5 stars! Huge shoutout to Jesus and Brian. I recently went to a friend's house for a hi-fi listening session, and when I came home and turned on my own system, I realized something had to change. After a deep dive of research, I landed on the Wharfedale Lintons, and Audio Element was the only place where I could actually hear them in person. Brian was incredibly helpful and patient as my wife and I worked through some favorite tracks to make sure they were the right fit. Needless to say, we walked out with the Lintons. Once we got them home, it quickly became clear our amp wasn't up to the task. More research led us to the perfect pairing: a Rega. Jesus happened to have exactly what we needed and was kind enough to hold it while we rushed down to grab it. The result? Spine-tingling, goosebump-inducing fun listening to music again. Our system finally feels alive. The service here is top-notch. They genuinely listen, guide you without pressure, and clearly care about helping you find the right setup. Safe to say, Audio Element is now my go-to for all things hi-fi. read more

Audio Element - Rega Elex MK4 - Electronics Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Simply the best place for audiophiles in San Diego! Great place to drop crypto profit! read more

This review is far overdue. To cut to the chase, Ian (the owner), Jesus, and Brian are exceptional. A special shout out goes to Brian for spending so much time with me until we had the right system picked out. I was recently gifted a record player which had me scrambling for some new gear. It had been a very long time since I had taken a stroll down HiFi audio lane. I popped into Audio Element mainly to see what brands they carried. I initially felt a bit timid since I could tell that they carried some really high end stuff. I instantly felt like this shop was out of my league. However, Brian warmly greeted me and quickly made me feel at home with his exceptional hospitality. As he showed me around the shop and answered some of my questions, Jesus was also very helpful in contributing wherever he could. Brian demo'ed various setups for me based on the sound signature I was going for as well as on the description I had provided of my listening area. The specially curated setups he showed me sounded phenomenal. He was also extremely knowledgeable. Knowing that I was about to drop some serious dough, and also knowing how much of a methodical person I am, I thanked both of them and told them that I was going to go home to make some decisions and that they would likely see me again. When I did eventually return to the shop, I was happy to see Brian again. Having done some research at home, I went in convinced knowing what I wanted. I had made some personal tweaks to some of the equipment I had really enjoyed on my previous visit. These tweaks were mainly upgrades of the same model line of equipment. As we got to talking, Brian made me aware of some new speakers they had recently received that he thought I might like. He offered to hook them up for me and if I didn't like them, no harm no foul and I could stick with the original setup I had chosen. OH MAN! I immediately fell in love with the new speakers and integrated amp combo he setup for me. I knew I needed this to come home with me. I got a killer deal and I could not be happier. Ian (the owner) happened to be at the store that night and he made sure that everything went smooth. One thing I'll never forget is how Brian made me feel when I realized that I had accidentally kept the staff after hours; not realizing that the store had already closed. While I felt bad, I couldn't help but notice that in the excitement of helping me pick out my system, it seemed like the staff had also lost track of time just as I had lol! I apologized to Brian and he quickly told me not to worry about that and reassured me that they were there to make sure that I was truly happy with my new setup. At the end of it all, the entire staff even helped lug all the equipment to my car. Fast forward several months later, and this has become a new hobby of mine. I love my setup so much that I listen to records every night before bed. When I'm not listening to records, I'm streaming on the bluesound node icon. Ian, Jesus, and especially Brian, you guys are a very special bunch. Thanks again and I hope to see you in the not so distant future. read more

Wonderful experience. Called regarding tv installation they don't do? Even though this isn't their business practice I was referred to czar audio video in Monrovia. Great service and very knowledgeable. Absolutely would recommend. Furthermore great value for your money. read more

Had issues with my Wilson Audio Cub speaker - took it to them and they were very helpful, fair, honest and overall very professional. Beautiful showroom with lots of nice equipment. Will be back again for my audio needs. Thanks! read more

Man what a treat it was coming in here as a first time visitor. Before finding this place, I called a bunch of home audio stores asking about cartridge replacement services for my 7 year old record player before settling on Audio Element. From my initial phone call to the whole experience in store, I was helped by Jesus, who is the reason for my review. From the very beginning, Jesus was very welcoming, caring, and professional. And although they didn't have the exact cartridge I was looking for, Jesus explained the pros and cons of each of the cartridges that they did have in stock which helped me make an informed decision. Not only that, but when I told Jesus I lived about 30 miles away, he went out of his way to move my record player cartridge replacement service to the top of his queue and completed the job within 2 hours, knowing I didn't want to waste another hour of my time driving home and back to the store to pick up my record player. When it was time to pick up the player, he spun a Norah Jones record that he considers to be a great test record for determining whether the cartridge replacement was successful. He pointed out certain parts of the song where Norah would raise her pitch, or when the piano played a certain way, which he would use as a benchmark to determine whether the cartridge sound quality is up to par. Not only was it informative, but it was great to know that Jesus was a noticeably more detail oriented than I would have initially expected. This whole experience made me a huge fan of the store and I look forward to introducing my friends to Jesus and Audio Elements in the future. Cheers! read more

Such a great experience. Came here after trying out another guy in another city that had no idea what he was talking about. I just felt like I was being lied to the whole time. These guys are on top of their game. They know what is up. Didn't try to hard sell me on anything. I felt like I had the best value for my money and they have an amazing store if you are into high-end home audio. I wish I could afford everything in here...you can spend a lot of money really quick here, so bring your checkbook. Everybody here is very knowledgeable and extremely friendly and doesn't try to BS their way out of anything. Will definitely come again after winning the lottery.. read more

Audio Element - My center channel fixed - Electronics Near Me - Pasadena, California

Great service, extremely helpful staff. Good selection of speakers and audio gear. They really helped me level up my sound system. It wasn't the cheapest but I feel good about my purchase and that I wasn't just someone to offload product onto, I really felt like the staff took my needs into account and helped me build the exact audio system I was aiming for. read more

I wanted to post a new review. This store is an important place for me. Yes, I've bought several components here in the past, and I don't (I doubt I ever will) have anything but incredible things to say about their service. Today, I came (unannounced) with my turntable. It was spinning faster than it ought to and I was concerned. They made a quick diagnostic check, made some adjustments, and sent me on my way. I felt guilty for not making an appointment and they didn't make me feel badly either. There are few audio stores like this around and the human element this one posses is something that raises their value in my estimation. Thank you Audio Element for yet another fantastic experience. Oh, and the record player is playing beautifully again! read more

I stopped by this company regarding services for installation of flat panel in my office. Unfortunately, they don't install TVs. They specialize in custom two channel audio. Even though they don't do this, they still recommended me to a great company in Monrovia that absolutely took care of the install 100%. Even though I didn't use any services from them, I did buy an album. They have a great selection of music as well. Thanks again for helping me out Rebecca. read more

Audio Element - Great selection of vinyl records - Electronics Near Me - Pasadena, California

Super friendly, knowledgeable staff. I stopped by looking for a lint brush from my records, but stayed and bought the lint brush and 4 classic jazz records that I had been wanting to add to my collection. While I was there they demonstrated the high end speaker setup in the listening room. That was very cool, separated and detailed sound, where you could hear small details like a low rasp in the singer's voice. The employees are clearly stoked to work there and love what they do and it shows. It was a delight stopping by. I'm at home now enjoying my new records, lint free, on my sound system. Thanks Audio Element! read more

I brought in my Pro-ject turntable yesterday in hopes of figuring out why it was skipping at the beginning of each record. Eli checked it out and within a few minutes diagnosed that there was friction rubbing on the main arm to which the needle is attached. Really appreciate his help and will definitely be back when I need to replace the cartridge and get a tune up sometime soon. read more

Recently brought my turntable out of storage and took it to Audio Element for a check up. After some discussion with Jesus and Ian, we determined a cartridge update was a good idea. They turned me onto, and let me audition, the Hana Umami Red. It sounded great in-store and turned out to be a great fit for my turntable. Also purchased a headphone amp from Rogue Audio. Throughout the process, Ian and Jesus provided great evaluations and were always available to answer my questions. Never any pressure to buy or make an immediate decision. I have a couple of other system needs and am looking forward to working with them again. No need to go anywhere else. read more

There aren't a lot of stores that specialize in the hi-fi business, and if you're an amateur looking to get into this crazy hobby, you couldn't do better here to get started. I bought my first hifi cart here, and got them to set up a new arm for my turntable. Knowledgable and helpful folks! read more

I am really surprised with some of the negative reviews. Over nearly 20 years, I have bought and asked for advice in audio from Brian. He is professional and knows audio extremely well. Always friendly and generous with his time, Brian has been nothing but great. Indeed, some of the equipment Audio Element may not be in everyone's price range. This is a high end audio dealer, after all. But AE also sells very reasonably priced audio equipment which sounds excellent. I recommend Audio Element whole heartedly. read more

I had heard about Audio Element through a good friend. So I went over there wanting to buy my dream stereo. And I was not disappointed. Ian was incredibly helpful throughout the entire experience. I was there for several hours listening to their different recommendations of stereo units and turn tables. They let me select vinyls to play. Some Coltrane and then Bill Evans onto Queen and Cat Stevens. The time in their was like a crash course in music stereo knowledge. We talked about sound and how important a good needle was in getting the ultimate listening experience. I love vinyl. It is something I grew up with in the 60's and 70's especially. The system I ended up purchasing was the Rega Planar 6 turn table and the Wharfedale speakers. I am so happy with my Purchase and highly recommend Audio Element for an exquisite music experience and stellar service. And they sampled the Keith Monks Prodigy stereo record cleaner for me. This additional purchase has made so much difference in my album collection! It really does clean your albums both new and existing. Highly recommend this as well!! read more

Audio Element - Keith Monks Prodigy Precision Record Cleaner - Electronics Near Me - Pasadena, California

Believe it or not, cost of the equipment that an audio store sells doesn't necessarily mean that they know what they are doing. I've lived in and around New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco and now Seattle and visited audio stores with high-end aspirations in each of these cities. From my visit and a quite extensive equipment audition, I consider Audio Element is one of the top 4 or 5 audio stores that I've encountered across the United States. I went in to listen to an AMG turntable. I have been investigating what spending more money on my analog (turntable) front end or my digital front end of my system might get me. The AMG turntable was interesting to me from reviews that I've read, but I've learned that it's important to actually listen to audio equipment to know what you are actually getting. Finding a good local dealer will save you weeks, months, and years of buying and selling equipment that doesn't match up well with your existing system or doesn't quite fit your personal preferences. These are all of the elements that Audio Element did right with their setup and approach to doing the equipment demo. 1. Their listening room has a great setup from an acoustic perspective. From my pictures, you can see that in addition to the acoustic panels on the walls to manage sound wave reflections., they have also beveled the front edges of the wall so the room is not a uniform shape. This helps reduce unwanted reverberation. If an audio store doesn't have a listening room with good acoustics, it's difficult to determine whether equipment just doesn't sound good or if the room acoustics is to blame. In either case, hearing equipment that sounds good in the store makes me more confident that equipment is more likely to also sound good in my home. 2. The records that they played for the demo were chosen to be excellent in sound quality. One was a 45 rpm version of John Coltrane's Blue Train. The other was 'Ella and Louis'. Both are great sounding records that really brought out the level of care that they took to set up the system that I was listening to. 3. Their speaker setup in the room was spot on. 4. For anyone doing an equipment audition in their main listening room and thinking of buying that equipment, they also move that equipment out to their front showroom that has worse acoustics. You would think that audio store wouldn't want to dissuade a buyer from going through with a purchase, but the Audio Element taking this step allows a potential purchaser to hear how equipment might sound if their home listening room has less good acoustic properties than did Audio Element's main listening room. I was also impressed by their Turntable Bar setup in their front showroom. The Turntable Bar setup allows prospective customers to audition multiple entry to mid-level turntables that fall in their price range. Though the acoustics there in the front showroom were not as good as in their main listening room, I heard one lower priced system that sounded fantastic. A friend is looking to buy a more entry-level turntable. I noticed that Audio Element is a dealer for a range of brands that have turntables in his $400-1200 price range including Rega, Pro-ject, and Music Hall. I had a great conversation with Eli about why someone might pick a turntable from one of brands versus another. He gave a clear, concise but through answer on why they carried each of these brands that seem very similar from both a visual perspective and from what is written in reviews. I learned what types of listeners might be drawn to each of these turntable brands based on their needs. Building a good sounding system at a lower price point is very feasible, but it's helpful to have a store that knows how to optimize equipment choices and advocating the right tradeoffs between a variety of sound quality dimensions to suit different personal listening preferences. Very impressive! The folks at Audio Element clearly have the expertise and patience to be able to put together great sounding audio systems for shoppers starting from fairly reasonable price points and upwards. I wasn't surprised when they told me that they are regularly flying out to other parts of the country US including the East Coast to set up and maintain systems for customers that have moved from LA to other parts of the country. read more

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A buddy recommended this place for a turntable repair. Jesus quickly diagnosed my problem on the spot (which I had misdiagnosed), provided quick turnaround....and I sit here now, comfortably numb, going deep down a vinyl rabbit hole..... My new favorite Pasadena small biz. Look forward to buying my first big-boy turntable from them this year. read more

Came in to get my record player fixed. They were amazing . They helped me order the parts and when I brought the parts in they showed me how to install them 100 % recommend this store read more

Audio Element - Eli helped me with my old record player - Electronics Near Me - Pasadena, California

The staff is very knowledgable and they pay attention making recommendations for audio gear that fits your needs and budget. I've purchased turntables and receivers for custom cabinets that I build and could not be happier. read more

Audio Element - Electronics Near Me - Pasadena, California

Had my vintage turntable serviced here, the guys were friendly, approachable, knowledgeable about their craft and the price was fair.

