I guess I'm lucky my wife simply doesn't care. As long as it isn't a mess she's completely oblivious.
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
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! |
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. |
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. |
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 |
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. |
@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.... |
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 |
+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?" |
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...😁 |
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. |
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. |
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...” |
@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! |
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. |
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. |
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. |
You mentioned that this little spat is over the décor in the second living space. What's in the first living space? Who is dictating how that whole room is being setup? Colors, furniture, window treatments etc etc. To negotiate from a position of strength start "demanding" how things will look in the first living space. Choose wisely and garishly as possible. Then when she sees you're serious and finds how hurtful "demands" can be the negotiating begins. One last thing, in this process do not raise your voice no matter how heated it may become. You'll see why as this unfolds. Regards, barts |
I agree with @yogiboy I purchased a custom "tower" from Timber Nation. Chuck is a no-nonsense craftsman who builds a beautiful stand or credenza... You won't be disappointed. Plan your rack / credenza for the future of new components. :-) Here are some customer pics from Chuck's site https://timbernation.com/customers.html |
I recommend BDI consoles. I have one for similar reasons... Google BDI and look around. I have the BDI Corridor 8177. 8179 is wider if you need extra width. I have a 75” flat panel mounted on the wall above and it looks great with the 8177. Height is 28.5”, depth of their units is 20”. Acoustically transparent slatted doors for IR signal transmission. Excellent ventilation and wire management. I have floorstanders to either side and wife actually likes the look. |
for fun, my wifey just sent me this, TT and tubes within https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/tables/console-tables/modern-record-console-slate-grey-speaker-fro... |
there is no reason you could not put a base under the speakers on top of the furniture to get the tweeters seated ear level. find something, stack of vintage bricks, have a local shop make what you need. iow, if you find some darn nice smaller speakers, you can make em work. think about proper TV height, neck position watching. We used temporary stacks of books under our tv to decide the height, then figured out the height of the furniture, it will be taller than you think (good, taller fits more inside). thus the speakers will be higher than you think, soooo you might use the speakers horizontally, soooo get a unit wide enough for that, or, a modular system where you could add a unit in the future: suppose you want to go wider to add a TT some day? why doors? or, a modular system where some parts have doors, some don’t. after you are done, you might thank the wifey! |
Here ya go. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J04jb6U9cZw |
I follow Andrew Robinson on youtube. He has a cool credenza he uses made by a company called BDI https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F3DS1N2?ref=exp_andrewrobinson_dp_vv_mw&th=1&psc=1 The front panels are acoustically transparent and allow the uv signals to pass through. The back panels can be removed. Also includes a safety strap for the TV. |
For most high-end speakers, putting them on a shelf seems to be a bad idea - uncontrolled speaker/shelf vibration interactions, reflected backwaves and sidewaves can muddy the music, speaker height may not be adjustable/ideal. @cjlundberg If you find the speaker positioning unsatisfactory sonically but cannot change the speaker's location from the shelf, then you may want to go the headfi (headphones/earphones) route. Some may call it henpecked, others may say it's self preservation. Usually, it's somewhere in the middle. |
'...an A/V
credenza...' Style of furnishings she prefers? If Crate & Barrel is her initial call, it sounds like vaguely 'rustic modern' which is somewhat conflicting with 'A/V' equipment....although looking at C&Bs' site isn't totally true. Lotsa modern, although some 'trad frame & panel' are evident. Sounds like time to do a web wander with the significant other...opting to dump the spouse over furniture seems a bit drastic and potentially expensive. Remember what R. Williams said about divorce... Putting the speakers on 'suitably decorative' risers on a low credenza might be an option. My spouse wants an existing pair of Maggies' in a pending living space, but against the wall when not in song. Solution: A pair of flat panel mounts that extend and pivot enough to allow the Mags to 'act proper', yet get moved back against the wall when not in use. Found a unit that even fits the existing mounting holes in the speakers, so no surgery needed to pull this off. 'Practical Magic' is possible, but thinking outside the box becomes a necessity.....;) Happy hunting & good luck, J |
Dude, seriously!? From own experience I could suggest to stop discuss and confirm audio stuff with your wife. Just buy and set stuff as you need. Usually it looks great when it’s done by you with enthusiastic approach and it will settle with wife easily later. But if not, just act as not big deal, promise some changes and jump in to long game. Ones I bought the rug to put it in front of my speakers, you know, to adjust the soundstage.....and the rag was totally rejected by my wife, she just extremely hated that rug... I had to promise her that the rug will be returned next week... I just act as not big deal at all ....eight years past... the rug is still there and serving the purpose :) |
