Audio Stores to Visit or Avoid in Your Area
SolidSqual
Posts: 5,218
Hey Guys,
In a recent discussion (HERE) about the viability of high-end brick and mortars in the coming age of online HiFi sales, I see two camps. Those who prefer to buy online for convenience, selection and low-pressure selling and those who prefer a traditional brick and mortar that permits hearing the gear before buying and the development of a quality relationship with a dealer who knows how to build and grow a real HiFi system.
IMO, the latter choice will result in a more synergistic system with less trial and error. A combination of both camps is rare. Thus, in the interest of encouraging everyone to achieve the best system goals they can, please name a brick and mortar in your area where you felt less like a victim of high-pressure selling and more like a guest under the care of a knowledgeable guide who desired nothing more than to take you to the promised land.
Indiana:
Visit: Ovation Audio - Massive selection of gear from mid-fi to ridiculously high-end in both stereo, theater and car audio with many listening rooms to test the gear. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and willing to setup any configuration you have in mind in a room closest to the size of your own listening space. Ovation is by far the best B&M experience I have ever had. There was almost no selling. For the most part, they tweak whatever system you want to hear, offer some music if you haven't brought your own, then leave you alone to listen for hours while periodically checking in to answer any questions.
Avoid: Audio Solutions - Avoid like the plague if you hate high pressure sales or complete disinterest if the salesman profiles you as not being able to afford the $100,000 Magico speakers sitting in the main listening room. I walked out of here after being committed to buy a Summit X and instead purchased Emerald Physics when the guy told me the Martin Logans were probably out of my price range. I told him I drive a **** car because I care how my stereo sounds, not how my car looks. There was no hello at the door. Guys are not friendly. In fact, one admitted to me that he prefers when doctors come in with credit cards in hand and just tell them to charge the best. On the upside, Audio Solutions has a good selection of gear that competes with Ovation, but I'd never want to build a relationship with the staff.
In a recent discussion (HERE) about the viability of high-end brick and mortars in the coming age of online HiFi sales, I see two camps. Those who prefer to buy online for convenience, selection and low-pressure selling and those who prefer a traditional brick and mortar that permits hearing the gear before buying and the development of a quality relationship with a dealer who knows how to build and grow a real HiFi system.
IMO, the latter choice will result in a more synergistic system with less trial and error. A combination of both camps is rare. Thus, in the interest of encouraging everyone to achieve the best system goals they can, please name a brick and mortar in your area where you felt less like a victim of high-pressure selling and more like a guest under the care of a knowledgeable guide who desired nothing more than to take you to the promised land.
Indiana:
Visit: Ovation Audio - Massive selection of gear from mid-fi to ridiculously high-end in both stereo, theater and car audio with many listening rooms to test the gear. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and willing to setup any configuration you have in mind in a room closest to the size of your own listening space. Ovation is by far the best B&M experience I have ever had. There was almost no selling. For the most part, they tweak whatever system you want to hear, offer some music if you haven't brought your own, then leave you alone to listen for hours while periodically checking in to answer any questions.
Avoid: Audio Solutions - Avoid like the plague if you hate high pressure sales or complete disinterest if the salesman profiles you as not being able to afford the $100,000 Magico speakers sitting in the main listening room. I walked out of here after being committed to buy a Summit X and instead purchased Emerald Physics when the guy told me the Martin Logans were probably out of my price range. I told him I drive a **** car because I care how my stereo sounds, not how my car looks. There was no hello at the door. Guys are not friendly. In fact, one admitted to me that he prefers when doctors come in with credit cards in hand and just tell them to charge the best. On the upside, Audio Solutions has a good selection of gear that competes with Ovation, but I'd never want to build a relationship with the staff.
