[Mike Dzurko]

We want your input. Both finishes would be natural, i.e. not stained.  Let us know!

And post any other thoughts/questions you might have about finishes, looks. TIA

[DR]

Mike,

I love my Cherry ACI setup so I won't be in the market until they explode or something. However, birds eye maple would be very cool.

[Carl V]

We want your input. Both finishes would be natural, i.e. not stained.  Let us know!

And post any other thoughts/questions you might have about finishes, looks. TIA

Birds Eye Maple...or Curly maple.  Do consider very subtle dye application.

How can you go wrong with a nice Walnut...curly figured or Flat Cut?

And no more inlaid corners of contrasting color unless special request...imho.

[BradJudy]

Tough choice Mike.  I'm a big fan of natural cherry, but BEM is also a very nice finish.  I assume this is for the current XL style products with black trim?  If so, I think the lighter wood (BEM) would be set off very nicely with a black trim and look very classy.  Plus, a gloss option would look better with the BEM/black combo IMO.  

That said, I don't think you can go wrong with either option - natural cherry is a classic and always will be.  

[guest]

Pole?  Isn't that something that firefighters & dancers use?  

[ajayrav]

BEM all the way....A gloss finish would be great as well.  As Brad says, BEM with black trim would look great.

Ajay

[PMAT]

Cherry is common among mass produced items, birds eye never. Which way do you lean?

[NewBuyer]

Would definitely like the cherry, assuming it really would be a true cherry-wood color this time instead of the more rosewood-stained cherry currently used by ACI.  The Birds-Eye Maple would be nice too, so hopefully you can/will please offer both.

[Edit: Question asked below, about the color-type of Cherry being referred to here...]

[BradJudy]

Cherry is common among mass produced items, birds eye never. Which way do you lean?

Real cherry is rarely used in mass-produced items. 

[Mike Dzurko]

To clarify;

* The corners/edges would NOT be a contrasting inlay.
* High gloss is a definite possibility

I very much appreciate the input so far, keep it coming!

[stereocilia]

Does the Bird's-Eye Maple cost more?  Between the two I would pick the Maple, but it may be harder for people to integrate into existing furniture.  Personally, I'm partial to Walnut if the question were open-ended.

[bpape]

BEM is beautiful - but not sure how well it would integrate into a wide variety of decors.  I'm personally partial to the cherry as it can blend in well with oak, cherry, teak, etc.

Bryan

[Mike Dzurko]

To answer a couple questions:

Ordering more of one finish cuts the cost, and hence selling price, pretty substantially. Available warehouse space is also a part of this equation. If for instance, we wanted to bring in three finishes at once, (Cherry, BEM, Piano Black), it would raise the per pair cost by over $200 pr.  Our plan is to order one finish at a time in larger quantity. So yes, eventually we'll have more options, at the best value pricing.

The BEM does cost more but I see two advantages to stocking first:
1) It is a new finish for us to offer
2) It leads the voting, so hopefully would result in fastest turn over ratio, and allowing the ordering of a second finsh more quickly.

I do agree though that Cherry is more universal, and it has always been a very popular finish for us. We'll probably make this decision in the next couple of days. So, keep the votes and comments coming!

[stereocilia]

I already voted but I want to throw something else in: I think it also depends on the color of the drivers -- lighter colors look better with lighter drivers, but darker finishes look a little better with dark drivers.  It's very subjective, and I could see how somebody else might even have the opposite opinion.

[NewBuyer]

I too already voted in this pole (poll  ), but have a question about the type of cherry finish being considered here:

Is it this "Natural Cherry" color (which I personally would like):

Or is it ACI's normal "Inlaid Cherry" color (more like a rosewood):

Mike, which type of future Cherry color option are you referring to here please?  Thanks in advance.

[Mike Dzurko]

I too already voted in this pole (poll  ), but have a question about the type of cherry finish being considered here:

Is it this "Natural Cherry" color (which I personally would like):

Or is it ACI's normal "Inlaid Cherry" color (more like a rosewood):

Mike, which type of future Cherry color option are you referring to here please?  Thanks in advance.

Your first sample is closer. The actual cherry is probably just a BIT deeper in tone than that.