Why no exotic wood cabinets?

[Rod#S]

I was just looking at pictures coming out of the RMAF and admiring all of the speakers from manufacturers that use beautiful woods for their cabinets and was thinking that would just be the icing on the cake if the 800 series had that as an option. Woods like rosewood, ebony, walnut along with the figured maples (curly, quilted, birds eye and spalted) would be amazing in a number of different stain/finish/color options.

Does anyone know why B&W doesn't offer exotic woods? Getting the piano black was the other omission which they took care of this time around with the new diamond series.

[stuofsci02]

They have for their signature and anniversary speakers... Go look up B&W Tigers Eye and B&W Birds Eye on google.

I think it just boils down to the fact that they are mass producing these, not custom manufacturing. As a result they limit themselves to several choices...

[Blindamood]

Yeah, the 805 Signature in the Tiger's Eye (gray) finish has always been one of my favorites. It hasn't been available (at least new) since I've reached the 800-series level, but I would definitely be tempted if they ever brought it back.

[Rod#S]

That Tiger's Eye is cool, it doesn't look real it's so unique. Would sure have loved to have that as an option. The bird's eye that they have offered looks good also.

[madmac]

Exotic woods are becoming more and more scarce. I'm into acoustic guitars and the industry is having problems acquiring these woods. I believe that is why this issue is happening in the speaker industry. If it did happen or is happening, you will certainly pay for it when you buy the speakers!!.

[dan87951]

I miss the tiger eye finishes. Man were those beautiful to look at. Should have never sold those signature 805's!!

[RebelMan]

Does anyone know why B&W doesn't offer exotic woods?

Yes - As others mentioned B&W has and does produce product using exotic woods and/or finishes... like the current PM1. But they do not routinely offer these types of finishes because, as Mike Gough informed me several years ago, opportunity costs and consumer interest drives much of their decision making when it comes to appearances.

[Briz vegas]

Exotic woods are becoming more and more scarce. I'm into acoustic guitars and the industry is having problems acquiring these woods. I believe that is why this issue is happening in the speaker industry. If it did happen or is happening, you will certainly pay for it when you buy the speakers!!.

And is this remotely acceptable? if we pay its for the timbers scarcity rather than to reverse the trend. Middle class guilt some might say, nothing wrong with that if we also do something about it.

You can buy carbon offsets for air travel, why don"t we insist that we have the option of offsetting the timber we buy and that the people we buy the gear off make it easy to do.

B&W say on their web site that the timber is sustainably harvested, it was one of the things i checked before getting my 804s ( my surrounds). B&Ws statement Is a one liner. Timber is a beautiful feature of many speakers which are a luxury item. I'm sure that one tree makes many speakers so putting back more than they take out should not be hard.

Same could be said of the instrument makers. They make high value items out of wood, which is so much better than paper, wood chips or the dreaded palm oil. They should offer the opportunity for buysers to put more back in, the opportunity to watch a future generations Strad growing in a diverse ecosystem, or at least the peace of mind knowing its there.

The accepting or slightly sad tone of "it's getting harder to find" should be replaced with"and this is what we are doing about it".

Maybe we should start a public petition here asking B&W to do more than give one line of text to the issue. Lots of repeat buyers around here. Great way of differentiating the brand as well. Governments and companies respond to what we demand and expect. It's a very small thing at one level, but there should be more of that kind of thinking. From little things big things grow, there's a slogan for you. There you go B&W, look up the song, it's about indigenous issues but forests and indigenous issues are linked. I'm sure you would get Peter Gabriel on side in an instant.

Imagine if B&W owners funded a nautilus forest somewhere with truely sustainable timbers. I think that would be pretty cool. Mind you I think B&W should be a carbon neutral company as well.

If you don't ask.................

[beden1]

I remember reading where one manufacturer only used wood from fallen dead trees which I thought was a good idea (trees that had fallen do to storms or whatever). But, you're right, that these manuafacturers should start their own sustainable growing programs.