Does your family get a say in hifi purchases?
Given factors like how much a good hifi (or AV) system can dent a family budget, and how much space it can take up, and the visual impact on what is (often) the main living or family room, how many of you would let the rest of the family take (or influence) major decisions in the choice of equipment?
What if your family vetoed your choice of speakers or questioned the addition of yet another set of PSUs or whatever?
I am assuming most of us here have some combination of Husband/Wife/BF/GF/kids/significant others etc etc. And I am also assuming most of these domestic set-ups are reasonably democratic when it comes to other domestic buying decisions (cars, computers, hifis, large furniture, house alterations and so on) so does this 'democracy' extend to the hifi?
I have heeded the consensus of family opinion a few times this year and kept the cost (and space) of the hifi down by buying an Arcam Solo-Mini instead of seperates and bought relatively compact speakers with veneer to match bookshelves, desk and coffee table and altered my turntable plans to a Rega P2/Bias2 instead of something costing £400 more in order to buy a new fridge/freezer.
Are you democrat or autocrat?
She can moan as much as she like...all I have to do is turn the volume up a notch 
I have sold some speakers that I would love to keep on due to either they were wrong colour or too big (my current pair is beautiful I have been told 
, 
) but as for amps and cd players?... well... as long as she keep buying them bloody shoes and hand bags, I will keep buying HiFi!
I do worry - from many threads on this Forum - that some of you (obviously not Thaiman!) compromise too readily and too far 
I hope you're all as harsh on your families with their choice of expenditure....
Clare Newsome:I do worry - from many threads on this Forum - that some of you (obviously not Thaiman!) compromise too readily and too far
I hope you're all as harsh on your families with their choice of expenditure....
This is easy for you to say, having a partner who does not consider silence preferable to any music or film.
When it comes to new boxes I just buy (pretty much). The only compromise was on the speakers. Instead of Spendor SA1s I would have bought PMC GB1i instead but given the space we have and the appearance of floor standers this wasn't an option. If we manage to sell our house then my eye is on a lounge suitable for FB1i
Personally I think that if the expenditure affects other people I should get their input. Visa-versa too!
My wife's Mulberry bag cost as much as the Neutrons. I got some swoons behind me in the queue in John Lewis when I bought it........
kind of, my OH has the power of veto but only ever used on speaker stands...all purchases are discussed before hand
JohnDuncan:
Clare Newsome:I do worry - from many threads on this Forum - that some of you (obviously not Thaiman!) compromise too readily and too far
I hope you're all as harsh on your families with their choice of expenditure....
This is easy for you to say, having a partner who does not consider silence preferable to any music or film.
I tend to screen for these traits before selection
Well, you do have to compromise a bit. But over the years I've found that my wife has generally been resistant to spending (loads of) money on AV or HiFi separates, etc. ("Why do we need this, I don't want it to take over the room", etc), and yet, after a while, she really does appreciate what a good system can offer once it's up and running. Mind you, like a lot of guys I've probably been a little naughty - quietly bringing stuff in that I've bought, arranging auditions with our local dealer but not telling her until the last minute, buying Blu-Ray discs when I don't have a player or proper screen yet, all that kind of thing. So really I can understand why she gets a little exasperated at times! I guess I'm not the only one to have had this experience?
Clare Newsome:
JohnDuncan:
Clare Newsome:I do worry - from many threads on this Forum - that some of you (obviously not Thaiman!) compromise too readily and too far
I hope you're all as harsh on your families with their choice of expenditure....
This is easy for you to say, having a partner who does not consider silence preferable to any music or film.I tend to screen for these traits before selection
sometimes the heart rules the head Clare
It does continue to puzzle me how many women will condone - nay, encourage - expensive ornamental furniture/room 'dressing' that has no function whatsoever yet see expenditure on AV kit as 'wasted' money when it has the capacity to entertain and move you like no damn sculptured bauble can.
JohnDuncan:My wife's Mulberry bag cost as much as the Neutrons. I got some swoons behind me in the queue in John Lewis when I bought it........
Are you sure it was the bag ?
Or were they heard to say..'Isn't that the front runner in the WHS&V Personality of the Year Award 2008 ?'
It never ceases to amaze me how society 'allows' television to be on in the lounge by default but hifi has to be by exception. At least, that's the way I see it happen. Hifi is a nuisance that gets some air time but then the TV is the immediate default when I'm done. Personally one of my compromises has been having a TV at all as if it was my house alone then I'd only have an ickle one in the kitchen.
I hope your husband appreciates just what a rare example of the female species you are Clare! 
To be absolutely fair my wife said just the other evening how much she likes our 42" Plasma. The only thing is I'd like to upgrade to an HD Ready or full HD 50" so I can play Blu-Ray though which worries her (more expense!!). Now Clare - any suggestions on how to persuade her that it's a really good idea??
Things just 'arrive' when my wife's away..........
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