Walked in by chance and was met with such a friendly spirited and passionate audiophile comrade who…read morewas so open to spend time and share with me. I can't wait to find a chance to check back in. Top notch and truly a quality nobleman of what hifi audio is about to me. Thanks Tim!

For the price of a second hand Porsche you can have a sound system worth a Ferrari…read more Vivacious trebles that sparkle like a coastal chandelier hit by a chilly ocean sunrise. Bass so full and concentrated, it makes my coffee dance into drops. And the mids? Ahhh the mids. It's like love. True, mad, first love. Taut and perfumed like an exotic spice wood violin bow, warm-honey rich and loving beyond generosity. My special order speakers have yet to arrive, but already listening to the sound system that Tim made for me is how I imagine picnics in heaven. Tim was in craft, he is in art. Expect directness, honesty, detailed instructions. Tim walks the fine line between grace and sternness, and comes through with grace. Way ahead of the competition.

Music Lovers Audio & Video is exactly what its name promises, and Spencer Giel is exactly the kind…read moreof person you want guiding you through one of the most rewarding and dangerous journeys you can embark on as an audiophile. I came in as someone just getting into the high end audio market, surrounded by gear I could only dream about, and Spencer never once made me feel unwelcome or out of place. I've visited other stores where you can feel judged the moment you walk in based on your wallet size. That was never the case here. As someone around my age with the same passion for amazing sound without millionaire budgets, he got it immediately. He worked with me from start to finish, helping me build a system that punches well above its price point. The result was a carefully curated blend of tubes and solid state that created a synergy I didn't fully appreciate until I heard it all together. He helped me select my Paradigm Persona 5F speakers, Audio Research LS27 preamp, Parasound A21+, AudioQuest Niagara 3000, and interconnects. Each brand chosen with intention, Paradigm out of Toronto, Parasound originally based right here in San Francisco, Audio Research from Minnesota, and AudioQuest from Irvine CA. Respected names with solid reputations in the audiophile community that fit my budget without compromising on quality. Any system I was curious about I was able to audition without any pressure or hesitation. That kind of access says a lot about how they treat customers. And it doesn't stop at the sale. They helped with three moves of my audio gear, something regular movers simply are not equipped to handle with equipment this precious. They also helped connect my system which is a level of service you just don't expect from a retailer. That kind of relationship goes well beyond a transaction. The store itself is filled with incredible gear across some of the most coveted lines in the industry. McIntosh, Audio Research, Boulder, Anthem, dCS, and speakers from Paradigm, KEF, Wilson, Sonus Faber, and more. They also specialize in home theater if that's your thing. Just be warned, every visit is a little dangerous to the wallet. And don't overlook their preowned section either, it's where real bargains hide. That's how I picked up my Audio Research preamp for half its original price. This place is a "Music Lovers" dream whether you are just starting out or building your end game system. Ask for Spencer Giel, he's the real deal!

Short version: 5…read morestars. Best of class in San Francisco for people who love music. Go there for good gear selection, good conditions to try stuff, honest expert opinions (that will challenge you), and professional service. Long version: I have been shopping at the San Francisco location for close to a decade now. Over that period, I bought three or four pairs of headsets, a turntable, and a tube amplifier, along with a set of random accessories. So, presumably, somewhere under $10k total. I am not rich by any standard, and every purchase usually takes me months, sometimes years before I make a decision. I have also, during that period, bought equipment from other shops as well (specifically a number of DACs that they do not carry), and sometimes online. On the "issues" side, I brought back my amp and they got it serviced for free, working with the company (something was defective with the power unit). I also had to replace the cartridge of my turntable (broken by a (now) former friend), and they got me a good discount on the replacement. Every time, this was handled seriously and professionally. What I like with Music Lovers: - I never feel pressured to buy anything - they let me hang out in the store for extended headsets listening sessions (yes, you have to show that you are serious about this, not just passing by) - when asking ahead of time, they will setup a listening room for me with a reproduction of my existing system for a test session (just that is gold) - they know what they are talking about - they are not afraid of having opinions and sharing them - not (too much) audiophile bullshit - their brand selection is satisfying - you can score good deals on pre-owned, demo units, or previous-gen - they are responsive Now, reading some of the negative reviews, I thought I would add a few words to help people make the best of it - or decide it is not for them. The most recurring complaint is that "they are arrogant", "customer service is disrespectful". Yeah well, this is audiophile territory. People in this are driven by passion before anything else. So, what do you want exactly? Passion, but without passion? Yes, they will dish out on gear WX, or push gear YZ, or might look down on you if you claim that your gimmicky Wirecutter-recommended-gizmo is awesome. Deal with it. Drop the entitled American customer attitude. Just because you have money does not make your every dumb view worthy of respect. If you can't tell the difference between an honest opinion and "bad" customer service, then you should go to Walmart. "Talking down to you" and out of your shitty takes is them doing you a big service, instead of sucking up to you and selling you whatever overpriced cool-aid. No one is forcing you to agree with their opinions, or get passionate yourself. Just take these in for what they are (informed, expert views), do some side reading and research, develop your ear, and test yourself to figure out what is good for you. Agree with what you can confirm. Then ignore the rest. Simple. At the end of the day, this is not so much about their attitude than it is about yours: are you in it to find gear that you objectively like? or for the "shopping experience", to have people polish that oversized ego, hypnotizing you into buying the latest over-hyped idiocy? Loving music is very much like loving wine. It is hard. Nothing is obvious at first. It is exclusive. It's about honesty, and developing that ability to focus on intrinsic qualities rather than whatever a gullible market say is good. It takes a lifetime of commitment to developing that organ. So, do you expect reverent staff feeding you, ad-nauseam, that disgusting, sticker-buyer $500 Napa Chardonnay? Or do you want to learn something about wine and get to experience that Chablis Grand-Cru? Have fun, music lover :-).

