Stuck on cabinet color

Shadorne is correct IMO regarding maple's visual characteristics. In most domestic interiors, maple provides a higher contrast with it's environment. Thus, it looks more conspicuous. I disagree as to it categorically being "not a good idea." ( An obvious statement if you look at my system :-). These sorts of judgements are subjective, otherwise interior design wouldn't offer such disparate examples of taste as one sees going into any good furniture gallery. I totally agree with Markphd, in modern and transitional settings, maple can work very well. I do think you have to be of a mindset that you want to celebrate the physical presence of your equipment if you choose maple, it's not a "blend with the background" kind of wood.

Maple works best on speakers with low impedance/sensitivity and of course solid state amps.

If you're using tubes, a dark color is always the choice.

Good luck.

I like speakers with Cryo treated grill cloth.

Okay, so should your Mpingo discs match your speaker, or contrast? Do they still make those things?

Maple will look fantastic in most rooms. Only if you have dark carpets, walls and other funiture will it be an issue. We've got several maple pieces and my Vienna Acoustics are maple, which looks great in a bright, airy space. The grill is brown.

Dave