Partners and music/Hi-fi

Hell Yes.
Women eh?

Paul.

I really upset mine when I got the SBLs.....she was going to get me them for my birthday, D'oh. After a few glasses Julie's more likely than me to pump up the volume.

Simon

Exactly.

my gf is actually a big music fan, and has easily got twice as many CD's a me (about 600) so i can't say that she doesn't understand spending money on the software.

however, she always takes the mickey about me spending time on a forum, reading about hifi, and when i mention spending £££'s on a power supply for my pre-amp (" a POWER-supply?!?!"), she just rolls her eyes, and goes back to watching eastenders!

the acid test though, was when she was listening to vaughn williams fantasia on a theme by thomas tallis on my dad's naim system, and was moved to tears by the emotion of the music, which she had never done listening to recorded music before. maybe not so silly spending all of that momey...



(wild horses couldn't have dragged her to last years naim bbq though!)

cheers

matt

...not to buy any more hifi until I get a better paying job. Bugger.

TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."

I'd shown great restraint over the years by NOT spending money on the hardware. She never forgave me for the time when I had my LP12 serviced and upgraded and it cost more than the service on the car!

I finally negotiated a budget this year for a cd player. I managed to stretch it to a CD5 and she insisted on new speakers (my old ones don't "go with the room").

She's still happier with the £100 portable thing she uses in the playroom

She accepts that I've had the hi-fi and the core of my record collection longer than we've been together (18 years this year!)

She also knows I like my beer (see various ber related threads in the Padded Cell). We did meet in the local when she started there as a barmaid I was the first person she served. I'm not sure she agrees with me when I say that it is romantic to go for a drink there as it is where we met.

I'm in a situation where my wife is fine with we purchasing old black boxes and attending record shows, etc. The 1200 LPs haven't gotten to her yet, however, there has been some impact on the living room decor. What she doesn't go for however is how loudly I like to listen to the music. Even background music is suspect with her. On the weekends, after I give her a few shots of tequila or a couple Martinis (or Cosmos), she tends to loosen up a bit and enjoy life a little more (including loud music).

The weekday loud music moratorium force me into picking up a Rega Ear and a pair of AKG 240DFs.

Erik

We have an uneasy peace, the day she starts giving me a really hard time about my weakness is the day I would start to give her a grief w.r.t the Imelda Marcos shoe collection.

My partner loves loud music (although this may be excessive when I tune up my pa system in the house).She does not complain about me purchasing more naim boxes , she even , as a surprise , bought me a revox A77 reel to reel for christmas.

Chaps

Mrs Mick has never complained about me purchasing Hifi because she enjoys the music. She does not like visiting Hifi shows because she claims it is filled up with nerdy types and I tend to agree with her. There were some peculiar individuals walking around with handfuls of brouchures who looked positively wierd.

She has a passion for expensive teapots, jewelry and flower arranging (which can be bloody expensive)as well as foreign holidays. I allow her to indulge in these whims without any complaint and it is therefore a question of balance.

The only strange thing is that she has met fox (of Mana fame) twice and thinks he is rather dishy and sweet. She claimed he was the nicest looking and most personable chap she has ever met at a hifi show. She is, in all fairness, (at least I hope)unaware of his proclivities.

Therefore to conclude, Hifi is only one of many hobbies and she does support me in it.

Regards

Mick

1. Never mention the price of a component.
2. Always destroy the invoice before leaving
the dealers' premises.
3. Stick to a brand like Naim, where all the
boxes look alike.
4. Connect to this forum in the office.
5. Never ask whether she thinks there has been
an improvement.
6. The better the system, the less 'loud' it
will sound - so keep spending.
7. In extreme circumstances, permit her to choose
a component on grounds of look/decor.
8. Install a properly designed rack for the
system and keep everything tidy.
9. Get a stylish storage system for CD and LP
and ensure that magazines and books have
their own place too.

Result - Peace and Tranquillity !

The problem I have is not the Hi-fi, but the software.

The wires running between the racks is a bit of a sore point though.

Just becuase I like to have piles of records & CDs around the house (only in 8 of the rooms) this is some kind of problem ?

There is nothing like having a pile of records leaning 2 ft deep against every wall, cupboard etc. You can flick through them so easily then, rather than looking at the spines. I have my own special filing system to segregate records into genres. to be cleaned / to be taped for the car / to be filed away / to be listened to soon etc.

When it all gets a bit much and she has to step over them to traverse the room, I am thretened that they will all be put away in the gaps in the record storage units, I know I will never find them again!

What we have to put up with!

DS

I suppose I'm one of the lucky ones. First thing we bought with one of my first salaries was a Nait 3 and a CD 3. We didn't have anything at home except for a matras and our system. When we moved flats, Katerina started getting fed up with my huge place consuming selfmade loudspeakers. With her first salaries and as a wedding gift, she bought us a pair of SBLs. She never objected to any subsequent upgrades, although she had her doubts about the CDS I and the NAC 52, until she heard them of course. The only classic difference of opinion we have is that she thinks I listen to music too loud in general, and I think she listens to music too loud on sunday morning when I'm still in bed!

