Decent audio stores in the Madison, Milwaukee, northern Chicago burbs?

ALL212
ALL212 Posts: 1,577
in The Clubhouse
Friends of mine (yes...I do have friends...honest and there is no monetary compensation from me to them to be able to say this) are building a new house. I think they might be going Sonos.

But does anyone know of decent audio stores in the Madison, Milwaukee or WAY north Chicago burb areas?

Thanks
Aaron
Enabler Extraordinaire
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Comments

  • factorz
    factorz Posts: 353
    There are 2 in the Milwaukee area that I know of. Audio Emporium which is on the north side of the city. They carry quite a few lines and the owner is typically there to greet you at the door. Ultra Fidelis is the other and it's located in Wauwatosa. They are a big Vandy dealer.

    Hope it helps.
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  • aiconn
    aiconn Posts: 277
    HiFi Heaven is in Green Bay. It's an hour and a half drive, but worth it.
    PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell DAC/Preamp
    Denon DVD 2910
    Quad 12L Active Monitors
    Marin Logan Dynamo 700W
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  • quickr1
    quickr1 Posts: 414
    Can’t comment weather good or bad have no experience with them, but there is AMS electronics in Fitchburg just outside of Madison.
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  • daboyz
    daboyz Posts: 5,207
    How about that place off Alpine here in Rockford. Think it's on Tallwood. Dude's got some nice stuff! :)
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  • rebelsoul
    rebelsoul Posts: 756
    Saturday night audio exchange
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  • rebelsoul
    rebelsoul Posts: 756
    saturdayaudio.com
    We are one of Chicagoland's oldest audio stores, providing all levels of new and used hi-fi equipment to music lovers
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  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,132
    Bought from HiFi Heaven never been there, just ordered stuff from them and have had it shipped. One of these days I plan on loading up the truck with unused gear and heading to Saturday Music exchange and trade it in for something real nice.
    Home Theater
    Parasound Halo A 31 OnkyoTX-NR838 Sony XBR55X850B 55" 4K RtiA9 Fronts CsiA6 Center RtiA3 Rears FxiA6 Side Surrounds Dual Psw 111's Oppo 105D Signal Ultra Speaker Cables & IC's Signal Magic Power Cable Technics SL Q300 Panamax MR4300 Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables Audioquest Forest USB Cable

    2 Channel
    Adcom 555II Vincent SA-T1 Marantz SA 15S2 Denon DR-M11 Clearaudio Bluemotion SDA 2.3tl's (Z) edition MIT Terminator II Speaker Cables & IC's Adcom 545II Adcom Gtp-450 Marantz CD5004 Technics M245X SDA 2B's, SDA CRS+

    Stuff for the Head
    JD LABS C5 Headphone Amplifier, Sennheiser HD 598, Polk Audio Buckle, Polk Audio Hinge, Velodyne vPulse, Bose IE2, Sennheiser CX 200 Street II, Sennheiser MX 365

    Shower & Off the beaten path Rigs
    Polk Audio Boom Swimmer, Polk Audio Urchin B)
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  • hochpt21
    hochpt21 Posts: 5,423
    University Audio is in Madison

    Smallish store. Carries NAD, Mcintosh, GoldenEar, VPI, Bowers/Wilkins and a few other brands.

    I’ve had times where they seemed eager to talk shop, and times where I felt like I was inconveniencing them. Purchased my record cleaner, a few cartridges and some cables from them.

    Inquired on an Oppo with intent to purchase and the guy started belittling my current used gear so I purchased that somewhere else.
    2 ChannelTurntable - VPI Classic 2/Ortofon 2M BlueAmplification - Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II, Parks Audio Budgie PhonoSpeakers - GoldenEar Triton 17.2 Home TheaterDenon AVR-X3300W; Rotel RMB-1066; Klipsch RP-280F's, Klipsch RP-450C, Polk FXi3's, Polk RC60i; Dual SVS PB 2000's; BenQ HT2050; Elite Screens 120"Man CaveTurntable - Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood/Grado GoldAmplification - Dared SL2000a, McCormack DNA 0.5 DeluxeCD: Cambridge AudioSpeakers - Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary; LSiM 703; SDA 2A
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,988
    aiconn wrote: »
    HiFi Heaven is in Green Bay. It's an hour and a half drive, but worth it.

    I've bought stuff there too, great service, great shipping, never a problem. Nice guys too.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • ALL212
    ALL212 Posts: 1,577
    Thanks for the ideas! I suspect we’ll be hitting the Madison area on Saturday.
    Aaron
    Enabler Extraordinaire
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    Saturday Audio Exchange is in Chicago (proper) nowhere near Madison or Milwaukee. I’ve been there and those guys are really nice. Talked with them for a while and I would highly recommend them.
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
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  • ALL212
    ALL212 Posts: 1,577
    Ok - an update on todays adventure.

    University Audio in Madison - very nice. Those guys know their stuff and listen to you. We worked with Elton Crim - just a very nice, knowledgeable person. I'd go back here in a heartbeat!

    Audio Emporium - Northeast Milwaukee. I'm not going to name names but they don't listen, don't ask questions and just assume you've got $20k to spend. Theatre room was way way way way way too bassy, poorly balanced system in that room. He tried to impress with some jargon - "you'd really like these 93db speakers over the 90db speakers..." But let's not listen to them... Or discuss any other reason for wanting those copper coned speakers. Also mentioned that you should have your speakers out in the room to impress folks that are there but in a dark room against the black background you could not see what they were. Nope, not impressed and no returning here for any reason.

    Stopped at a small home audio shop west side of Milwaukee- they had no clue.

    Fun day anyway!
    Aaron
    Enabler Extraordinaire
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  • hochpt21
    hochpt21 Posts: 5,423
    Glad to hear you had a good experience at University Audio. Thumbs up.
    2 ChannelTurntable - VPI Classic 2/Ortofon 2M BlueAmplification - Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II, Parks Audio Budgie PhonoSpeakers - GoldenEar Triton 17.2 Home TheaterDenon AVR-X3300W; Rotel RMB-1066; Klipsch RP-280F's, Klipsch RP-450C, Polk FXi3's, Polk RC60i; Dual SVS PB 2000's; BenQ HT2050; Elite Screens 120"Man CaveTurntable - Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood/Grado GoldAmplification - Dared SL2000a, McCormack DNA 0.5 DeluxeCD: Cambridge AudioSpeakers - Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary; LSiM 703; SDA 2A
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    1 out of 3. Well, hopefully, the one good place made up for the 2 not-so-good places.
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,509
    There is this place in Rockford. Aaron's Audio Emporium. It's in the basement. Been there, will go back.
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,645
    SCompRacer wrote: »
    There is this place in Rockford. Aaron's Audio Emporium. It's in the basement. Been there, will go back.

    Agreed ! I do wish they had a solid tube tester, the owner/proprietor promised he would have it back on line soon. :#:D
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,581
    Bought from university audio before
    Nice guys
    Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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  • ALL212
    ALL212 Posts: 1,577
    I’ve unloosed the Liquids and the tube tester is at 100% so they’ll be an open invite to the Rockford facility as soon as the outriggers are here and installed.

    At the moment the evaluation of the new speakers is...


    DAMN!!!!
    Aaron
    Enabler Extraordinaire
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    ALL212 wrote: »
    I’ve unloosed the Liquids and the tube tester is at 100% so they’ll be an open invite to the Rockford facility as soon as the outriggers are here and installed.

    At the moment the evaluation of the new speakers is...


    DAMN!!!!

    Woot!! Get yer groove on Aaron!!
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
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