Wife Acceptance Factor

May 7, 2011

Last week, my sister emailed me to tell me she had read my Audiogon Auction for my large Seussian Avantgarde Trio Stereo Speakers. In the ad, I had explained that my wife wanted the speakers out the house. She wrote, “You’re wife??? Is there something that you haven’t told us? Did you get married? ” I explained that “wife” is an audiophile term of art. After describing the Wife Acceptance Factor (WAF), which is a major factor involved in choosing a piece of stereo equipment , and the power that only wives have to curtail the outrageous activities of an audiophile, I explained that if I had written “girlfriend” it would have prompted the obvious question of “why would you choose your girlfriend over these speakers?” Divorce is expensive and messy, but girlfriends, even if you have lived together for 10 years, are replaceable. Much easier to replace that a pair of Avantgarde Trios. So, I have to confess that I have chosen my girlfriend over these speakers. I think that is as good as married. And as for my “wife”, even though she wants the speakers out the house, I think she likes me.