How to respond to those who say it's not a hobby?


I only recently started to get into audio and, although my system is definitely not in the high-end category, I like to think it's a lot better than the components that were replaced My better-half was quite accepting of the initial purchase of a new integrated amp (NAD C370), tuner (C420), speakers (KEF Q5) and interconnects (VDH D-102 III). She definitely heard an improvement over our previous gear.

However, she is now quite opposed to the upgrading of the CD player and the addition of a second amp (bi-amping). I've mentioned that it will likely make a great improvement to our listening enjoyment and hinted that this is a new hobby for me. Essentially, her response was that "spending hundreds of dollars on audio equipment does not qualify as a hobby", since I don't actually create/build/assemble any of it.

Any thoughts out there about how one might respond or convince the nay-sayer otherwise?
mghcanuck
buy her a new jeans and stuff with your each next upgrade and no convincing is neccessary.
Must be newlyweds, eh? You are creating/building/assembling a system. Tell her buying clothes isn't a hobby either and go get yourself a cd player. Unless you're the unemployed student and she's the bread winner, then say yes ma'am and do as she says.
Marakenetz idea of buying her new jeans isn't a bad one, but it can lead to higher expectations. I don't want to have to buy her things with my every audio puchase. Generally, I don't complain about the amount of shoes and clothes she buys, and she doesn't complain about my audio system. That's our compromise.
Tell her she is right, it is not a hobby, it is an addiction - but you had a choice between crack and high end audio and you chose high end. Would she rather you chose crack?
Definitely go out & upgrade that source component asap; the biamping might wait awhile however.
Then when you're coming home late from the bar & chasing skirts, you can rationalize that it isn't a hobby either (just be damn sure that you're not "creating anything", but then again, you do need a hobby ... right?).
Try to audition some stuff with return privileges. Get her
input as to if she can tell a positive difference. Just a
thought!