Post edited by SolidSqual on
Comments
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I guess the high end retailers in my area are ok to visit. It seems to me that most of the prices are inflated on the gear they carry. Ive learned much more here at CP than I ever could visiting my local stores. Its used gear for me unless I hit the Lotto!Polk Audio Surround Bar 360
Mirage PS-12
LG BDP-550
Motorola HD FIOS DVR
Panasonic 42" Plasma
XBOX 360[/SIZE]
Office stuff
Allied 395 receiver
Pioneer CDP PD-M430
RT8t's & Wharfedale Diamond II's[/SIZE]
Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music. ~Ronald Reagan -
Bensalem PA - Quest for Sound
He has several sound rooms to audition gear from low mid-fi to uber high end. Sand & tubes. A wide variety of front end players CD, SACD, TTs etc. He also had a variety of LPs & CDs both regular and audiophile pressings. No presure sales and will let you roam and audition gear all day long. The owner can fix or modify anything. He'll also give you straight up answers and get you into the right fit for your rig and doesn't push any particular name brand. He'll also let you take home gear to try in rig to see if it synergizes. Also has a website where you can order pretty much whatever you want wherever you are. Another plus is he designs and manufactures his own line of gear. Gives you a wide variety of accessories and gear to pretty much fit any budget. Is an authorized dealer of Polk products. Will give you great discounts plus more off if you are a Polk Forum member. Takes all major credit cards and has been known to setup payment arrangement. Has a wide variety of tubes, including NOS on hand. He sells used gear too and takes trades. They will even sell your current gear for you.
I can't say enough about this place. He's been in business for years & years and is doing something right because he is a brick & mortar store and is thriving even in this crappy economy.
Even if you can't visit his store you should check out his website.
http://www.questforsound.com/index.htm -
SolidSqual wrote: »I see two camps. Those who prefer to buy online for convenience, selection and low-pressure selling and those who prefer a traditional brick and mortar that permits hearing the gear before buying and the development of a quality relationship with a dealer who knows how to build and grow a real HiFi system.
I'm on camp # 3. Buy used._________________________________________________
***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***
2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
SOPAThank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman -
SolidSqual wrote: »
Indiana:
Visit: Ovation Audio - Massive selection of gear from mid-fi to ridiculously high-end in both stereo, theater and car audio with many listening rooms to test the gear. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and willing to setup any configuration you have in mind in a room closest to the size of your own listening space. Ovation is by far the best B&M experience I have ever had. There was almost no selling. For the most part, they tweak whatever system you want to hear, offer some music if you haven't brought your own, then leave you alone to listen for hours while periodically checking in to answer any questions.
I'm assuming you're talking about the one on the North Side, because the one on the South Side is only nice if you're looking for HT. I went in there and asked about 2-channel amps, and they looked at me like i had just crashed through their door naked riding a comet proclaiming the end of the world happened yesterday.
For that matter, the one on the North Side last time i went (over a year ago) only had Paradigm and Rotel on display in the 2-channel display room, too...
Possible i caught them at a bad time? Definitely willing to give them another shot.
I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.
Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii
Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999
Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3
HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000 -
concealer404 wrote: »I'm assuming you're talking about the one on the North Side, because the one on the South Side is only nice if you're looking for HT. I went in there and asked about 2-channel amps, and they looked at me like i had just crashed through their door naked riding a comet proclaiming the end of the world happened yesterday.
For that matter, the one on the North Side last time i went (over a year ago) only had Paradigm and Rotel on display in the 2-channel display room, too...
Possible i caught them at a bad time? Definitely willing to give them another shot.
Ahhh yes, I'm talking about the Castleton location. They had Wilson, Theil, Magnepan, Paradigm, BAT, Esoteric and a ton of other gear. They did mention their new setups were somewhat recent. -
Sounds like i need to make another trip, then... i was a bit crushed when i went up there last time... i really liked the Rotel/Paradigm setup, but it was all too rich for my blood at that point. I'll be in the market for a nice set of speakers soon, and the Signature series calls to me. I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.
Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii
Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999
Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3
HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000 -
sweet idea! I might be going through Indy sometime soon so I might have to check those places out if I can.
For me in WI well I haven't been to too many as there's not a whole lot by me but normally I go into a place called Hi Fi Heaven in Green Bay, WI. The guys are very nice and good to deal with and you can ask them questions about anything and normally will give you good advice. I don't really ever feel pressured to buy anything when I'm there and they also do take trade ins on gear and I think are more than fair with deals. They have a few demo rooms set up for HT types and I would say one area for 2 channel which is normally krell for set up (amps and pre) or McIntosh.
