It's been a perennial problem but in these days of Ikea and laminate flooring wives and their asthetic sensibilities are becoming an increasingly difficult obstacle to climb for the man who is seeking no-compromise audio solutions in the home.

This is not exaggeration - One poor fellow on another forum was, just yesterday, bemoaning the fact that he gets grief from SWMBO for not closing the blinds properly. Woe betide him should he one day turn up with a battered pair of TDL Reference Monitors and attempt to install them in the lounge.

Worse still it is ruining value for money hi-fi as no longer will an unfinished metal box blatently screwed together and painted with a tin of hammerite found in the shed be an acceptable accompaniment to domestic bliss. So as well as paying for all the expensive components in the box we are now expected to pay for a fancy box as well.

Loudspeakers have suffered even more. Not only do we have to fork out for real wood veneer when a bare chipboard finish will sound exactly the same, but the speakers must not look 'intrusive', cannot be too wide or too deep, cannot have big drivers; there must be no cables snaking across the floor taped down with gaffer or covered over with an old car mat you found in the garage. In short they must be both expensive and shit otherwise you will return home one night to find out that wifey has packed her bags and gone to her mother's, without even having the good grace to cook your tea and leave it on a low heat in the oven first.

Obviously even if we leave aside the romantic implications this has numerous practical considerations, not least of which is the cost of the divorce.

So what can be done about this sad state of affairs? What tips and tricks do you have to maintain domestic bliss and have a f**k off ugly (but superb-sounding) hi-fi system other than marrying a bird who doesn't give a rat's ass? Your suggestions are welcome.