don't have the ear for music that my husband does. The function of the space to make the people living in it happy is really important.

@andrewtodd3, where did you get the coffee table in your old house? I am looking for something similar for our new house!

I would probably still stick to black, but in your old house white could have worked if you had used a Samsung The Frame TV and selected a white frame around it and then displayed art when not watching TV ... I am all about it looking good, but still functional! ;-)

The 2022 model also has a matte screen so you don't get glare in a brightly lit room. I am probably going to purchase the 75" for our family room, but waiting for a wall built-in to get finished first.

Samsung Frame TV installations · More Info

Coronado Frame TV installation · More Info

Rosewood, Walnut, or Mahogany -- in that order for color. I suspect Ipe would be stiff and dense enough, but perhaps too patterned.

It was the recently deceased Amar G. Bose who did a lot of work on wall speakers back in the '60s. In principle, one can use an array of smaller speakers to produce low frequency sounds. The mechanical and electrical parameters would have to be appropriate. It is theoretically possible to phase them to generate any pattern desired within the limits of diffraction for their size and overall area.

I am not aware of any examples of speakers as furniture that surpass the JBL Ranger Paragon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JBL_Paragon. The one I saw demonstrated at the NY Audio Show in the late '50s was (if memory serves) rosewood.

I'd be using exactly the same console pricklypearcactus.

The coffee table is from rh.com and is finished in reclaimed Russian oak chispa . It's the same color as the media stand. https://rh.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod7380015&sale=false

I bought a new TV 2 weeks ago so switching to one with a white bezel isn't an option now. It's called a gallery TV as the front is only half an inch from the wall and can give the appearance of hanging art work but in reality it will spend very little time in that mode.

I probably should have mentioned that the speakers can be made in any color I want ( there are hundreds if not thousands of options) but I'm not sure my wife would accept any other colors.

@andrewtodd3 Are those Meridian DSP5200s?

I am actually struggling with color selection for some high-end speakers I'll be using in the great room of my new build. Several high-end audio retailers have suggested that you can "wrap" the speakers to change their appearance later. The same folks that wrap high-end cars could do this for you. Given how well wraps work on cars, I suspect you'd have an aesthetically near-perfect result. I have no personal experience with this, but it makes sense. So I'd get whatever you think will work best for now, and be confident you can change it later. Alternatively, get black now because it's probably safest and wrap them to the color you want. btw, the wrap is removable and "shouldn't" damage the surface underneath.

I'm an audio engineer, and write for a few audiophile publications.

Black speakers are always going to be in "fashion" and will work in any decor. Think how trendy a white baby grand piano is, while a black is now, and always will be a fabulous look.

I would caution against getting an expensive speaker now before you know how it will sound in a room that hasn't been built yet. If the room is bright, reflective, or dead all plays into how the speakers will sound. Best to wait until you have the room built and furnished before you make this decision.

I can't believe you even know what Meridian DSP5200SEs are @TXGuy. Most people on AV forums haven't even heard of them so I didn't expect someone on a home forum to know what they are. I had never ever considered wrapping them but because of that option and the option to paint them as @highdesertowl suggested I'm just going to get what feels best now and not worry about the future. There have also been so many good arguments for each color that I know there is no really bad decision so I'll feel comfortable with whatever I decide.

Thank you for the thoughts LH CO/FL. The room the speakers will be in likely will be reflective which is one of the reasons I'm going with DSPs. They have a lot more ability to adapt their sound to different environments.

I haven’t read through all the posts, but have you considered customizable, removable vinyl skins for the casings? They might be an option:

https://www.decalgirl.com/skins/

Sounds like you are getting great ideas. If the option is available, seriously consider choosing a matte finish over the shiny finish shown in the pictures. IMO matte looks more integrated in a home setting.

I would get them in matte black. Kinda' like wearing black pants vs white pants. Your butt looks smaller in the black pair.

@andrewtodd3 I have many interests :) I hadn't considered wrapping either, but once it was mentioned to me it was so obvious! FWIW, I wouldn't paint them because you would be unable to revert them to the "factory original" state, but I am pretty anal retentive about things like that.