I cannot speak to anyone else's implied meaning to the often used reference that "even my wife hears it", however I have a different take. My wife's hearing ability (like most females) is superior to mine but she doesn't give a hoot about this hobby of mine. Therefore, if she says she hears a difference I tend to believe her. She has no vested interest in a conclusion either way, totally unbiased. So to infer anything derogatory from these comments may be a misread on your part. I certainly don't take it that way. On the contrary, I respect my wife's hearing abilities as well as her opinions.