The other place I've gone to is Suess Electronics in Appleton, WI. Now they are a bigger store with more set ups once again for HT than anything. I love the HT rooms they have with B&W 805s I think (they were 14,000 a pair), a full anthem set up with D2v ect, but I feel the sales reps are more discearning of people that walk through the door, such as if your not dress well example jeans and a t shirt and are younger they will think you don't know anything and tend to ignore you ( I had this problem when I went in as I'm only 23 and I approched a sales women who looked at me then turn away and ignored me the whole time) and I was just trying to acutally purchase something but didn't know if they had it, but if you get a good one they are nice and willing to help, however are a little more pushy I found than Hi Fi in terms of sales, as it seems like they are always trying to close the sale rather than make sure you understand what your getting and that its something you need. I also dont' know if they will even let you hear stuff it seems as the times I've gone in they never want to show you anything in action, it was look at the model on the floor not powered on and make a choice, soooo kinda annoying sometimes. -
Knucklehead,
Have you ever hit up Digital Sound ? If not, we should go there. I honestly don't care much for the electronics that they carry, but some of the guys there (if they are still there) are pretty cool.
Nope, their at the beach right? Next time you plan on going let me know.Polk Audio Surround Bar 360
Mirage PS-12
LG BDP-550
Motorola HD FIOS DVR
Panasonic 42" Plasma
XBOX 360[/SIZE]
Office stuff
Allied 395 receiver
Pioneer CDP PD-M430
RT8t's & Wharfedale Diamond II's[/SIZE]
Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music. ~Ronald Reagan -
I only wish we had an audio store in our town (Spokane, WA), so I could have a place to complain about! But we aint got nuttin'! So it's online & used for us, unless we take a 600 mile (total) hike to Seattle."Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then." Bob Seger
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I went in Audio Advice in Raleigh, a few months back. Very nice place, as far as setup and gear they have. The guy I talked to was a Snob though. As soon as he learned we were just looking and not buying, he shut up and left, not to be seen again. Here's their site: http://www.audioadvice.com/Samsung HL61A750 LED DLP
Onkyo TX-SR805 receiver
Oppo BDP-83 blu ray player
Polk Audio LSi9 front speakers
Polk Audio LSiC center speaker
Sony SS-MB100H rear speakers
SVS PC12-NSD powered subwoofer
Pioneer PL-514 turntable
Logitech Harmony 628 Universal Remote -
Hawthorne Stereo in Seattle sells new and used, along with consignment and trades!
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I want to add to my post above. Overture & HiFi House, both in Wilmington, Delaware.
Overture was helpful to me when I brought my Spectral Preamp to them for refreshing/refurbing in that they told me it would be cheaper for me to ship it directly to Spectral than to have them ship it. Other than that, they carry very high end and seemed to only carry Rotel products in the mid-fi category. I didn't get the impression that they would size you up and snub you if they didn't think you had deep pockets.
HiFi house, they wouldn't give me the time of day. -
Atlanta-- by all means visit Audio Alternative--great folks,,gear, tubes,vinyl,used gear,, no snobbery allowed here.JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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^ Thanks I have been thinking about stopping by hifi but I will not now.
One to AVOID in my area is a car audio shop. Larson's crappy products and crappy service.HT setup
Panasonic 50" TH-50PZ80U
Denon DBP-1610
Monster HTS 1650
Carver A400X :cool:
MIT Exp 3 Speaker Wire
Kef 104/2
URC MX-780 Remote
Sonos Play 1
Living Room
63 inch Samsung PN63C800YF
Polk Surroundbar 3000
Samsung BD-C7900 -
I need to avoid ALL OF THEM.:eek:
They keep putting out great trades and demo items."The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson -
bigaudiofanatic wrote: »^ Thanks I have been thinking about stopping by hifi but I will not now.
One to AVOID in my area is a car audio shop. Larson's crappy products and crappy service.
I don't know BAF to be fair you may want to give it a shot as I was only there once. -
Los Angeles Area
GNP Audio Video in Pasadena - Great service. Very patient. No High pressure sales and will talk you through anything. I bring a notebook every time I go in so that I can write down the information they provide. Plus, if I bring my wife, they put in a good Blu Ray for her to watch in the viewing room while I talk shop with them.
Another good one is Sound Factor in Tarzana. Though, they are quite a bit high end. But, they have a good selection of used equipment.
I don't really have any bad ones to recommend (other than Magnolia) as I will only check out stores that have received good feedback. -
The Analog Room, San Jose, CA. One of the finest hi-fi shops I've been in. Very nice selection of gear, even nicer folks running the place and no HT crap in sight.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
The Analog Room, San Jose, CA. One of the finest hi-fi shops I've been in. Very nice selection of gear, even nicer folks running the place and no HT crap in sight.
Jess what is the name of the place south of you that has the MBL gear on display?
