Everyone held back by WAF

[timechaser]

Hi all. This is my first post here, so some of the material I type may be due to my lack of knowledge, so please excuse.

I live in the UK and for the past 6 months have been after a home theater system. My search started off by auditioning a Bose (bear with me on this). Having only owned el-cheapo mini-CD systems earlier, I was IMPRESSED with the sound, and the wife was impressed with the looks. We decided to buy it when we went to california in January. However, I decided to look around more and popped into a specialist AV shop in London who showed me precisely why BOSE make the best TV supports (placed under a CRT TV, and not connected to any power source so that they dont spoil the sound of your TV's speakers). I auditioned the Miller & Kreisel K5 system and fell in love. However, it was not to be - as WAF stepped in, and the awesome (but butt ugly) MKs were rejected.

I went through several iterations, listening to B&O (same cr@p as bose), several HTIBs, Axiom, Polk Audio, Tannoy and Monitor Audio systems. In one store, the owner, after auditioning the Tannoys, asked me what the issue was - and I told him the wife wanted something good looking. He nodded his head and introduced me to the Bowers & Wilkins M-1 sattelites. They looked good and sounded awesome. I was blown away by the sound and the looks.

To convince the wife, I asked the owner to set up a demo where the same track would first be played on the Bose and then on B&W - the wife came in, sulking that I was wasting here time, and walked out of the demo commenting on how shitty the bose sounded.

I finally bought the M-1 speakers, with a REL Storm 5 subwoofer, a Yamaha AX757 amplifier and a Pioneer DV-585 DVD Player.

I thought I would share this story with you knowledgeable folks for (1) comments on the setup (2) tips on how to integrate the sub better and (3) if someone is stuck with the WAF problem like me, to advise to try out the Bowers & Wilkins M-1 speakers.

Cheers and Thanks
Timechaser

 

[jaxvon]

Sounds like an excellent system! It's unfortunate that you couldn't get away with a full-sized setup, but at least you were able to get some high-quality satellite speakers. B&W is well known for their quality, R&D, and commitment to truly improving their speakers. I've never had a chance to listen to the M-1 system, but from the specs it's impressive.

As for subwoofer integration, the things to work on are:

-Placement
-Response (this is affected by placement, but still might need EQ to work best)
-Crossover point (for you I would think 80-100Hz).

For an added effect in movies, you may wish to think about adding a tactile transducer to the mix. These are devices that attach to your furniture and shake it with low bass notes, adding extra impact to bassy material.

The last thing you should look to do is get some acoustic treatment in your room. The room is a major component of your sound. If you have a crappy room, you'll have crappy sound! Without improvement in the acoustics department, your system isn't sounding its best.

 

[pearsall001]

Why the hell did you take the wife with you when you were looking for a sound system????? That my friend is a huge no-no. Buy what the hell you like & tell her to live with it. You can compromise on every other house related purchase but not the stereo rig. Women in general just don't understand what it's all about. For god's sake man put your foot down now or you'll forever be at her mercy when it comes time to upgrade the rig. Cheers!!!!
By the way, my wife just shakes her head & asks what did you buy now? To be honest I think she finally gave up. It's a learning process for them but once they hear the difference that quality componets & speakers make she will start to understand your compulsion. Hopefully anyway. If all else fails tell her to do it for the children!!

 

[sjdgpt]

In defense of WAF, the W tends to look at things differently than the male gender who tends to look at things with our second head.

 

[sjdgpt]

Ok, now that the W has left the room and is no longer reading my posts over my shoulder.... my advice is do your own thing.... a good HT is a work of the gods, the W can be easily replaced.

 

[mulester7]

.....(mayhaps an exercise in priority-scrutinizing is in order?, haha).....

 

[gellor]

Ok, now that the W has left the room and is no longer reading my posts over my shoulder.... my advice is do your own thing.... a good HT is a work of the gods, the W can be easily replaced.

...or a realistic approach. Bring her over to the dark side. My wife likes good sound...but doesn't care how she gets it. (she used to be one that thought speakers were speakers)

The compromise we've arrived at is...I do the research, I figure out what I think is good and where to get it. Make a shortlist, then take her along to make the final decision. That way, I get what i want, and she gets to feel like it was her choice as well. (And she gets full say on the finish)

So I'd say that the O.P. went about things pretty reasonably...ending up with a system that they're both happy with.

 

[timechaser]

I AM getting her to the dark side. After getting this system she has been turning up with movies and songs to listen to which would show the true capability of the system. I think in another year or so, she would be ready for floorstanders... In face, it was her who suggested getting good wires for connections - I was going to cut costs (cringes!).

For the moment, I did not have any choice. I am pretty happy with what I bought BTW - given the size of my room, my setup is monstrous in comparison. I have not yet ventured over the -15db point while listening to music, as it becomes wayyyyy too loud!

Thanks for the comment on the crossover as well - set it to 90 on both the amp and the sub, and am using the LFE connection rather than the speaker level inputs (I was told the speakers are not capable of handling full range signals so would get destroyed if I tried to use the speaker level inputs).

However - given this is my first system - I am well and truly hooked!

Here's to a long time of listening pleasure.

 

[pbarach1]

from a marital therapist

I treat lots of couples. In my experience, the so-called "Wife Acceptance Factor" (a sexist concept in itself!) often means that the couple needs to find a negotiated solution that will meet both of their needs. "Negotiation" means everybody gives a little! If two people in a couple cannot find a solution that they can both live with, then either one or both parties is determined to "win" and nothing good will happen. Someone will "lose," there will be hurt feelings, and this will inevitably lead to future marital battles. Usually, when people lock horns over the "WAF," there are probably numerous other power struggles going on in the relationship that aren't getting settled. Trouble ahead...

