About your preferences about the looks of the ARC CD7, just goes to show how different we all are. I really like it. I like it by itself, and I'd like it next to my new LS-26 (I would - but haven't decided about soending the money). As to the comment about "design for the sake of design" - the answer is, of course it is! They all are. Why wouldn't you try to make your product look nice and well as functional?