Was the Analog Room the one you were telling about that you and Robert saw all the turntables? -
Los Angeles Area
GNP Audio Video in Pasadena - Great service.
I used to own a set of GNP audio speakers. I called them to ask a couple of questions, and they rounded up a guy who had been there long enough to remember the specs on them. They seemed to be a pretty good bunch of guys."The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson -
hearingimpared wrote: »Jess what is the name of the place south of you that has the MBL gear on display?
Was the Analog Room the one you were telling about that you and Robert saw all the turntables?
United Home Audio.
Yes.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Binghamton NY area.
Audio Classics in Vestal, I've only talked to the same sales rep. so I can't speak for all, but good experiences with him. Lots of used gear too.
Not many left, for the market size I consider myself lucky that Audio Classics is surviving.
Probably something in Scranton PA but I haven't looked lately. -
If you're ever around Portland, OR (or the suburbs)
Visit - Lewis Audio and Video (in Newberg)
Amazing selection of both video and audio equipment, as well as extremely knowledgeable and helpful staff. Their showroom is a beautiful space with a 110" screen, wonderful surround selection, and a database of movies to choose from.
Avoid- I'd say stay away from Frys (in Wilsonville).
They have a great selection usually, but their staff is annoyingly pushy, they try to push BOSE-type products (monster anyone?), and their "sound rooms" are terrible. If you know what you want, then Frys has a great selection, but if you're going there wanting to learn about products...I wouldn't trust everything their reps tell you."Dr Dunn admitted that his research could also be interpreted as evidence that women are shallower than men. He said: "Let's face it - there's evidence to support it."
My System:Best Buy is for people who don't know any better. Magnolia is for people who don't know any better and have more money to spend.
TV: SAMSUNG UN55B7000 55" 1080p LED HDTV
HTPC: Chromecast w/ Plex Media Server. Media streamed from Media Server. -
In the Albany, NY area, I can recommend Oasis Audio:
http://www.integracoustics.com/oasishifi/us.html
Al & Kevin really love audio and are most helpful.A day without music is like a day without food. -
sucks2beme wrote: »I used to own a set of GNP audio speakers. I called them to ask a couple of questions, and they rounded up a guy who had been there long enough to remember the specs on them. They seemed to be a pretty good bunch of guys.
Yeah, that's how they originally got their start. Their original owner, Bill Gross developed those speakers. He sold the company years ago and moved on to create a type of internet think tank/developer. I met Bill once for an unrelated matter. Super smart guy. -
Minneapolis area
AUDIO PERFECTION
7401 Lyndale Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55423
Great folks with lots of nice used equipment,plenty of newer stuff and 4-5 different rooms to look through
For HT
Stereo Land 8743 Columbine Road
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Never have been but have heard some good things.. -
Clear Sound Audio in Patchoque, NY. Great gear, great sound, great owner.
http://clearsoundaudio1.com/
Crecendo Designs, Hamptons, NY. Nice assortment of high end gear, friendly staff.
http://www.crescendodesigns.com/
Audio Den, Lake Grove, NY. Nice gear, staff is hit or miss.
http://audioden.com/
Audio Breakthroughs, Manhasset, NY. Nice gear, but showroom is cramped and often disorganized. Friendly staff though.
http://www.audiobreakthroughs.com/
Bri-Tech, Bohemia, NY. Caters mostly to home automation, only had B&W speakers set up for demos, ugg.
http://www.bri-tech.com/"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche -
The Analog Room, San Jose, CA. One of the finest hi-fi shops I've been in. Very nice selection of gear, even nicer folks running the place and no HT crap in sight.
Is that the place you and a fellow Polkie stopped in? I bet it is and thats a good story. -
if anyone knows of a decent hi-fi place to check out in the n.e oh area please let me know.panasonic th-50pz85u
pioneer elite vsx-92txh
pioneer elite bdp-05fd
emotiva xpa-3
monster power hdp 2550
sa 8300 hd dvr
sda 2b's
fronts - rti a9's
center - csi a6
surrounds - fxi a6's
sub - polk dsw pro 600
harmony one -
You guys in INDY should see Mark @ Tone studio. He has some killer stuff but will work with you on price if you ask. Thats were I just purchased my new stuff from. He has a thick accent and different personality but he's a real music lover & he will talk about it ALL day, so be prepared! I also visited Audio Solutions and they were very nice to me, allowing me to take home a complete system for audition (maybe they were just being nice to my cute girlfriend lol).
