What's up with the 'Piano' gloss????

Hhdinc - I did a little bit of woodworking in my younger days, and I agree with you, that a rich wood finish is the way to go. My favorite speaker finish that I've seen was on a pair of Dynaudio 1.3SE monitors in Birdseye Maple. I sold them to upgrade, and now have higher quality Dynaudio's, albeit in a somewhat less attractive Rosewood finish. I've owned several black subwoofers before, and did not care for how they showed the dust.

I have traditional tastes... all black (speakers) strikes me as being more of an eclectic / modern taste.

"Not that there's anything wrong with that" (Seinfield reference)

I agree, people today just do not know the difference between different types of wood much less formica laminates. I have read ads that say walnut or cherry wood when really it is the stain color not the wood. Many Klipsch speakers are made with Birch ply and stained oak, cherry or walnut. I have a dead beat seller right now who put up a pair of speakers and listed them as cherry but they are walnut. As to black laminate, if people want to call a formica counter top high quality well I guess a VW is a Porsche.

I'm about to buy an unfinished plinth and want to do it in piano gloss black. Anybody have tips for me?

I think speakers look great with a piano gloss finish.
However, I prefer my pianos' to have a nice wood veneer, like a a Quilted Big Leaf Maple.

Chers,
John

Jab, I haven't seen too many speakers covered in formica. I think you mean vinyl wrap.