I want the best performance for the money. Looks aren't entirely irrelevant but they're way down the priorities list. I definitely agree that vandersteen has the right idea with the cloth exterior with just a little bit of wood. It looks fine but you aren't paying a lot for a fancy finish.
Ugly vs Gogeous speakers
I know speakers should be all about sound but I can't help responding to the look as well and this presents me with a dilemma.
I have owned B&W Nautilus 803's for many years and love the sound and value (excellent sound for reasonable cost). I would love to upgrade but I (and wife) think that the retro Star Wars R2D2 looking speaker (802) is nothing we would have in our living space.
What do others think the best looking / sounding speaker is? Do looks matter to you?