Yeah @barts +1
Embarrassed....Audio furniture help
Well, I swore I'd never let a woman dictate my two channel system but here we are. Wife and I bought our first new home, I've got a small but adequate second living area for my system. Problem is, as mentioned, my wife. Setup will consist of CD player, AppleTV unit and integrated amp. May add a streamer at some point but we'll cross that bridge later. I'm using a pair of bookshelves and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
Here's the rub....She is demanding an A/V credenza, so speakers sitting on the credenza on either side of the TV. Of course I'd love a vertical audio stand and be able to use speaker stands but it's too open, too many exposed cables, blah blah, you know the story.
Question of the day: can anyone point me in the right direction? I need minimum 18" depth and all the awful Crate and Barrel stuff she recommends isn't up to my audio standards. Needs something with doors for a clean look but I still need my IR signal to work. Because the speakers aren't going on stands, I'd like something at least 20" tall. A lot of the fashionable stuff is 14-16" tall, putting the tweeters way below ear level in the listening position.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Man shaking his head with a borderline resigned look
Here's the rub....She is demanding an A/V credenza, so speakers sitting on the credenza on either side of the TV. Of course I'd love a vertical audio stand and be able to use speaker stands but it's too open, too many exposed cables, blah blah, you know the story.
Question of the day: can anyone point me in the right direction? I need minimum 18" depth and all the awful Crate and Barrel stuff she recommends isn't up to my audio standards. Needs something with doors for a clean look but I still need my IR signal to work. Because the speakers aren't going on stands, I'd like something at least 20" tall. A lot of the fashionable stuff is 14-16" tall, putting the tweeters way below ear level in the listening position.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Man shaking his head with a borderline resigned look
77 responses Add your response
If you have a cabinet built for you, have your designer/builder consider stability/structure, air flow/heat dissipation, cable routing, and the ability to operate your remote controls. You should also consider whether you are likely to upgrade to a more complex system in the future, thereby needing more room in the cabinet. Good luck. |
I have 2 salamander cabinets. One of them is 26 yrs old and still as solid as the day I bought it. Also has rollers which I highly recommend. Shelves are completely adjustable. My newer one I bought I believe it's the 237 model and I also ordered tv bracket which mounts to cabinet for my 85 in tv. Plus rollers. Loaded up with 3 amps and it moves effortly with rollers. Highly recommend. I believe I got the 237 on sale for 1350 and the 8 rollers where just over 100. Wife was deciding factor. Good luck. |
Well, I’m starting up an audio furniture company for just this purpose, but you’ve got me about nine months too early. I’ll be using extremely dense woods / slabs for the primary structure [Madrone is the primary source I’ve already forested, slabbed and have adequately air dried] with complementary hardwoods for cabinets storing equipment / records / etc. where the cabinets will have creative pockets incorporated into them to hide cables, etc. The contemporary design will primarily be based upon inverted live-edge influences [slab furniture] with the designs allowing plenty of air flow for cooling Tubes or Class A Amps. I’ve already communicated with some isolation device companies concerning integrating their products into the structure while hiding all but the bottom feet of those devices. Each piece of furniture will be made to order while customized to the purchaser’s specifications. Creative doors to cabinets will include somewhat traditional designs as well as some music focused motif’s [jazz / rock / orchestral / etc.] using a CNC to perform the bulk of the carvings. I should have prototypes available by end of the year. I retire [after 38 years from my desk job] July 30th. |
@tomaswv Never be embarrassed by striving to be a good husband. I assume you married her because you love her. She’s more important than your stereo, car, and any bigmouth friends you may have. Both of you work hard to create win/win outcomes, it’s time and effort well spent. If one of you has to lose for the other to win- it’s a fool’s errand. Any contrary idea is hogwash when applied to a long term relationship, be it marriage, business, or whatever. If you have friends that always whine about their wives and brag about ‘putting their foot down and showing her who’s boss’, change your friends. There are many moving parts to this, but you two can sort it out. Congrats on your new house! |
She hates your audio gear. Young women are indoctrinated with a minimalist aesthetic now. Look at Architectural Digest: no rooms look like anyone ever lived there. What makes you think you will ever be allowed to listen in peace? Have you heard the phrase, “As long as you’re not doing anything...” let me rephrase your question for you: “What headphones do you recommend...” |
A possible solution maybe is to have custom speaker stands built by a local cabinet builder, possibly with two bases. One base that would sit on the credenza, placing the speakers at the correct level and a second taller base that could be placed farther into the room for those times when your wife is not at home. |