My recommendation is to try and find a creative compromise that both can live with. Or else give up something in one area in exchange for gaining something in another. Unless one person has dug their heels in completely, there is always a livable solution. Both spouses can read "Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work," by John Gottman, and put the ideas to work. If not, consider counseling; I'll bet there are other areas where the relationship needs work!

 

[Daz3d&Confus3d]

Ok, now that the W has left the room and is no longer reading my posts over my shoulder.... my advice is do your own thing.... a good HT is a work of the gods, the W can be easily replaced.

Steven that is freaking hilarious!......I laughed pretty hard reading that!

I find the WAF a pretty interesting problem/challenge.....last fall when I first started buying HT equipment she was really upset about the $$$ I spent....I had $5000 in cd's that I've had in a separate account since before we got married (bout 8 years). So I decided to spend about $1500 of it and I also sold two of my pistols to raise another $900 and off I went to buy some gear. At any rate.....I knew she wouldn't approve however it wasn't coming out of our monthly budget so she didn't have much of an argument.....the interesting thing is that once she got over the doe I laid into a system she actually really started to enjoy it. I found that with us having two small children that she really likes sitting out in the living room now (new furniture as well this year) and watching a movie after the boys are in bed....something we just didn’t do enough of.....now we watch at least a movie a week and she loves it!

Last night as we were watching a movie I made a comment that in a few months when I get a sub that I'll have to move her exercise bike to the other end of the room to which she protested, "I won't be able to see the tv from there when I'm riding". I replied, "it's the only good corner to put the sub in". And she responded, "Which would you rather have, a fat sub or a fat wife?" I must have taken to long contemplating my answer because she yelled my name after that ....lol

 

[toquemon]

I treat lots of couples. In my experience, the so-called "Wife Acceptance Factor" (a sexist concept in itself!)

The WAF is not a concept, it's a reality. Every single man in this forum have had trouble trying to get new gear and the wife is always complaining look at the size of that thing! (she's not talking about you now what, she's talking about the sub). Don't know, women just don't have that chip.

 

[timechaser]

pbarach1 - I dont think any of us is having marriage troubles. The rant is usually to console ourselves in that we have to give in to the wife's wishes (at times). I had to give a little to get a little as well. No way was she having the pristine beauty of the room spoilt by ugly speakers. I moved to the B&Ws - which are by no stretch of imagination bad speakers (as I was going in for bookshelf speakers anyways, the room is too small for floorstanders). She herself suggested an upgraded sub - a monstrosity in comparison to the one I had thought of.

She allowed me to move a LOT of furniture around, and recommended seating positions etc. And now that we have the system, she loves every moment of it as much as I do.

I think WAF is a REALITY - and if we face it and find ways into it, rather than around it, we can make it work. In fact, I even know which floorstanders I am going to show her (Bowers and Wilkins Nautilus 800) - coz they not only look good, they sound good too - and I know she will hemm and haww a bit, but will give in later.

 

[pbarach1]

everybody's marriage is ok??

pbarach1 - I dont think any of us is having marriage troubles.

The following quotation (from an earlier post in this thread) certainly left me wondering about that: "Buy what the hell you like & tell her to live with it. You can compromise on every other house related purchase but not the stereo rig. Women in general just don't understand what it's all about. For god's sake man put your foot down now or you'll forever be at her mercy when it comes time to upgrade the rig. Cheers!!!!
By the way, my wife just shakes her head & asks what did you buy now? To be honest I think she finally gave up."

Doing what you want while cutting your spouse out of the loop usually is not a good sign for the future

 

[timechaser]

That certainly isnt my attitude. She tunes in after a few tries, and then actually helps... so I go with convincing her instead of alienating her...

 

[pbarach1]

not everyone is having marital trouble

That certainly isnt my attitude. She tunes in after a few tries, and then actually helps... so I go with convincing her instead of alienating her...

It's not my attitude, either. We've achieved some livable compromises with some difficult-to-place rooms and equipment (e.g. Carver "Amazing" speakers).

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

WAF???

What in the hell is that??

View attachment 3048

LOL..... Is that when the wife chooses the red paint, black panels, or the big tv?
C'mon people!!! Our spouses have veto power over virtually every content in the entire house!!

Is it too much to have a single room for yourself?? What kind of selfish wife would deny her man that???

When she experiences real HT for herself, she will turn to the darkside. Who wouldnt??

If more men learned how to communicate their needs to their spouses, WAF would be much less of an issue because whose wife wouldnt want their loving hubby to be happy?? What kind of wife would deny her loving man of simple pleasures in his own home??

It could be worse....... You could buy a boat and take up fishing and spend entire days away from your family, or take up going out with the guys and drinking in bars.
LOL

Is staying 'in' to watch movies in the comfort of your own home AS A FAMILY such a bad thing?? Friday night movie night has become a family tradition in our home. Being in a marriage also doesnt give the spouse 100% 'SAY' over everything in your home!!

 

[pearsall001]

Yo guys!! Where's your sense of humor? I know the WAF can be a touchy subject but a lot of what you read is "tongue in cheek" so to speak. I can't believe one guy has us off & running for counseling. GEEEEEE WIZZZZZZ!!! Talk about compromises, I got my floorstander & she got her BOSE cube to balance out the room. Talk about a neat looking front end. Sound's 1/2 way decent. LOL!!

 

[sjdgpt]

I must have taken to long contemplating my answer because she yelled my name after that ....lol

You must have suffered from that terrible question "does these jeans make my *** look fat" several times in the past.

Do what I do. Lie.