Embarrassed....Audio furniture help


Well, I swore I'd never let a woman dictate my two channel system but here we are.  Wife and I bought our first new home, I've got a small but adequate second living area for my system.  Problem is, as mentioned, my wife.  Setup will consist of CD player, AppleTV unit and integrated amp.  May add a streamer at some point but we'll cross that bridge later.  I'm using a pair of bookshelves and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

Here's the rub....She is demanding an A/V credenza, so speakers sitting on the credenza on either side of the TV.  Of course I'd love a vertical audio stand and be able to use speaker stands but it's too open, too many exposed cables, blah blah, you know the story.  

Question of the day:  can anyone point me in the right direction?  I need minimum 18" depth and all the awful Crate and Barrel stuff she recommends isn't up to my audio standards.  Needs something with doors for a clean look but I still need my IR signal to work.  Because the speakers aren't going on stands, I'd like something at least 20" tall.  A lot of the fashionable stuff is 14-16" tall, putting the tweeters way below ear level in the listening position.  

Any help would be much appreciated.  

Sincerely,

Man shaking his head with a borderline resigned look


cjlundberg
Well, I’m starting up an audio furniture company for just this purpose, but you’ve got me about nine months too early. I’ll be using extremely dense woods / slabs for the primary structure [Madrone is the primary source I’ve already forested, slabbed and have adequately air dried] with complementary hardwoods for cabinets storing equipment / records / etc. where the cabinets will have creative pockets incorporated into them to hide cables, etc. The contemporary design will primarily be based upon inverted live-edge influences [slab furniture] with the designs allowing plenty of air flow for cooling Tubes or Class A Amps. I’ve already communicated with some isolation device companies concerning integrating their products into the structure while hiding all but the bottom feet of those devices. Each piece of furniture will be made to order while customized to the purchaser’s specifications. Creative doors to cabinets will include somewhat traditional designs as well as some music focused motif’s [jazz / rock / orchestral / etc.] using a CNC to perform the bulk of the carvings. I should have prototypes available by end of the year. I retire [after 38 years from my desk job] July 30th.

@tomaswv
Never be embarrassed by striving to be a good husband. I assume you married her because you love her. She’s more important than your stereo, car, and any bigmouth friends you may have.

Both of you work hard to create win/win outcomes, it’s time and effort well spent. If one of you has to lose for the other to win- it’s a fool’s errand. Any contrary idea is hogwash when applied to a long term relationship, be it marriage, business, or whatever.

If you have friends that always whine about their wives and brag about ‘putting their foot down and showing her who’s boss’, change your friends.

There are many moving parts to this, but you two can sort it out. Congrats on your new house!
Surprise her with the palette look. If that does gain approval try sky job's 
suggestion of Cinder blocks and OSB board.