Going into the dark side.....please help

give you wife exactly what she wants... DVD player plugged directly into the tv and use the TV speakers... Or buy a LCD tv with the DVD built in (Westinghouse 40").

Sell off the components and throw that money into your basement system!

Sorry... Single Guy Response

Congratulations. Nothing in life is better than children. However, their presence doesn't mean you have to lose your things. Just use common sense about what you get and how you display it. FWIW, here are a few general points.

1. No tubes. (My son is three, and I've used solid state since he was born.)
2. Forget turn tables. Ain't gonna happen.
3. Buy integrated amps. Buy them used. Integrateds are smaller, with fewer wires and knobs, and they sound damn good. Put it out of reach. Nothing sits lower than two feet.
4. Get longer speaker cables. Long enough so they can't be pulled. Better yet, hide them inside PVC pipe.
5. Use floorstander speakers or monitors with stands that are lead/sand filled, with extra weight on the feet. Keep the grills on. Use electrical tape on the binding posts.
6. Tell your girl "not to touch". It works.

I've used this system with great success. Have fun--you'll never be the same. And good luck. You've got about 10 months before things get crazy.

Rich,

Want low profile, and yet quality sound? By a Bryston B-60 integrated. You can't find a bigger sound, and tighter bass response, in a more compact unit. If you kid stand on the Bryston, no big deal. Then get yourself a pair of Monitor Audio MA100 speakers, the smallest in the line way back when, with cages around the tweeters...or if you want about 40HZ, bo with the MA700s. And a simple Rotel CD player. Profile doesn't get much lower, the stuff is bullet proof, and the sound? You may be spending less time in the basement and more with your baby. All the best.

I had some "expensive" issues with toddlers too in regards to my equipment. But that's another story.

Since you have your main system downstairs, you can make your upstairs system your "family" system.

Here's the solution I used jsut to show that it can be done. Not that you can't do it another way.

I put my TV on a stand (duh!) with my VCR and integrated amp (or receiver if you wish) on the shelves of the stand. It was a cheap Ikea type of stand that was enclosed on all sides except the front.

I went to Home Depot and bought a piece of plexiglass, cut it and attached some glass door hinges and door pulls on it and attached the doors to the front of the TV stand. Only cost a couple of bucks for materials. I then put a childproof plastic lock, like a bicycle lock, through the handles of the door pull. The remote works fine through the doors although you do have to open them to change tapes of cd's or whatever. The back of the cabinet was also enclosed so I drilled a few holes to run the wires through. The kids can't get their hands in the back of the stand to reach the equipment if they crawl behind the TV stand. I then used wall mounted speakers out of reach of the kids. If you don't like the wires hanging from the speaker, and if you don't want to make holes in your drywall, then you can buy little plastic channels called "raceways" at a home hardware store and run the wires through them. They're designed for this application and more discrete and decor friendly than speaker cables. Another alternative is to buy a mass market home theatre package with wireless speakers. I think Panasonic make one, as well as Sony.

My only concern about the Bose is that for the same money, you can get something with much better sound quality. Pretty well every manufacturer makes a small wall speaker for this type of application, so you have lots of choices. However, If you're happy with the Bose that's fine. They hit their market very well and what you require in terms of needs is right up their alley. Your Ferrarri is in the garage...the kids get the minivan.

I have a two year old and four year old, both boys. Although I keep my main system locked in my office (tube amps that sit on the floor and turntable) I've always taught my kids how to "use" electronics. They know exactly which buttons to press on the TV & VCR, how to hold a CD/DVD, how to insert it and take it out, etc. Of course, there were a few "accidents" along the way but, even as young as they are now, there's no problems. Even when I'm in my office on "Dad System" my four year old helps me change tubes, turn on the amps, hands me my stylus cleaner, helps me put the clamp on the record, dry brush it off, etc. When he helps me turn on the amps, it looks like he's trying to diffuse a bomb he's so nervous: I've drilled it into his head they are HOT and DANGEROUS! He won't even go near my turntable. I think it's all about training and respect. (No beatings required.)