Audio Research...

This is like trying to guess in advance what a future buyer might prefer. You should choose the finish that makes you happy and assume that the ARC will too.

If I cast a vote for one or the other, I choose black, only because everything else in my system is finished in black and tends to "disappear" in the bookshelf or rack.

I've owned several ARC pieces and have gone back and forth over which is better. The silver is the more 'classic' audio research look, but the black does indeed seem to fit into modern decore a little more. Black is easier to touch up in case of scratches. Seems that resale is not really an issue with either color. The one constant has been that I always have mismatched components ! At one point I had a ph-3 titanium finish, a silver vt100, and a black ref 1 !

You can get faceplates from ARC for all major components.
They are quite expensive. A cheaper option is to wait for one to go for sale on audiogon, or put up a 'trade' ad.
John.

It seems to me that the natural silver is more popular or more available. Just a hunch.

the silver looks tacky

the black fits in better in my opinion

the black seems more common, what I generally see in the stores

I have a black D200 and LS 2 MKII

tom

Pbb

I would go with the above response, which suggested to go with the one that makes you happy. I have three ARC units (all black) only because my entire system is black. I did buy an SP15 (2 piece unit preamp) that had silver faceplates and I paid to have the faceplates and knobs converted to black, not an inexpensive undertaking, so again just go with which ever you prefer, the sound quality is the same.

Regards,
AEW