Wood is dull x 3.
If you can't have real, solid, wood , then high gloss paint is a better option than veneers, which, when you think of it, are an early example of 'fake'.
A deep, deep, high gloss burgundy would do me nicely. Over birch ply, not that ghastly mdf. Sadly, wouldn't be cheap.....
Adam does do some nice modern finishes currently in different colours, also I think the test baffle in oak he had at the Whittlebury show was solid oak?
Stefan
A High Gloss Automotive finish every time for me.