Methinks it wasn't the new gear you were trying to 'hide' from your better half, but the fact that you were sereptitiously burning-in cables and an amp. Assuming your non-audiophile wife is as intelligent as you imply (after all, she apparently recognizes the reality of breaking-in speakers), this was probably the way to go. However, don't think for a second that she didn't really know your explanation was BS and is just being kind ;^)