Vandersteen's Low Spousal Acceptance Factor


I purchased the Vandy 2ce sigs recently, and really like their sound. I know everyone has strong opinions about them on this site, but to me they sound very natural and balanced. I've owned Revels, Thiels and Von Schweikerts, but they all sounded slightly colored and/or dry by comparison.

Enter the dreaded Spousal/Wife Acceptance Factor. My wife HATES the way the Vandy's look. Is there anyone who can modify/dress the Vandy's to make them more presentable?? Or, is there another speaker (even if it costs a little more) out there that has that first-order sound, but doesn't look like a black box? Help!
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Gfields...thanks for keeping us posted with how you solved your dilemna...too many people ask for suggestions and then disappear without a thanks or a follow-up to let us know what they ended up choosing.

Hope the Meadowlarks work well for you...I think they are great looking speakers also although I have never heard them.

and 200 hrs breakin...don't sweat it...pop a cd in and put the player on repeat when you leave the house...that 200 hrs will pass by before you even know it!

Happy listening

Ellery

p.s. I still recommend taking your wife on an "ugly and obtrusive speaker tour" sometime...just for future reference...maybe those big Calix speakers will scare her enough that you'll be able to have any speaker your heart desires.

you know...your wife wants beautiful...you want ugly...show her butt ugly and you'll be able to happily compromise at ugly...and then...you win.

all said in pure fun
Thanks everyone for their input. It's amazing - or incredibly foolish - that I'm willing to risk about $1000 based on advice from people I've never met! You could all be WRONG!

Just kidding; almost every recommendation I've gotten on this site has been excellent.

I'll post again once the 'larks arrive
The 'Larks have landed! They are absolutely beautiful in Mahogany. BIG, off-the-charts-positive wife acceptance factor. She loves them.

They're significantly smaller than the 2ce sigs, which is nice given my cramped listening room. Hard to compare sound until these are broken in, but so far I'm very impressed. Bass is even good considering small cabinets. I don't quite hear the cohesiveness of the Vandys, but I've got many hours of break-in ahead (I've been told as high as 500 hours!!).

I found a scratch on the front panel of one of these, so to compensate, the distributer has agreed to cut me a deal on a great MJ acoustics sub (down to 15hz!). Can't wait to integrate this set up.

See? Sometimes, it's not the worst thing to listen to your wife. I ended up with new gear that looks great!

Thanks again to all of you. The 'Larks were a superb suggestion! Meanwhile, I showed my wife that Consonance teardrop CDP - her jaw dropped. "What is that?! It's beautiful!". Yes, I can see this situation working to my advantage more and more....
That's great, I'm glad it worked out for you. A harmonious home with great music! Glad you didn't trade your wife for a pair of speakers.