Integrating speakers into contemporary decor - can WAF ever be overcome?


This is a topic I'd like to see discussed more.  Not a speaker issue per se, but it's speakers that usually cause the problems. My partner is a hard core interior design/aesthetics type. We will shortly be combining households with all the benefits and challenges that this presents. We're both fans of a "Music In Every Room" (MIER) lifestyle, so that's a good start. But we quickly diverge. And to be clear, we're not talking about giant screens on the wall or home theater. This is audio only.

Anyway, her idea of MIER is built-in speakers or, at most, tiny Sonos units on a bookshelf or behind furniture. I had some of that in my house albeit BlueOS stuff. That's OK to a point. But my LR had KEF LS50's on stands. Obviously difference in sound is dramatic, and she admitted it. But she doesn't care. For her the improvement in sound quality is negated by aesthetic horror of visible speakers.

It's worth mentioning that the decor/design aesthetic in question is basically high end transitional with mix of contemporary stuff, Asian antiques, some colonial antiques, large format abstract oils, etc. It's >not< traditional or frou-frou, really a look where the right speakers could easily be interpreted as industrial design pieces that mesh well with the rest. The LS50s fit that description I think.

So, getting to the question here... Has anybody had any luck convincing spouse that speakers can be a part of the decor?  To think of them as some kind of sculptural elements, not "just ugly speakers?"  That they're industrial design elements that somehow add to space? Have links to pix of living spaces that integrated speakers into the look? Any help or ideas would be great. Thanks for reading, a kind of odd topic, I know. Cheers,

128x128kletter1mann

Showing 1 response by gg107

This thread prompts me to reflect on how fortunate I've been in the matter of wives and audio.  Without going into too much detail, wife #2 got me started in quality audio.  I was supporting her equestrian habit, and really didn't buy much for myself.  Out of the blue, one day she asked, "why don't you get yourself some nice speakers?"  I did, and loved them.  She enjoyed them, too.  More equipment followed.  We shopped for amps together.

I was even more fortunate with wife #3 (current, and hopefully the last one)!  She is a former classical musician and recording artist.  When we went shopping together for speakers about three years ago, she told me "I don't care what they look like.  Sound quality is what matters."  Thankfully, our tastes in both music and speakers are closely aligned, but I care more about appearance than she does.  We ended up with Sonus Faber floorstanders, which we agree sound terrific -- the best speakers we auditioned -- and look good.  

May you all be at least half as fortunate as I've been!