[werd]

Werd is a potato chip?   

.

Baked not fried..... 

[cujobob]

marriage is a business partnership and for that reason any major purchase should be discussed.  I dated a girl for seven years that lived with me but didn't really care for high end audio... She went to AKfest with me and was fairly supportive so long as I didnt spend too much.  Think of the reverse ... If your wife loved buying herself jewelry... You wouldn't care... Until it started costing too much.  Same thing.

[TONEPUB]

Before I did this for a living, my wife always said she didn't care if I bought a $9000 amplifier as long as I liked it and it made me happy.  But if I bought an expensive piece of gear and it wasn't that great, and then I sold it at a major loss to buy something else, she'd get a little grumpy.

I'm lucky, I'm not married to a woman that likes to shop.

She wants a new car next year and asked me what the budget was (considering how much I've spent on the system...) so I told her it was very flexible.  She's been out looking at Porsches, so I don't think I'll be buying any hifi in 2012, but that's ok!

[djbnh]

Before I did this for a living, my wife always said she didn't care if I bought a $9000 amplifier as long as I liked it and it made me happy.  But if I bought an expensive piece of gear and it wasn't that great, and then I sold it at a major loss to buy something else, she'd get a little grumpy.

I'm lucky, I'm not married to a woman that likes to shop.

She wants a new car next year and asked me what the budget was (considering how much I've spent on the system...) so I told her it was very flexible.  She's been out looking at Porsches, so I don't think I'll be buying any hifi in 2012, but that's ok!

Most women (or men) wouldn't mind bragging about buying a Porsche, fabulous for her and you. Take it to Germany to really enjoy what it can do.

[TONEPUB]

I'm trying to talk her into European delivery...

It will seriously be her car.  I'll keep driving my Beetle.  More money for records!

[Dracule1]

As long as you're married to your equipment, I see no reason you can't be happy.

[ricko01]

I'm lucky, I'm not married to a woman that likes to shop.

Yep... thats one way to be happily married to an audiophile.

My wife hates shopping as well...so isnt into any "arms race" with other females.. as many woman are.

So with X amount of disposible income and only one person (thats me!!!) who really cares to spend it.. life is good.

I also think that rolling over equipment all the time, like some of us tend to do, can stress a situation.

Aside from a recent $1000 purchase (well maybe... just remembered I also got 30 replacement tubes last month).. my system has been stable for several years.

I dont think it matters if they like or dislike music.... its the money spent that is the potentially corrosive part of this hobby/obsession/mistress to a relationship

[vegasdave]

How can a audiophile be happily married when a audiophile is never happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!LOL

Hmm...this is true. And another reason why it's best for an audiophile to stay single.

[ralph1950]

My wife is happy as long as I am.  She does not care if I spend a little on something I enjoy.  I don't bar hop or have any other vices (except I like & own a motorcycle) and am the very conservative (money wise) one in the family anyway. The living expences come first, So I guess I am lucky.

[ralph1950]

Most women (or men) wouldn't mind bragging about buying a Porsche, fabulous for her and you. Take it to Germany to really enjoy what it can do.

Or Montana! Or western Oklahoma where I take my bike when i need the feeling for speed!

[werd]

I'm trying to talk her into European delivery...

It will seriously be her car.  I'll keep driving my Beetle.  More money for records!

Thinking of gettingher a Boxster ?

[geowak]

Ok I am going out on a limb here and I am probably going to offend people....

Audiophiles have a ridiculous hobby and pay ludicrous amounts of cash for assorted electronics in boxes. It is really stupid, when you stop to think about it....

We can say things like “it’s finely engineered” “ it makes me feel great or relaxed when I listen to it” “it’s still cheaper than the Maserati I want” or whatever you want but it’s still a bunch of wires, capacitors and copper in a box that you’ve shelled out an insane amount of money to own.

If you have mucho denero it really will not matter much. If you do not have a room full of cash and you are married it should matter, let’s be honest.

I am married and if I bought a Jackson Pollack painting for $75,000 and told my wife i plan to put it on the wall and take enjoyment everyday by looking at it, she would
call a lawyer and her mom. I would be having visual bliss by admiring the painting as a divorced man. (Even if I told her she could look at it with me) Now granted owning an American Abstract expressionist painting by Jackson Pollack for that kind of money would be a great find and an even greater investment, but that is not what my wife would be interested in.

