I’ve been in the audio hobby for many decades and frankly I MUCH prefer a clean looking room. I see so many "only an audiophile could love" rooms with wires, tweaks, gear everywhere, which to me looks like the audiophile equivalent of a dorm room.
Audiophiles tend to be excited by the gear so of course there is a large contingent of "I paid for this gear and I want to see every inch of it." That goes even for speaker drivers "I want to see every bit of technology that is producing the sound!" To me this desire to have every bit of gear exposed and laid out in front of me while listening to music is as enticing as wanting to live in a house where every bit of wiring and plumbing is exposed.
I do love some audio jewellery, especially a great looking pair of speakers and tube amps. But the last thing that fits in the category of "great aesthetics" are cables of any sort, IMO.
So I go for the cleanest look I can, and I really do want the speakers to be as attractive as possible, though I don’t care to look at speaker drivers. My wires are hidden and run to sources housed in a different room, and the decor of the room and speakers are selected to blend as best as possible. Using this approach I’ve put together many fine systems in my room, where the aesthetics are very pleasing to me, my wife and guests, and when music is played that takes front and center not the technology.
It can be done, you just have to have the desire. Like dressing nicely to go to a restaurant...:-)
