Kento Finish Decisions

[Delkat]

Hi everyone. New member here but long time Vandersteen owner. I’m upgrading from Quatro Woods (non CTs) to Kentos and just bought a set of M5-HPAs to power them. I’ve narrowed down the wood finish choices to Kewazinga, Rosewood and, in 3rd place, Zebrawood. My Quatros are Mahogany  Walnut, which I like but I want the Kentos to “pop” more but still look classy.   I saw Stringreen’s pictures of his 5As in Kewazinga and they look great. 
 

Does anyone have an pictures of speakers in these veneers? Or any first hand experience with these finishes?  

 

Thanks

[nrenter]

Of all the wood finishes, I like the Kewazinga the best. I, too, have the mahogany walnut finish (on my Quatro CTs), but I have always lusted after the Kewazinga. 
 

That being said, there are some automotive paint options that have piqued my interest. 

[TomicTime]

These are my old 5a in Rosewood, so you get an idea…

[TomicTime]

BTW - Congrats on the M5 and Kento - World class 😉

Here are  7 mk2 and  M7 amp ( cover ) in Audi Phantom Black Pearl….

[TomicTime]

any dust or fingerprints are not my fault….

[Brad O]

Hi Delkat,

I added some photos to the KĒNTO page on the website to show more finsihes.  These are photos we took in-house to document some of the finishes. They are not edited to remove the background white paper nor color corrected, but I thought it useful for all of you to see.   https://www.vandersteen.com/products/kento-carbon

[Delkat]

On 9/12/2021 at 9:24 AM, nrenter said:

 

That being said, there are some automotive paint options that have piqued my interest. 

Agree on the automotive colors.   I was a little confused on how that works.  You just choose any car color and they can spray it?  I wouldn't know where to start as the possibilities are so great.

 

Thanks

[Delkat]

3 minutes ago, Brad O said:

Hi Delkat,

I added some photos to the KĒNTO page on the website to show more finsihes.  These are photos we took in-house to document some of the finishes. They are not edited to remove the background white paper nor color corrected, but I thought it useful for all of you to see.   https://www.vandersteen.com/products/kento-carbon

Thanks Brad!  That is very helpful.  I assume photo 1 is Rosewood and photo 9 is the Kewazinga?  On the veneer in photo 9, are there seams in the veneer on the front of the speaker or is that just the natural pattern?

 

Also, if photo 1 is Rosewood, it seems to have more of a red tone than TomicTime's 5A posted above which have a more neutral brown tone.  Any idea what the current veneers tones lean towards?

 

Thanks!

[Richard Vandersteen]

Delkat,  most of the woods that have a cathedral type grain are cut "book end matched" so they always have a seam as the flitches are not wide  enough to span the front.  Wood is variable and the rosewood today run on the red side.  Jim's 5A were an exception.  As far as car paint goes its simple find a car you like the paint on and get the Name, Paint Code, Make, Model and year and we can do it except for the new flat satin colors.

RV

[TomicTime]

iF i order the new Extreme, i plan to specify the low observable paint we used on the B2…. so i can sneak them into the house…undetected…

Ha !

[Steve Edwards]

When the Queen is happy, the kingdom is happy  

[ctsooner]

I have the Quatro’s in Audi Havana Black (Uber dark brown metallic). They do a GREAT job spraying them out.  Go to Bentley and check out their choices. So many amazing colors. I almost wish I had gone with a candy apple red metallic or even a Crimson color.  The black is luxurious and the wife loves them. 

[nrenter]

I've always though this would be a very, very cool finish for a speaker.

[Richard Vandersteen]

House Of Kolor finishes are a very expensive option!  That is why you don't let your wife go out a shop for colors like I did.   Candy Apple Red is what our pair wears.

RV

[ctsooner]

Richard, I wish I knew that when I ordered mine, lol.  I do think I would have gone that route. 😉.  LOVE the black though.  Heck, it's all about the music anyways (but man a great paint finish makes them look even more expensive and I'm a wood worker, lol. ha.

[TomicTime]

Brad ! Richard has a flip phone so we ARE counting on you to post up a photo of RV’s Candy Apple Red !!!!!

[Delkat]

Is it Tungsten Silver on the Model 7 pictures on the website?  If so, who’s auto color is it?

If I stick with Wood it will be Rosewood. I may need to go to the local Bentley dealer to look at paint tomorrow. 

[Holmz]

22 hours ago, TomicTime said:

iF i order the new Extreme, i plan to specify the low observable paint we used on the B2…. so i can sneak them into the house…undetected…

Ha !

Brilliant!
That’ll make the speakers really disappear.

Do the radar paints also  lower the noise floor?

[ctsooner]

I believe the color on the site is a Bentley one, but not 100%. I like the stealth mat finishes a lot also. 

[Delkat]

It is an Aston Martin color and a very nice one at that.  Completely different look than the Rosewood but I've narrowed it down to those two choices.

 

Thanks for everyone's inputs.

[Steve Edwards]

In addition to the number of wood veneers and automobile paint colors, are there any options (other than black) for the cloth of the grill covers?  I ask because I like both to be of little to no contrast.  Just, of course, a personal preference.   I want to be ready when my ship comes in  :)  

[Delkat]

I've seen the grill cloth in grey with a Bentley burgundy auto finish and it looked great.

[Richard Vandersteen]

Cloth colors are Beige (not recommended as they soil easily), Charcoal and Black.

RV

[TomicTime]

Beachy……

 

[Delkat]

I decided to take a chance and talk to my wife about the 2 choices I narrowed it down to.  She said we have enough wood around here and preferred the Tungsten so Tungsten it is.  Order placed!!

 

Thanks