All is not lost for the 8361As. I still have a few arguments in reserve. First, I didn't mention to her yet that the 8361A are powered speakers, so my ugly ~100 pound Class AB amplifier would be out of the living room. Second, I am also betting that the Genelecs will be more amenable to closer placement to the front wall than our current Salon2s, which demand that the front baffle be about six feet out from the front wall for best imaging. (The Salon2s, in the two rooms I've had them in, have been very placement-sensitive.) Third, and perhaps the most compelling argument, is that the Salon2s would move into the HT system. (It's a 2.1 set-up.) The Salon2s will be a very substantial audio upgrade to that system, and my wife is the primary video watcher in the family by a large margin. The HT room is only about 2200 cubic feet in volume, so the Salon2s should be capable of 20Hz bass without the use of subs, which will simplify that room too. I also plan to swap out the 18" monster sub in the music system for a pair of smaller, more manageable subs, if they are necessary, that will be less obtrusive when/if I get the Genelecs. (Subwoofer technology has come a long way in 11 years.)
And, if these arguments fail to convince her, I can remind her that 17% of the area of our home is dedicated to her music studio, which is so full of percussion instruments that a person has to be careful not to stub a toe or trip. I seldom have to resort to guilt trips to get my way, but I'm ready and willing...
