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what are your tricks for getting the waf aka wife approval factor on buying speakers?

5K views 90 replies 44 participants last post by  keyboardcat 
#1 ·
I am single, but I read a lot on here about people trying to convince the wife or girlfriend to buy new speakers. The women don't like the way that it looks with the decor is to tall etc. I found this old forum post on another audio site and thought that it was cool how he convinced her.
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/loudspeakers/28800-psb-image-t55-tower.html


he said I just set the old sony's on the mantel and everytime I walked by them I would say...man, those things look like they are from the 80's...I cant believe that our new system will look like that and still not be able to fill the room with sound. After awhile she was saying the same thing. Then I talked her into the Mirage towers...she liked them because they looked modern. Once she got use to the fact that towers would be ok...I said -well we can get a better speaker for the same money and although they dont look as modern, they look great and will sound better. She gave up and said...get what you want!


I saw a ad for a used pair of psb speakers and found this review about the waf.

have any of you tried his method saying they are from the 80s? Please tell us your stories on what tips worked for you.
 
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#2 ·
It is better to ask for forgiveness than permission. I don't recommend that for everyone, but it works for me.
 
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#4 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by blastermaster  /t/1442488/what-are-your-tricks-for...-factor-on-buying-speakers/0_20#post_22645657


It is better to ask for forgiveness than permission. I don't recommend that for everyone, but it works for me.

Absolutely! As long as you keep it within a reasonable budget.
 
#5 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by blastermaster  /t/1442488/what-are-your-tricks-for...roval-factor-on-buying-speakers#post_22645657


It is better to ask for forgiveness than permission. I don't recommend that for everyone, but it works for me.

Boom - nailed it.
 
#6 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by blastermaster  /t/1442488/what-are-your-tricks-for...roval-factor-on-buying-speakers#post_22645657


It is better to ask for forgiveness than permission. I don't recommend that for everyone, but it works for me.

LOL, doesn't work with my wife. If I do something wrong, she never lets me forget it. Listening to her complaints drives me up the wall. I just get permission first now.
 
#7 ·
Over the past ten or so years, I've been hoarding extra speakers and misc. equipment. I have things stacked up in the master bedroom and other places in the house, some in their original boxes, some not.

You can imagine the comments I get. Recently I told her that I came up with an idea to get rid of all the extra stuff and clutter if she would let me take the money and convert it into a new pair of beautiful modern speakers. "I see no problem with that" ...I'm all smiles.
 
#8 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by Espo77  /t/1442488/what-are-your-tricks-for...roval-factor-on-buying-speakers#post_22646547


Over the past ten or so years, I've been hoarding extra speakers and misc. equipment. I have things stacked up in the master bedroom and other places in the house, some in their original boxes, some not.

You can imagine the comments I get. Recently I told her that I came up with an idea to get rid of all the extra stuff and clutter if she would let me take the money and convert it into a new pair of beautiful modern speakers. "I see no problem with that" ...I'm all smiles.

Nice 10 year plan....
 
#10 ·
I'm going to throw something out, I'm sure a lot you disagree, but I think for the most part the speaker industry does a horrible job making speakers that actually look good. Sure you can get a set of Totem floor-standing speakers for $2K+ that look and sound great, but the overwhelming majority of speakers in my opinion are pretty tacky. Of course sound first before looks, but the industry could do a better job designing attractive speakers.


So what are your favorite looking speakers??? That have great sound. I'm personally not a big fan of the generic wood veneer + cloth grille. I do like some of the piano finishes some manufacturers are using more of.
 
#12 ·
Buy em, play your wifes favorite song or movie with them than switched back. Amazingly my girlfriend accepted my new speakers because Game of Thrones sounded better lol
 
#14 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by Daniel Smith  /t/1442488/what-are-your-tricks-for...roval-factor-on-buying-speakers#post_22646612


I'm going to throw something out, I'm sure a lot you disagree, but I think for the most part the speaker industry does a horrible job making speakers that actually look good.
No worse than God did when he came up with the design of our ears. I guess He figured that working well outweighed pretty. Speakers are supposed to sound good, and that doesn't always mean they'll look good. The same applies to feet, explaining why women need so many pairs of shoes. Keeping that in mind, tell her you're going to buy some speakers and that she should go buy some nice shoes. Problem solved. Just pray that she doesn't buy Manolos.
 
#15 ·
I use the same method every time; "Look here beeyatch, this is how it's gonna be and if you don't like it, you can kiss my a** and there's the door, don't let it hit you on the way out!!!" And I'm still alive with all my important parts



Actually, I have the coolest wife EVER. My wife bought me my AVR and it wasn't even my birthday. When I got my Monitor70's, she bought them for me for Christmas. The monitors were my second upgrade, she told me instead of always upgrading, pick out what I really want, and go for it, (afford-ability went without saying) I said, "But honey, I already have you"
Then I set my sights on Polk's RTiA series and built me what I perceive as one heck of an H.T.


