WAF - Wife Acceptance Factor


Much has been written in these threads about the dreaded WAF, or wife acceptance factor. It usually entails making a compromise, or not getting that perfect speaker, or amp, or ... Well you get the picture.

But tell the truth guys. Haven't there been times when wifey actually helped?

In my case, I casually mentioned to my wife that the picture quality of my front projector would be much improved if I could better cotrol the light in the den. So what did she do?

She put up nice thick curtains. It not only blocks the light and makes the den like a cave, it also improves the diffuse surround sound field with the absorptive material. What a gal!

Would love to hear your stories. :o)
kinsekd
My wife threw me out years ago for buying audio equipment.
I rather have bought phono cartridges, than diapers.
Now I have everthing I want.
No wife, and a room full of audio!
I am always the King!...and no need of asking her if i need this! i need that!...but a King always need a Queen!

*********WE ALWAYS HAVE FUN LISTENING TOGETHER!*********
My wife has more fun grinding on my speaker's woofers while I'm cranking "In A Gadda Da Vida" than she does riding the laundry machine.....even during an unbalanced load.......haha

Cheers,
John

I used to look at WAF in a pretty blunt way — almost like a red pill kind of take:

“If it was not something that she did, that gave the audiophile that feeling, then that is a problem.”

But going through all the posts here, I think that framing is a bit too simplistic.

What shows up instead is that WAF isn’t really about “her blocking your gear” or “you pushing your hobby.” It’s more a reflection of how the relationship is structured.

Some guys have full freedom, some have clear trades (your system / her space), some actually share the listening and even push upgrades. And in those setups, WAF basically disappears.

Where it’s tense, the stereo just becomes the visible friction point.

So yeah, that quote still hits something — but maybe not in the way I first thought.
It’s not about whether she “creates the feeling.”

It’s more that if the system can’t exist without friction, then the issue probably isn’t the system.

This thread has been dormant for about 17 years. I am curious as to how many divorces have  occurred?