Well, I have an understanding wife who has her own expensive hobby, so I have two rooms that are "mine", my office/den with one system, and the workout/rec room with another. And a third of the garage with my workshop area and the motorcycle.
As several of the guys have mentioned, a relationship involves compromise. Compromise is not "my way, take it or leave it". It goes both ways. When there were grumblings in the past, I would cheerfully remind her that my hobbies didn't involve other women or illegal drugs, so she should consider herself lucky. And I was only half joking.
Here's a key point that your wife needs to understand, and, no, it has nothing to do with either audio gear or who's in charge: A house is to live in, not to stand back and admire, or show off to visitors. Its purpose is as a place for the family to live; all of the family, not just your wife. She doesn't get to turn it into a Better Homes & Gardens showplace, and tell everybody to not sit on the furniture. You know what I mean. You need to gently tell her: "Honey, I live here too. What space do I get?"
Here are a few possible compromises:
1. Move the speaker off the fireplace hearth, and put both of them on either side of the shelf unit. It might not be an ideal audio triangle from there, but I think she'll be happier if they're not up by the fireplace, which is a focal point of the room.
2. $500 headphones. Hell, make it $1,000 headphones and a $500 headphone amp. "Honey, if I can't use the speakers, I need good headphones". Smile when you say it.
3. Speakers or a new motorcycle. Her choice.
Bottom line, you're not happy. I was joking with a lady friend the other day and I mentioned the worst, most horrifying words a man can ever hear: "Honey, we need to talk".
Maybe you need to use that line. :yes:
As several of the guys have mentioned, a relationship involves compromise. Compromise is not "my way, take it or leave it". It goes both ways. When there were grumblings in the past, I would cheerfully remind her that my hobbies didn't involve other women or illegal drugs, so she should consider herself lucky. And I was only half joking.
Here's a key point that your wife needs to understand, and, no, it has nothing to do with either audio gear or who's in charge: A house is to live in, not to stand back and admire, or show off to visitors. Its purpose is as a place for the family to live; all of the family, not just your wife. She doesn't get to turn it into a Better Homes & Gardens showplace, and tell everybody to not sit on the furniture. You know what I mean. You need to gently tell her: "Honey, I live here too. What space do I get?"
Here are a few possible compromises:
1. Move the speaker off the fireplace hearth, and put both of them on either side of the shelf unit. It might not be an ideal audio triangle from there, but I think she'll be happier if they're not up by the fireplace, which is a focal point of the room.
2. $500 headphones. Hell, make it $1,000 headphones and a $500 headphone amp. "Honey, if I can't use the speakers, I need good headphones". Smile when you say it.
3. Speakers or a new motorcycle. Her choice.
Bottom line, you're not happy. I was joking with a lady friend the other day and I mentioned the worst, most horrifying words a man can ever hear: "Honey, we need to talk".
Maybe you need to use that line. :yes: