Nowhere to hear speakers and amps anymore!


When I started buying stereo equipment in the 1970’s (yes, I’m old) in Seattle, there were many retail stores where I could hear and compare equipment. I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1982 and found the same number of great stores until 2000 when they started disappearing and now there are none! There are plenty of Home Theater contractors, but I can’t find an audiophile store anywhere short of going to LA or back to Seattle! Is there an “audio desert” in my area? Seems like an opportunity for someone! Am I missing something? 

aldermine

@simonmoon - House of Music, on Harriet St, is gone... Not sure about Elite Audio, but says Appt Only on their website.

By far the biggest in San Francisco are Music Lovers and Audio Vision (they have a pretty huge selection of all kinds of high-end gear). 

I always come across guys running small enterprises out of their homes. Most have made their money elsewhere and do this on the side to support the hobby and write off a portion of their home. 

I have a buddy about a brisk 5 minute walk away from our Seattle home who runs a fantastic appointment only business. Think Dohman, CH, Kuzma, Magico, Wadax, Consternation, IDEON, Aurender…. etc…. 

Another appointment only dealer close to me in winter paradise in San Diego….

Seek them out in your neighborhood 

In RIchmond, VA, we are very fortunate to have a beautiful new audio store, Carytown Sound (carytownsound.com), which just opened this fall. It has a nice range of equipment and an enthusiastic owner and staff who are very low pressure. Really a gem at this time when brick and mortar stores are disappearing.