Girlfriends and wifes, how do YOU cope?

My wife caught me studying the TacT web site (I have a birthday coming up), and I started explaining what the RCS digital room correction gadget does. "It goes between the CD transport and the . . .," I began. "Yes," she put in, "it goes between the wife and the husband."
Actually she's very agreeable about this hobby (as long as we have money in the bank), being a music-lover herself and a fine amateur pianist. When I change something in our system, she can tell in an instant if it makes a real improvement . . . or not.

Funny lines, Vaslchaf!

My wife is the same way. She doesn't want to know ANYTHING about the technology behind the stuff. She even told me NOT to even try to explain it, becuase it would ruin it for her.

But she will tell me if it sounds good or not!

KP

this is how it works for me.
Marry a woman with a great job.[$$$]
Buy a small used audio store [as I have}
Bring every extremely good piece home to "check it out". Of course the stuff you like never makes it back to the store,and there's such a parade of gear in and out that no one can keep track.
Is it deceptive? possibly. But it works.
P.S. Im tires of my Threshold pre. Sure wish someone would trade-in a cool pre today.......

I tell her how much the stuff really costs and say "Aren't you lucky I'm not spending this money on another woman?!?"

Seriously, she knows how music, and my system, relaxes me and helps cope with this thing we call LIFE.

We have a new house and with it I've been upgrading all of my 20 year old TV and stereo equipment. My wife has been patient with my desires and wishes and we have worked to a compromise on the TV topic. Yes, we could get an HDTV, but it to be an inexpensive 27" TV (we picked a Samsung that is splendid for less than $1000). However, ironically, the month I decide I'm going to invest in that new McIntosh integrated amp I've sought for 20 years my wife decides we're going to track ALL of our expenses for that month to determine our monthly costs and create budgets. Doh! So we discussed it and agreed I would not share the cost of the amp (fortunately, she is not aware of the McIntosh value). But to be fair I'm going to reduce my other expenditures for the year. This is what I'm learning about marriage: it is all about comprimising to meet each other's needs and there is a balance which must be acheived. You both must respect each other's interests and allow each other to follow them. I agree as others have stated here that honesty is important. Admit that it IS an expensive piece of equipment, but be willing to make trade-offs in other areas, like holding off trading in that old Subaru for another year.

Before I was married a friend of mine gave me this advice: buy all your toys now because once you're married it won't be so easy to sneak them in the door.