Jesus provided top notch service and provided me with a great audition session with some tube gear and speakers. They also have a great selection of turntables. If you are looking for Dynaudio, Wharfdale, Rogue or Bryston, this is your place. read more

I recently bought an old Philips turntable that turned out to have some issues, so I brought it to the dudes at Audio Element and they got everything sorted out for me. They are super knowledgeable and helpful, and this will be my first (and likely only) stop for hifi issues in the future. If you care about your sound, this is the place to go. It's also a super cool shop with amazing gear that you don't see anywhere else. read more

There are few things that have added more deep and visceral joy to my life than building out a vinyl system. At a time when music has been reduced to wallpaper, the idea of carefully selecting, physically handling, and intentionally listening to your favorite music will completely realign your relationship with it back to where it was when music was such an important part of your identity. Audio Element has all the tools you need to build your own music sanctuary, and while there are certainly options to spend a pretty fantastic amount of money on some of the world's best gear there - there are plenty of entry level options that are more reasonably priced than you think, that can set you on your journey back to elevating music back to being a truly special part of your life. You'll wonder how you lived without it, and if you're like me, you'll quickly realize that every dime you invest in it is exponentially paid back in pure joy. read more

Prices are way out of line for such relatively simple repairs. They indulge in classical bate-and-switch tactics as price gouging and leaving customers with the distinct feeling of " being taken to the cleaners". Prices are through the roof, as vendors are very expensive for what are basically simple mechanisms. read more

What a gem of a shop! Jesus took great care to answer all my questions and used his knowledge to help me with the questions I didn't even know I had. His selection of demo songs really showed me the full capabilities of the speakers I was considering. Great ambiance and a great place to check out some of Wharfedale's finest offerings. Happy 10 years AE. Thank you for serving the community in such a gracious, welcoming manner. read more

I never write Yelp reviews, but I had to for Audio Element. I'm listening to the setup we purchased from them as I write this, we always have it on. All our music sounds better than we've ever heard it before -which is a big deal to us as we are huge music fans I wanted a turn table set up for our family, coming from very little knowledge. Before I went to Audio Element, I spent money on a "complete" package on Amazon that was "highly rated" with many good reviews. It turns out the system was flaming garbage. I then turned to create our setup from scratch. However, trying to do this on my own with no background knowledge was very difficult, as there are many options, new terminology to pick up, and many highly opinionated reviews online. It seemed too easy to make mistakes and need to rebuy/replan the system after setting it up at home. Enter Audio Element. Simply put, their service was impeccable. - They made special accommodations for me during the holidays that I know were a significant inconvenience to them - They have pre-configured suggested setups with all needed components at different price points - They let you sit and listen to the different setups with whatever record(s) you want - They were excessively patient with my lack of knowledge and any questions I had - Once I made a selection, they set up my new turntable, aligned the cartridge, etc, and play-tested the turntable with me to make sure everything sounded right and was operating correctly - They have their own step-by-step videos showing how to set everything up at home, which was stupidly easy thanks to their excellent video. I didn't need any of the manufacturer instructions and saved a TON of time thanks to them pre-setting up the turntable and clear instructions for the rest of it As if the above wasn't enough (it was): They followed up with us a few days later by phone (imagine that concept!) to make sure everything was going well. I had a couple of minor questions/concerns, again due to being a novice. They provided me with perfect answers and a solution for my specific setup that saved me hundreds of dollars. Great job Audio Elements team! read more

Bought a pair of speakers and an integrated amp the other day and love them both. Ian (and wife) and Eli were extremely professionally, knowledgeable, and helpful in helping me choosing the right components to create the system I was looking for. The store is a gem! My system is complete now, but will not hesitate to return when looking for headphones and a headphone amp read more

Audio Element - Listening station from the store - Electronics Near Me - Pasadena, California

A business who can handle all your audio needs from simple streamers to the best high end gear available. The journey only starts when you buy gear from Audio Element... they will work with you to set up your system and be available for any set up questions you may have in the fun and rewarding journey. I have found them to be reliable and the nicest and qualified group of folks one could ask for. Audio Element is well connected to the audio industry, keeping up with vendor products and releases. I tasked them to upgrade my system, which thought I thought was great, until they completed the upgrade. It now sounds well beyond my expectations. Audio Element family is my go to for any and all of my audio needs! They have a great selection of new and used equipment. read more

Their shop is a candy store for audiophiles... I bought a Rega P3 turntable from them a while back. Great set up and service, thanks!