I can see making some concessions on aesthetics to get along with your wife if you don't have a separate listening room of your own. There are a lot of big ugly speakers out there that might sound great, but make her barf at their appearance, and not want them in her (and your) beloved home. But that credenza idea is a too much to swallow, and she needs to be more considerate of your needs too. I'd suggest using negotiating skills that start with the word "No" and I'm willing to compromise, but not roll over for that idea. Then offer some compromises. Keeping the components in a ventilated space behind a closed is doable, and worked with my wife. You know I wanted to display the electronics, but was willing to compromise with her winning on that score. The speakers you, not she desires, need to have a reasonable , not garish, appearance, but suit your listening needs and be placed in a reasonable position in the room where they won't sound like, well you know. That's where I'd hold the line, while giving her some say on the speakers aesthetic appearance. By showing a willingness to compromise, but holding the line where you need to in terms of how your system will sound, I'm guessing you'll end up getting more respect in the long run, after a few fights. My wife didn't like my big old Dahlquist DQ10's sitting out in the room when I had them, and I didn't like having the rest of my beautiful equipment behind closed doors, but that's marriage, give and take. If your sound system is important to you, you can't be a door mat or you'll eventually not have her respect, which is a worse outcome, and definitely worse than a few fights. The kind of trade off twoleftears suggested might be a reasonable compromise as well, and another way to skin the cat. I'm sure a lot of us have been where you're at. It might be tough for her to hear the word "No" to a credenza, but she'll get over it, eventually. And it will only get brought up by her but occasionally in future years, during unrelated arguments. In my experience women never do forget and for that matter men never remember. Good luck, Mike |
Well my friend, I must say that at age 82, I have found myself in a similar situation. Fortunately I have an excellent 20 X 40 audio room where my high end "stuff" resides. Also, a second system in a large bedroom that I use as an office. Also acoustically suitable. My third system is in our living room. Originally I purchased a 7', 3 bay console from a company that is no longer in business. It has a Rosewood finish and is large enough to house all of my audio/video components, and currently, with the TV monitor and speakers on top. Previously I had a pair of custom design speakers and matching stands, which I still have, but in storage at the moment. We have a large bay window in the front, part of which occupied the right channel speaker and part of the console (visible). My wife never liked the looks of that. Furthermore, we have not had the space for a Christmas tree for years now. I finally had a brain "fart" last year and decided to move the stand speakers into my storage room; - - - shift the console to the left out of window view and bought a pair of TRIANGLE Borea 03 bookshelf speakers to replace the stand speakers. They now reside at the extreme ends of my console, which is about perfect for "near field" listening. I'm happy with the TRIANGE speakers, but most of all, the wife is very happy because now we have room for our Christmas tree. It felt more like Christmas this year. SALAMANDER makes some A/V cabinetry very similar to what I have. Their 3 bay consoles should do the job nicely for you, and they are solid; good quality and flexible. Also, remote control friendly. Unfortunately, a bit pricey, but it's a piece of furniture that will last for many years of good service. Check AUDIO ADVISOR for info. I hope this helps. |
Room and Board has a great selection of media cabinets. Some of the product lines are customizable with their online tool. Lots of colors and material combinations to meet the demands for all involved. I have a version of the Linear Model with 25” depth which has a generous interior and my brother has a Copenhagen. Both are great media consoles and the customization was a nice feature for my needs. It’s hard to find a deep media console but this company gives you options. Also made in the USA which is a plus in my book. https://www.roomandboard.com/m/catalog/custom/cabinets Also check out Salamander Designs along with BDI which is a slick system. https://www.salamanderdesigns.com https://www.bdiusa.com/living |
Wow, I hope some of you aren’t actually serious about the wife comments... but perhaps you are. To each their own. Regarding the dilemma, it’s hardly a dilemma, find a furniture builder and have the furniture designed for exactly what you want. That’s what my wife and I did. Wasn’t cheap, but not outrageous either. It’s called compromise. She’s happy, I’m happy. It’s all good. And let’s face it, momma not happy... well, you know the rest. |
Salamander. Buy it viaAmazon prime for the free shipping. I have one in the tv room that is built to accommodate a sound bar. I ditched the sound bar and put in two speakers instead. Sounded boxy til I lined the shelf with sound absorbing foam, added poly fill behind the speakers, and put the speakers on IsoAcoustic pucks. Tucked a subwoofer in the corner and it sounds pretty decent and no cables visible except the sub. |
I bought six solid oak LP shelves from Maple Shade. Then put some nice white oak euro ply on top and in two of the LP spaces I drilled some holes for shelf standards and now I have 4 shelves for the AV equipment and speakers. |
