HiFi dealers & audiophile wife problems

My wife and I were arguing about my latest purchase of some audio gear. I explained to her about how I enjoy the music, it's my hobby, etc., etc. I must say that she got the better of me (a first) when she said; "Why don't you buy a great pair of headphones and be done with it! That way you can get your great sound and listen when you want without rocking the whole house!" I was speechless as I momentarily couldn't fight the logic of it. I think I mustered a response about realism, soundstage - "It's just not the same!" Any one of my fellow (married) audiophiles have this same discussion? Did you win? What was your response? I need some ammo soon as I'm seeing a piece here on Audiogon that I've been looking for for some time. By the way, my wife is one of those that when I DO get her to sit down and listen to my system, she sits in the seat that is to the right of the right speaker because it's "more comfortable"! Need I say more!

Everyone knows (or should) that you cannot explain something to someone who's closed-minded. It's a pointless exercise.

You can't win an argument unless someone is willing to concede the point. If she doesn't Get The Point in the first place, and as long as you're not ruining her day when you're listening to the hifi (too loud, what have you) or spending the house payment, then there really isn't an argument, just a different take on it. And it should be left as such for the sake of both of your sanities.

You should try Sennheiser HD600's, and a tube headphone amp. If it helps save your marriage, it'd be worth it, would it not? I have these, and they are exquisite! Recently I went 6 weeks without even using loudspeakers, because the 600's are that good (once they're broken in some, once you try a tube headphone amp)......................I can speak to the issue of imaging with headphones. Not that the experience is "better" than speakers in your properly set up room...but, with even with "normal" stereo recordings done well (of symphony orchestras, or even jazz ensembles), THE INSIDE OF YOUR HEAD becomes as if it were anywhere from 50 feet to 400 feet in diameter, depending on the recording. If that's not a unique and mesmorizing expereince in itself, I don't know what is! Give it a try, you'll thank me later...................And I agree, your wife is being closed minded about it. My sister-in-law is the exact same way, there's no reasoning with her. Yet she'd sacrifice 30 years off the end of her life, if it meant she could get even an ounce more out of her gardening. It's all about personal likes, priorities, tastes, obsessions. That's why I'm glad I don't have the trouble yet....

Thanks for the advice Carl. I have heard Sennheiser is one of the better manufacturers - in fact the only company that doesn't make headphones you can buy at Walmart!!! Ironically, the better independent Hi-Fi shops in Dallas don't carry headphones to audition even though they are dealers. I guess we won't tell her they're $500 - or maybe I should - it was HER idea!

They are NOT $500, they're only $349, and perhaps Ubid.com carries them, I don't know. You could find used ones on occasion for $200 to $280, or perhaps endeavor to befriend a dealer who'll let you have 'em new for a few dollars over their cost...............Um, they aren't the "only" headphone manufacturer that Walmart doesn't carry, heh heh heh. Stax comes to mind..............The headphone amp will add to the cost of course, but you can start out without one. The sound is unmistakably "highend", even with my 10 year old Sony AM/FM Walkman!! I usually have to avoid the classical station, or else risk losing my concentration for 20 minutes or more...being unable to type on the computer, and having the music and soundfield totally absorb me! (And this is NOT with one of those headphone "surround" processors, either)..............I used to be skeptical about headphones too, until I bought these. AND I DO LOVE DVD MOVIES WITH THEM. Watched "Heat" recently (while everyone else was asleep), moved the easy chair close to the 35 inch screen, was completely lost in the story. The shootout scene when they rob the bank was making me feel a little nauseated...with fear! I forgot I wasn't really there with them in the street, with the gunfire and shattering glass, and cops dying...the surround effects came from WAY outside my head (and down the virtual "street")...AGAIN, WITHOUT ANY EXTRA HEADPHONE SURROUND PROCESSORS! Just the headphone jack on the DVD player. Very, VERY "real" sounding...