I am quite surprised how my wife is becoming an audiophile little by little. Until not that long she was happy with computer desktop crappy speakers and now every time I get home...my nice stereo is sounding to the point that she enjoys it more than me!!!!
I wonder if this new situation will make my next purchase justifiable...:)
Yep. She warms up the tubes before listening, and uses the Squeezebox Touch to play our albums, Pandora stations, or MOG. The living room has a stereo system, and no TV, so it's pretty important that she be able to operate the system!
I've programmed the remote so she can operate all she wants to. As far as the 'normal' wife attitude of any money spent is a waste, her attitude is since I make money, i should be able to spend it too, as long as everything gets paid, she won't complain. But she's not really interested in the 'hobby'.
When she wants to listen it, she uses me as a remote controller. There is only a turntable in my system as a source. She usually forgets to change the side of the LP, and when she remembers to do it, she looks like as a NASA technician who makes a complex operation to a space ship. Calculates every single movement, think about it again and again etc...
Donjr and Markpao, thanks for your concern. I do have a turntable, but it has a dustcover, she will dust the top of the cover, but she will never remove the cover, so my stylus is safe. I have no exposed tubes either. I do not have a problem, she is a experienced and careful duster.
I've done MUCH more damage to my system then she ever has. I wouldn't mind her using the system, but she is afraid to touch it....she knows how much money is involved and how fragile stuff can be. She's just as happy listening to tunes on an Ipod. When pushed she will admit that our system sounds better, but not good enough for her to worry about the hassle of remembering how to "work it".
i have a c/j 2500a, pv 12, alon IV's, rotel 975, w/tara labs connects. i got her, her own system with 2300a, pv 10a, axiom m80's, nad c545bee, a used kenwood kt 7500 tuner,tara labs and audio quest connects to go with her tv system. and she wont touch it.
i have a c/j 2500a, pv 12, alon IV's, rotel 975, w/tara labs connects. i got her, her own system with 2300a, pv 10a, axiom m80's, nad c545bee, a used kenwood kt 7500 tuner,tart labs and audio quest connects to go with her tv system. and she wont touch it.
My wife certainly know how to operate my system, and while my system was in our living room she used it all the time for tv watching mostly!!! She was using a REL Stentor 3 and a 10K class A integrated for news, series and National Geographic...
Now that my system was moved to my new dedicated music room, she has asked me (i.e. demanded) to buy a decent pair of speakers and an amplifier for the TV. I recently bought for her a pair of Dynaudio Audience speakers. I am still looking for a decent amp.
I am surprised that, so far, I am the only one reporting this situation. Women, like everyone else, get quickly used with the good stuff.
Audiotomb, I came across a good sounding ipod speakers - perhaps your son might be into it. I want one for barbecue and the beaches. Amazon has good prices on them, as well as the ebay.
My 19 yr old son works my home theatre system and occasionally cds on my main rig but only if i am there. He has an ipod all in one doc in his bedroom. He uses that a lot
He constantly is watching movies and concerts on the ht
If i started dating again I would want a Tom boy who would be interested in Music and playing the system, might have to stop at the vinyl
Jmc. That's one thing I will not allow my wife to do is dust the system. She can use it and treats it very well. She doesn't bias and she doesn't dust it. I do that stuff and I replace the vacuum cleaner bags.
Yep Jhardy. Both my offspring (13 & 15) can cue, clean with Hunt brush and flip the vinyl over. Teaching about cables, connections and differences is going a bit slower. They also have some personal vinyl.
Sure. She sometimes calls me in to "fix" why there's no sound, but there are times when it takes me 5 minutes to figure it out. Most systems are left permanently on which eliminates the majority of problems.
My wife rarely makes it down to my dedicated music room and doesn't care to learn about how to operate it which just fine with me. I would only let her play CDs if she did. I am however teaching my 14 year daughter to work the gear. She is interested and has been to audio stores with me. She also recently came home with her own purchased vinyl. I was so proud. She said store person said to her "you do know you have to have a record player for these?". She just chucked at him knowing her and daddy have a serious rig at home. It' also nice sometimes to have a flesh and blood remote control.
My wife never touches the system in my listening room. In fact she rarely walks in the room. There are other ways to listen to music in the house which she enjoys. As for household chores, I do more than she does. But she pays more of the bills so I don't mind.
Hey Mt10425, willing is one thing, responding is another. Granted, chores get done. By me, the maid, or my wife. But who takes care of the other stuff Liz mentioned? Just ribbin ya. I'm sure she does. However, I think I would value my wife's mutual enthusiasm for audio more than my gear itself. Oh well.
Over 25 years ago my wife destroyed an ARC SP8 preamp and 2 D115 amps. Back in those days we prayed when we turned ARC equipment on or off and the sequence was very important. So my wife since then will not touch my (audio) equipment. I do not care either way. Its only stuff.
Csontos-no, not really. The level of intelligence and common sense (these are mutually exclusive), along with being a great mom with terrific communication & computer technology abilities are way more important than those generic spousal skills listed by Elizabeth. I'm a very fortunate audio husband willing/able to share my audio/music experiences with my wife.
No, it is all too much at this stage...but she lends me her ears to keep the music real! I married her in the '70s for her Frazer "Black Box 1"s, Elac tt, SCA-35, and FM3 which she could operate :-)
Elizabeth, are you saying wives are supposed to have those skills? Wow, I was told my wife is a wife, but if those are the requirements, I was really lied to!
Of course. She uses both the turntable and PC music server all the time, including both the main system and the whole house system. She is also instrumental in selecting new equipment. Without her involvement I could not justify spending as much as I have on my systems. The big thing is whether a spouse really enjoys the music. If so, they should learn to use the system. If not, they will probably ignore it.
Touch? no,no nooooooooooo...BUT...I put together her own system in her sewing/project room.Some older Clements floorstanders,a Nakamichi cd player and some rugged Sony jet trash integrated left over from an estate sale buy.She has the run of the cd's and will grab just about anything.Nice to walk in and hear her playing Sonny Rollins,Tubby Hayes,Art Pepper,Louis,Bix,Prez,Bird or Billie Holiday.I have to say sometimes she is playing better music than i am.The sun is shining,the music is flowing and the sewing is groovin' high.
I made a set of instructions she must follow in order to turn the system on, play CD's, then to turn it back off properly. She used to play CD's, but hasn't played it in close to a year now. She's content with the music channels on the boob tube while she does her various hobbies.
Only the bedroom and family system on rare occasion. The primary system in the basement never never. Have tried to show her how to work all the systems as that would lead to her enjoyment and safer for the gear. Surprisingly my college age kids not only don't touch it, but seem to have no interest in using them at all. Content to use their ipods, phones and computers. I hope they grow into hi end audio or they can bury me surrounded my gear :]
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