Great shop for HiFi gear. Knowledgeable staff, no pressure, just a great spot to find the right sound.

Audio Element is incredible!! Eli listened to us and our myriad questions and had us at the place twice. We brought receiver in and we did several tests - he was so patient and so knowledgeable. The system we got is AMAZING. All I want to do is listen to music!!! It's just beautiful sound and it's made me emotional many times and it's changed my relationship to music, in the sense that now I want to sit here and listen, which is exactly what I've been missing and what I wanted. Worth all the money. read more

Absolutely wonderful service and people. I brought in my Pro-Ject debut carbon turntable to have several wires resoldered. Cost half of what I expected and had a great conversation with the employees. read more

Excellent service. Just starting audio hifi setup, and got a good value for my money for giving me more than I expected based on my listening experience. read more

Recently had to replace my turntable cartridge. Eli, Ian and Jesus(I think?) were super helpful. No pressure to spend more money than needed. I fact, I was able to upgrade to a dedicated phono stage with the money I saved on the cartridge and it sounds fantastic! Seems like they have something for any price point. Highly recommend! read more

Not sure how I haven't reviewed these guys before! When I decided to climb back into the vinyl life several years ago, they helped me get my old turntable spinning again with just some simple tweaks. (I believe they still do estimates for free.) I appreciated back then and all the other times I had simple repairs they never tried to up-sell me into a new turntable even if I was pondering it myself. I continued to get supplies from them and recommend to friends who were all very pleased. A highlight, for me, of emerging from the Covid doom was going in and finally getting myself a new turntable. I had it down to a couple of options and the guys at the store helped me rationalize the best choice. Their prices are totally on par with even Amazon, but the difference is Audio Element gets the turntable all set up and balanced for you with no extra charge. Mine was "only" a $500 level Pro-ject, but I'm as happy as I was with my first new car. Sounds so good and so much better even on my not-perfect/not-quite-audiophile set-up. Shop feels totally safe Covid-wise. Not crowded. Everyone masked. I called ahead with some questions just to limit my time, but it all went fantastic. Thanks for existing - especially now! read more

Every experience I've had here has been straight forward and pleasant. Most recently I took my Project turntable to A.E. I've had it about 8 years and wanted to be sure everything was working properly, in alignment and to specs. Those who assisted me were Jesus and Eli. Everyone was professional and my turntable sounds fantastic after their work. It was clear from the start what the service would be, the cost and how long it would take to complete. They did exactly what they promised with a smile. (Actually completed the work on the early side) When I arrived to pick up my turntable they play tested it with me to make sure I was satisfied before completing the transaction. I also asked some questions about turntable upgrades etc and they were helpful in sharing their opinion. I trust their opinions because it's pretty obvious they know what they're doing. Thank you for again the positive experience. I'll be back. read more

I stopped by last night and picked up an Audioquest Jitterbug to use with my Dragonfly Red. I am running the DFR from an RPi 4 4GB to my Marantz HT pre that feeds an Anthem MCA 3 power amp to Wharfedale Diamond 11s I bought at AE. Brian Berdan told me he has his DFR using a Jitterbug and that the sound stage opened up significantly and he loves the combination. I had done some reading that many people saw no difference. When I got home and hooked up the JitterBug it was AMAZING!!! Brian was correct. The service he provided during the transaction was great and Brian is very knowledgeable about hi-end HiFi systems and equipment. This is my 4th purchase from AE and I have been pleased with every experience and the resulting sound experience I got from my system after visiting AE. Thank you, Brian and all the people at AE. Jeff read more

I happened to find Audio Element on Yelp of all places. One of the things I look for in a high end audio shop is simply how friendly the staff are. Walking into a shop with gear that costs as much as luxury cars can be a little intimidating. The salesman who greeted me was Eli and he was professional, warm and patiently answered all my questions. He understood that I was at the beginning of my learning curve when it came to turntables and let me ask all kinds of questions - some good questions, and some dumb ones too : ) I really liked the vibes of this place and Eli made my visit very pleasant. I look forward to purchasing my analog gear from Audio Element soon! read more

Went in to get a vintage turntable I purchased checked out. It was super quick and the staff were very nice and helpful.