Having said that, I will defend all audiophiles the right to negotiate with your wife if you want the Bryston amp and she counters with the compromise that you can purchase the new Bose Wave radio instead. I am not bashing Bose, I owned the 901 speakers and at the time they were above average and again, over priced.

I know I will be called a wimp, but talking with the wife and making compromises before you make multiple thousand dollar purchases seems to work. The only time another arrangement seems to work is if you are very wealthy and do shower your woman with gifts or your third leg is very large.

[rockadanny]

Marriage involves compromise in just about everything, even if you share interests. If you are unable to achieve a mutually agreeable solution to audio related purchases or use, or unable to compromise at all, then IMO you will not have a happy marriage. This would hold true for nearly any interest with which you have passion.

Fortunately for me, the purchases I've made which were compromises (not all were, some I purchased exactly what I wanted) still turned out to be terrific pieces in my system.

Also, we've agreed on a listening schedule since my system is in the Living Room. I am not so happy with this compromise so am looking forward to moving my system to another room. Knowing I will be moving my system for more frequent listening keeps me happy in my current arrangement ... for now.

[rockadanny]

Audiophiles have a ridiculous hobby and pay ludicrous amounts of cash for assorted electronics in boxes. It is really stupid, when you stop to think about it....

I did stop to think about it and though I am not offended I kindly disagree with calling audio a "ridiculous" and "stupid" hobby. It is no more ridiculous than any other hobby such as following NASCAR (not just watching it as a past time, but making an effort to follow the sport) or collecting coins - both of which I do not understand yet can appreciate the hobbyist's interest. I achieve enormous amounts of spiritual and emotional satisfaction from listening to certain music I would otherwise be unable to experience on lesser systems.

Disclaimer: Not ridiculous or stupid as long as the hobby is not terribly detrimental to yourself or others around you.

[acresm22]

I achieve enormous amounts of spiritual and emotional satisfaction from listening to certain music I would otherwise be unable to experience on lesser systems.

I guess this is the only thing I'd take issue with...at least in my experience. Most of my listening now takes place when I'm helping my wife make dinner. It's on a very modest system...Klipsch in-wall speakers driven by a Super-T amp and a Denon CD player. I also listen to this same amp/cd player piping music to some cheap KLH outdoor speakers when the weather is nice and I'm outside grilling. In my experience, it is the music itself (and the company) that creates the spiritual and emotional experience...not to sound like one of those "it's all about the music" dudes, sorry.  The system itself, other than being able to play the music loud enough to hear, is largely irrelevant.
I also have a big rig in a dedicated listening room, and I haven't listened to that system in months. I tend to slip into the critic's chair when I go in there, and I've come to dislike the experience. The system sounds great...but it's no fun to listen to when I'm sitting there alone drinking a scotch.

[geowak]

Disclaimer: Not ridiculous or stupid as long as the hobby is not terribly detrimental to yourself or others around you.

OK OK... I will agree with you here. Actually I do agree with everyone that owns and enjoys the really expensive box of wires they own IF it does not cause problems with the wife.

I have a very dear friend who is a hoarder. He has piles and piles of near worthless and worthless junk. It has cost him TWO wives (he is now divorced again) and he cannot see it. Last time we talked he was trying to turn one of his storage facilities into an apt.

I guess the lesson I learned here would be don't apply to much meaning or significance to material stuff. Really expensive stuff can end up becoming something you feel tied to. You can lose the enjoyment it once gave you. Worse yet, it can cost you a marriage!

[rockadanny]

Yes, it can be very sad when someone places too much significance on worldly possessions. Especially to the degree of ruining their lives. Sad indeed. 

[Mike Nomad]

~

[JLM]

After a combined 23 years of marriage to two different women, I wonder exactly what "happily married" means.   

[thunderbrick]

   Me too, 31 total, 25 with one, Sunday will be the 6th anniversary with the other.  Like cars and audio gear, I get better value out of "pre-owned".     

Oddly enough we were both married to military spouses for 25 years and swore we'd never get married again.  And we are extremely happy. Most of the time.