[Waltlaw]

My wife is not an audiophile but her taste in speakers is fairly consistent.
One time (out of many) I dragged her to a used audio store (she seldom complains out loud). They had an old pair of Quads; I was curious and the guy plugged them in for a demo.
She was transfixed. Now, she has normally has little interest in these things but the Quads spoke to her. I thought they were pretty good in their range but to me they were quite limited.
To her they seemed more natural than the others I had presented over the years.
Well, over the years I put together enough money for a real system and ordered some Magnepan MMGs; they satisfied for a year until I upgraded to the VMPS 626 jrs, with Megawoofers and the FST tweeter.
Now I'm in heaven but when I demonstrated them for Her she said "Well, I see what you're saying but I kinda prefer the Maggies..."
(The only other speaker she ever offered praise for was the Carver Amazing)
So, my question is, what is she hearing that pleases her so? Just a matter of taste, or does she hear something I don't? Perhaps the boxy sound irritates her and the open plan is more relaxing?
Any suggestions?

[pjchappy]

Maybe she just liked the "open" sound that dipoles create, as a result of all the reflections, etc. they create.

[John Casler]

My wife is not an audiophile but her taste in speakers is fairly consistent.
One time (out of many) I dragged her to a used audio store (she seldom complains out loud). They had an old pair of Quads; I was curious and the guy plugged them in for a demo.
She was transfixed. Now, she has normally has little interest in these things but the Quads spoke to her. I thought they were pretty good in their range but to me they were quite limited.
To her they seemed more natural than the others I had presented over the years.
Well, over the years I put together enough money for a real system and ordered some Magnepan MMGs; they satisfied for a year until I upgraded to the VMPS 626 jrs, with Megawoofers and the FST tweeter.
Now I'm in heaven but when I demonstrated them for Her she said "Well, I see what you're saying but I kinda prefer the Maggies..."
(The only other speaker she ever offered praise for was the Carver Amazing)
So, my question is, what is she hearing that pleases her so? Just a matter of taste, or does she hear something I don't? Perhaps the boxy sound irritates her and the open plan is more relaxing?
Any suggestions?

Yes, it appears she likes the ambiance of reflected sound.

I guess your only alternative is a pair of RM v60 with the horn foam wedge removed. aa

There is a magic and entrancing sonic to dipolar speakers due to that "airyness". 

Many will argue about the accuracy of "reflected" sound in anything but the original space, but it cannot be denied that it is alluring.

The RM v60 gives you the adjustablity to increase or decrease that room acoustic.

I would venture that your wife doesn't sit and listen seriously in the equilateral sweet spot.  In that position you will (if set up is correct) achieve a similar sonic accuracy to the original venue (without the incorrect room sonic additions).

However is she is listening out of the sweet seat, she is missing the airyness.

In High End Audio, it is always a trade off with different sonics.

The most accurate reproduction will be in the sweet spot without room interactions, but not everyone judges their "sound" in that way.

[hmen]

You might want to try a pair of the VMPS Ambience tweeters. It will give you some of the airyness that your wife is looking for. They're pretty inexpensive and you just velcro them on the back of speakers. I use them in my RM40's.

[John Casler]

You might want to try a pair of the VMPS Ambience tweeters. It will give you some of the airyness that your wife is looking for. They're pretty inexpensive and you just velcro them on the back of speakers. I use them in my RM40's.

   Why didn't I think of that?

That is exactly what would begin to address that sonic.

[simon wagstaff]

Or, you could pick up a pair of Bose 901's and give her her own listening room, where you would never have to go....
 

[Waltlaw]

Thank you all for the advice. The Ambience tweeter sounds like the cost effective way to get her attention. 

[*Scotty*]

Its been my experience that women do not tolerate distortion in reproduced music as readily as men do. If they care about what's playing at all they don't want it too loud or distorted and they won't make excuses for the offending piece of equipment,their self worth is not involved in the evaluation process because they don't have the disease. The key thing about the Quads was the very low level of distortion they have when not played too loudly. Good luck with your search for wife approved system it isn't easy satisfy someone who has no vested interest in the process.
Scotty

[Telstar]

Its been my experience that women do not tolerate distortion in reproduced music as readily as men do.

So, I'm a girl?