Ciao!

Willem

I have a very understanding wife. Accepting from the start that the HiFi and music collection was part of the package, and despite the outlay is pleased with both the appearance and the sound of the kit (if the volumes played when I arrive home are any indication).

Generally avoiding hifi stores like the plague, but surprised to easily hear the difference in the odd dem she's attaended, my Wife claims to hear no difference in the home. Black speakers, and finish on the kit is her imposed rule. The Mana is now virtually prerequisite as well - camoflages the kit to some degree, I guess.

Balance is required in all things - I always indulge her preferences for shoes, clothing, cosmetics, pampering, travel etc.

Thankfully an expensive car is not currently a requirement!

As for volume - after the last gathering at our gaff there were piles of wood dust in the basement below the lounge after 8 crazy nutters pogo-ing to the system with volume at 12 o'clock. Not generally a problem, but sitting in front of it we both listen reasonably quietly.

I would not trade her for anything, and would happily lose the hifi first (not that she's aware of this!).

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio

EDIT: PS - I should add, I *never* hide anything from her, and we discuss all changes/upgrades to the system together.

[This message was edited by Rico on THURSDAY 23 May 2002 at 03:45.]

quote:

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1. Never mention the price of a component.
2. Always destroy the invoice before leaving
the dealers' premises.
3. Stick to a brand like Naim, where all the
boxes look alike.
4. Connect to this forum in the office.
...<etc.>...

---

These are wise words from David and should be part of the unofficial FAQ. It is also important to stock a good collection of the particular music that your wife enjoys, be it Enya, Dead Kennedys, X, Sarah Brightman, Louis Prima, Madonna, whatever. Some of it can even be played on occasion. I've found this helps a lot with getting her 'buy in'.

Erik

quote:

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1. Never mention the price of a component.

---

Oh dear, split my sides reading that one. Where's James when you need him!

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio

I would consider myself lucky, my gf is quite understanding although she made me promise her not to buy anymore new stuff until our house is ready next year.

According to her too many box and UGLY looks but she relunctantly admitted that the music is good. She even told the designers to dedicate part of the house to me, equipment and to accomodate guys coming over for drinks and loud music!!
Base on that I didn't argue with her about the equipment being ugly.

On some very rare ocassion she does cranck it up. As a trade I let her play "Boyzone CD" AAAAAHHH!!


She knows it's expensive but didn't ask so I didn't tell.

She can't stand a few guys coming together and talk about hi-fi or playing musich loud!! The usual pampering is required for her... shoes, holidays and spa!!

I'm happy and lucky..
Roland

[This message was edited by Roland Huu on THURSDAY 23 May 2002 at 03:29.]

Several posts suggest that they can rely on their partner when upgrading to say if something really makes a difference. Cannot agree more, she cares not a jot about the technology but just gets on with enjoying the music. I want an upgrade to be better-my wife is far more objective.

When I bought 52 she sat all evening curled on the settee with the remote, only the next day did she actually notice the box looked different and realised 'it has arrived then'.

My only problem it she refuses to have nasty NACA5 trailing around the room.

Bruce

Actually, I have to agree on the tactics of not mentioning the price and letting her have a vote based on looks of a component. It will take me immense amounts of trouble to defend a purchase; but once connected, she's always convinced by quality. All's well that ends well, basically.

Volume-wise, I'm a lucky guy. The gf has lived alone for six years with a pub left to her, and a musician on the other side. She actually likes to crank up the volume more than I do without feeling guilty. Also, the fact that our current neighbour's eldest son is loud by ADHD-like symptoms, helps our karma when playing loud music.

Cheers,

Edo

I have found the best way is to be seen to be doing lots of reading / researching / drooling and look all wistful. "It would be so nice..... If only..... what do you think darling (oh and by the way I think you should keep both/all the dresses, to keep only one means you have to go again...."
Use a bit of a game. Start looking MUCH higher than even you know you might go, then compromise and just go for what yo ufancied in the first place.
Look happy / smug when a new upgrade appears and be especially nice to her and whatever you do, don't bury yourself in it, fight the urge and be overly intested in whatever she wants to talk about!
DON'T, under any circumstance say that good music / hifi is better than sex!

pardon?

Why would you need to pretend this is so? Surely sex is better than hifi. (Even for junior members.)

Herman

Keep wife and hi-fi at least 5 miles apart.

James

welcome back!

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio

quote:

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Thank you. We had a ball in USA and even brought home more than a few slabs of vinyl. Must get cracking on DIY LP/CD storage furniture sometime soon.

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Yes, very much so! Perhaps we should consider shared purchase of a dovetailing jig? Have seen one circa NZD200.

Anyone here have any advice when considering a dovetailing jig for Routing??

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio

Hi, Rico/James

If you want plans of my CD rack I will be happy to send you some, when I get them in to electronic form!

Pete Mad Bad & Dangerous to Know