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My wife is great, she has no interest in my audio system, but she lets me have a room just for my system and she actually likes the look of equipment tables and speaker stands!
It is often said that audiophiles enjoy a lonely hobby. Do you have a spouse who shares your audiophile tendencies?
She couldn't care less about gear, but, as a musician and life-long music lover, she is supportive of having a system in the house, and appreciates, on a general level, the difference between a real system and a boombox. All in all, I couldn't ask for more.
I wondered if my wife could tell the difference. I found out that she in fact could tell the difference last summer, after a visit to Sound by Singer in New York. The salesman graciously demonstrated some Cary components even though he knew that there wasn't any way I could possibly purchase them. Later that evening at home while listening to my Adcom powered system I asked my wife if there was a difference. To my surprise she said "There is absolutly no comparison between the two systems. She really liked the Cary powered system. But remember this she added "You drive a Ford not a BMW.
Once in a while, she'll sit down while doing something else (like reading or some notes from work) and wonder how good the whole thing sounds. She may say, "Wow, its' like we are there." But that will last for about ten minutes. After that, it's back to work or off the listening chair.
All the new equipment that has entered the house in the last 15 years has been decried as "another stereo box" and damned as a waste of money. However, the wife loves to sit enrapt while Nils Lofgren's Wonderland or another of her favorites spins. The exception was the Wilson-Benesch Act Ones, because they brought all the previous improvements into unmistakable focus and undeniably enriched the music in the house. So, though I know it will be the same song, the W-B Circle turntable should be delivered this week and we'll both enjoy it immensely for years. For her, it's about the money; for me, it's about the music. In the end, the music wins her over.
My wife knows good sound when she hears it. She may not be able to describe what she hears in audiophile-approved terminology, but when we audition equipment, if she doesn't think it sounds good, then I'd better listen more closely (to her and the equipment).
My wife would be perfectly happy with a $500 system. Funny thing is, she has a better ear than I do. Whenever I get a new toy she immediately zeroes in on the sound quality (good or bad). But, she just doesn't see the need to spend all that money for what she sees as a small benefit.
My wife tolerates my obsession and I think I am growing a little tired as well. I am trying to concentrate more on software than on the hardware and am trying to determine if my dissatisfaction with "sound quality" is not more a software issue. I doubt that I will ever own a Class-A system, so my "quest" needs to become more music driven. My wife can appreciate great sound, but would never seek it out on her own. She sees the high-quality music files I put in the iPod I received as a Christmas gift as a nice novelty, but little more. She and my 10 year old son were much more excited about the new kitty kat they picked up today.
Are you kidding! She still brags about her plastic, turquoise color, RCA portable radio and its 9 volt battery pack. The other day she searched the net for a casette version of the latest Andrea Bochelli album. Worse yet, her favorite group is still Millie Vanilli. When we were dating, she called me and told me to come over because nobody was home. I went over and sure enough, nobody was home. All kidding aside, she couldn't care less.
No, my wife is somewhere between ambivalence and outright hostility when it comes to equipment upgrades or tweeking my system. She falls into a category of what I call the "Sonic Wallpaper" listener. Music is something to fill the space and time while she's doing other things around the house. Fortunatley, I'm somewhtat "Grandfathered"in the HIFI and record collecting areas. My participation in the HIFI game came along long before our marriage. And, at the time my friends and I got together socially we listened to music with our wives. So it set the stage for my continued quest for musical perfection. And, I've learned that sometime it's just better to beg forgiveness if you really want/need the latest gizmo.