Oh yeah, one important note, I have to tell her what I'm doing, she says I know she's going to tell me yes, but she wants me to at least keep her in the loop, and I said, you mean communication between husband and wife?????? You've got it honey.
 
#17 ·
I recently paid an obscene (for me anyway) amount of money for speakers. For awhile I debated whether or not to tell my wife how much they really cost, but in the end I decided to be honest. She didn't get mad at all, I was surprised... I think she is starting to see the value in my hobby - she recently had a bunch of friends over for a girls night and they watched Magic Mike. Also, she has her family come over every couple of months now for a movie night. I'm lucky. She understands that I'm a bit nuts with this stuff.
 
#18 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by carp  /t/1442488/what-are-your-tricks-for...roval-factor-on-buying-speakers#post_22648423


I recently paid an obscene (for me anyway) amount of money for speakers. For awhile I debated whether or not to tell my wife how much they really cost, but in the end I decided to be honest. She didn't get mad at all, I was surprised... I think she is starting to see the value in my hobby - she recently had a bunch of friends over for a girls night and they watched Magic Mike. Also, she has her family come over every couple of months now for a movie night. I'm lucky. She understands that I'm a bit nuts with this stuff.

That's the difference between men and women. Women understand the need of having a passion in life. Most men have some trouble understanding that concept when the proverbial shoe is on the other foot. Wish I had a dollar everytime I heard a guy say, "You're not going to believe what she bought now!"
 
#19 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by keyboardcat  /t/1442488/what-are-your-tricks-for...roval-factor-on-buying-speakers#post_22645482


I am single, but I read a lot on here about people trying to convince the wife or girlfriend to buy new speakers. The women don't like the way that it looks with the decor is to tall etc. I found this old forum post on another audio site and thought that it was cool how he convinced her.

The speakers need to be good looking no BLACK BOXES also you need to involve her in the process as hey have better hearing than men, and finally buy her lots of shoes
 
#20 ·
I gave up on the living room, but have whatever I want in the HT room.
 
#21 ·
I've been pretty lucky, my wife is very cool about the stereo, and enjoys using it as much as I do. Our system is in the living room, which means it needs to look decent and physically fit, but also means it is used every day. As such, I keep an eye out for aesthetics when I am buying something new. Before I buy, we talk about what it is I am looking for, and I show her a couple of the options (the www makes this a much easy process). She asks which I prefer, and as long as it is not something crazy (like a DTS-10, or notnyt's system), she's cool with it. Budgets are openly discussed, no need to sneak/hide/lie.


I think a couple of items that have helped over the years have been soliciting feedback from her (who knew a Harmony remote could buy so many years of goodwill), and showing an interest in her hobbies as well. I've actually gone shoe shopping with my wife. She's gone to RMAF with me. We recognize areas where the other person has an interest and respect that.


So far in my living room, we have a full compliment of DefTech speakers (Mythos STS, CS-8060HD, Gem XL), dual SVS PB13-Ultra subs, a Salamander equipment rack, nearly 20 acoustic panels/bass traps (combination of corner tri-traps, 2" & 4" panels, a couple of which are "picture" panels with a friends original artwork and some of our photos on them), and a wall mounted plasma. Future possible upgrades include a new speaker set up (the new SVS Ultra line of speakers perhaps, or KEF R series), and a larger TV. My wife (really) is pushing for a front projection system with a drop down screen for movies, and keeping the plasma for TV usage. In the end, spending a couple hours in a shoe shop has paid off big.
 
#22 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by Snowmanick  /t/1442488/what-are-your-tricks-for...roval-factor-on-buying-speakers#post_22649056


I've been pretty lucky, my wife is very cool about the stereo, and enjoys using it as much as I do. Our system is in the living room, which means it needs to look decent and physically fit, but also means it is used every day. As such, I keep an eye out for aesthetics when I am buying something new.

If I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times. Designated theater rooms aside, men look at it as having a living room in their theater while women look at it as having a theater in their living room. Women want the surround sound set-up you have in mind to blend in with the home. Guys, for some reason, still have that "single/college days" attitude. Know your home, make it work, keep the woman happy.
 
#26 ·
my wife is pretty chill, she gives me crap once in a while, but mostly in good humor, however when I wanted the speakers I got a month ago(Dynaudio Focus 160s), she let it happen and was really cool about it. however my dealer got really creative with hooking me up and she couldnt say no... what woman says no to a deal that makes perfect sense? But in all honesty, she is really cool and knows that I dont buy too much except for the once a year ht product, so she lets me. She will even say..."right now you have no WAF, so dont ask." or "you want the WAF dont you? so what are you gonna do for me?" It also helps that Im really cool about the stuff she buys or wants... I just usually say OK, cool that would be nice. give and take my friends... give and take... although she is really giving sometimes.
 
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