Thanks @falconquest. I hope to get a website started within the next month. I'll be certain to post it here and provide updates as I get close. I've been building furniture for over 30 years and just back into audio within the past few. I noticed the need. It won't be for everybody, but for those that want a nice place to put gear in their living rooms on furniture their spouse will be happy to have there, I think its a good fit. I live in the Pacific Northwest, but will plan to ship anywhere. |
I use a credenza that houses my home theater components. It is a very unusual design with a rounded/curved front facia, even the wood door/glass are curved (very cool!). On top is a 50 inch TV and a sound bar just in front of TV for when I’m lazy and don’t want to do 5.1 + atmos etc...on either side of credenza live my large tannoy stand mounts on 17 inch stands. To the left of the left speaker on adjacent wall/corner rests my hifi furniture, or what I use for hifi. Its a high boy with two sliding wood doors which completely hides all the hifi. This piece of furniture was originally designed for a dining room to house dishes and China. I think it works well for my hifi and is very sturdy. It also has a strong lower open shelf where my class A amp resides. Overall this set up has worked for me with great sound, both 2 channel hifi, and 5.1 surround sound etc. Not sure why some are against a credenza. As long as the op can convince the wife on the use of proper speakers stands on either side. See my new profile pic...it shows what I'm talking about. Its a very comfy room for both hifi and movies. Everyone is seemingly happy...😁 |
+1 @barts Because the OP posted on our forum, I'm assuming he is interested in high-end audio quality. Seems a bit unfair that the OP is giving into his wife's interest, but she's ignoring his. You could say, "I wanted you to have "X" because it was important to you, I was hoping for "Y" because it's important to me." Then maybe say "Can we work it out so that we both win?" |
Greetings from Toronto Canada. I ran into the same problem moved in a new home and couldn't find any furniture to accommodate. This setup is for my wife with Ikea furniture Besta frames and the top is butcher block from Home Depot cost under $500cad. Photos in link. https://photos.app.goo.gl/k4yZAEPZcYD8mqPD8 |
@barts *L* Or you might napalm the situation, creating an interval of 'dry' non-romantic encounters that could force the 'second space option'. Marriage counseling in this forum isn't anyone's strong suit....backhoes, lawyers...I'm waiting for the 'tire iron' or 'Smith & Wesson' option to crop up with less than bated breath....:( There exists a 'happy medium', but it's going to take effort to find it. " A lot of the fashionable stuff is 14-16" tall...." suggests modern styled decor...perhaps a MCM 'retro' console or the like? If she's into more 'trad' styles, your options kinda evaporate.... |
Is she even going to be in that room listening to you or is is a part of a living area that will be used by both? You have to push back a little here....don't give in to having to have a "credenza". I'm happily married and don't give into that kinda control over a system setup....She can have most of the house how she wants it, but not all of it. |
Just recently l had the same delimia In a quick hurry you can end up spending a lots of money! I went to Best Buy to pick up my new 65" LG OLED TV ( love it!!) and noticed they had TV/audio credenza's on display I was impressed with one in particular, the Bell'O model PR45 The cabinet is 65" long x 22" deep & 28" high Mine is dark walnut which looks almost black. It's very well made and is solid wood and be warned it's very heavy! The bottom portion has three glass doors that houses six components, above that, are three open shelves. It has lots of venting slots in the shelves. On the back are three well made removable panels and an area for wiring. l have all my AV 5.1 & two channel equipment in the cabinet. I think it's on sale currently $769 My wife is very happy and good luck on your search |
All good advice here. You might also check Craigslist. There are often misc. furniture and entertainment set ups on that site. You could always get a divorce, but an elaborate custom made wall unit designed and hand made by a dozen Italian master carpenters and a dozen German engineers would be a lot cheaper. Good luck. |
I had a similar experience where I went from: These: https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/9046 https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/9186 To this: https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/9292 The cabinet is from Crate & Barrel, which meets your wife’s desire for C&B furniture. It is very functional; it’s sturdy, very well ventilated and IR remotes are no issue. The size is quite nice as well: 54" long, 24" high and 20" deep. |
This story is so predictable and just part of the female dna. I went through the same crap to the point she turned into the teacher from the peanuts. She would talk scream and bitch but I never heard a single word she said. Then I became so comfortable not hearing her it turned into anything she said about anything. Then one day I woke up and realized she served no purpose to me or my life anymore so I put her out to pasture and have never been so happy. In the end I traded her in for a pair of Vandersteen mark 7’s. The best personal and financial decision of my life! |