High-end gear, low-end hospitality. I should have read the…read more1-star reviews first. They describe a specific, repeatable pattern that I experienced firsthand. I came in to audition Devialet Phantoms, intending to support a local store rather than a big-box retailer. I was immediately told demos require an appointment and a $150 fee, credited toward a purchase within a month. That unexpected barrier set a cold, unwelcoming tone from the start. The experience deteriorated completely during a demo of YG speakers paired with Goldmund amplification. I offered a neutral listening impression: the soundstage was excellent, but the bass sounded strained to me across multiple tracks. Instead of treating this as a discussion point or setup variable, Randolph (who identified himself as an owner) became defensive, questioned my "reference," and implied I didn't know what I was hearing. As a former Goldmund owner, I tried to engage technically--asking whether power delivery or buffering might be a factor. He was dismissive and uninterested in dialogue. When I clarified that I was describing my subjective experience, not asking to be convinced, the interaction became argumentative until he eventually walked out of the room. That ended any intention I had of purchasing here. In hindsight, it's entirely possible the bass character I heard reflected the voicing of the YG Sonja 3.3 speakers combined with the unforgiving nature of the Goldmund Telos 800--not a flaw, just a presentation choice. High-end audio is a relationship business built on trust and collaborative listening. This shop operates on ego and gatekeeping. If you want to be told what to hear, you'll be fine. If you expect a professional, consultative environment that respects the listener's ear, look elsewhere.

Audio Vision is an excellent resource for Hi Fi audio. These guys are great and will steer you…read moretowards the right components for your system- not necessarily the most expensive. I auditioned several floorstanding speakers with my existing amp. I ended up with an excellent set of speakers I wasn't initially looking at but worked perfectly with my system and were below budget. Win win. They have an excellent selection and are great at system matching/maximizing synergy. 5 stars. -PM

I bought stereo equipment from these guys almost 35 years ago, when we moved to San Francisco in…read more1990. You don't stay in business as a small retail outlet for nearly 50 years without doing something right. I'm currently in the process of upgrading to a fantasy-level McIntosh amplifier and working with Barry is just such a pleasure. I'm writing this review in advance of taking delivery of the equipment, because I don't have any concern that there will be any problems. My parents ran a successful retail music and record store in St. Louis, Missouri for over 40 years, starting in 1942. So understanding what personalized service is is built into my DNA, having watched them do it, and having worked there as a teenager. It may sound hokey, but I get a warm feeling every time I drive by that shop and think of how rare it is to deal with a business where you know people personally for decade after decade, who will always make you feel welcome when you stop in, whether you're there just to listen to amazing equipment and buy nothing, or drop tens of thousands of dollars. Thanks, Barry O'brien for carrying on a tradition that is sadly fading in our society: first-class personalized retail service, and in-depth knowledge of rarefied equipment.

I have been reaching out to Barry to come back to our home to finish a project. It's been close to…read morethree months since he was last at the house. He said he'd be back within a week. That was October. It's been one excuse after the other. And for the past 2 months we've had radio silence. So if you're looking to start a project or looking for support do yourself a favor - look elsewhere. Given the price point of these services, customer service should be worlds better.

I stopped in Curtis on upgrading my system and Jacob was an absolute gem of knowledge! He took me…read morethrough multiple listening rooms and let me try some incredible speakers and we talked room design and musical instruments, the kind people at Music Lovers Audio are there for your audio questions and upgrades

The Zero Hero Strikes Out Again... My purchase in 1995 came…read moreto just under $23,000 and with inflation this system would have cost of $53,000 today. Both numbers represent an amount that is close to the average gross income in The States. The issues that I had with Graham persist to this day and over a $500.00 screw up for auxiliary speakers that were charged and never delivered. Did anyone verify from MLA? Who knows, doubtful. The Sonus Faber speakers that I selected needed new grill material. My wife was kind enough to contact the SF location and she was told that Sonus Faber would be happy to send new grills at no charge. SF contacted Graham and guess what? After seven months nothing. I called the distributor and asked if grills could be sent and if Graham ever placed an order for me. Yes on the first and just like Graham, no order was made. This type of behavior contradicts the policy and/or credo of Music Lovers. On the inter web: https://www.musicloversaudio.com/about-music-lovers Graham doesn't live up to the long-term/lifetime relationship.

Worked quickly and knowledgeable Quick turnaround…read more Highly recommended 50 year old technics turntable now works perfectly

Gene is amazing. Hands down…read more I brought Gene my Technics 1200MK2 turntable that I thought needed rewiring -- started experiencing sudden bursts of static and feedback out of nowhere. Gene diagnosed the issue and made the repair within 24 hours. Incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and fast. Sounds amazing once again. Highly recommend him.

terrible service. I set up support through hermarys years ago as they proved . they now have…read moredaisys doing their support. awful. on 10 mins so far and they can't log in. Then the call dropped as they had bad connection why should I pay hermarys if daisy is what I need. and worst daisy is awful

We've used Hermary's for the last 8 years. They installed the blinds in our apartment and every…read moreyear there seems to be a problem. The blinds have never really worked well. Hermary's is expensive and service has ranged from so so to horrible. This last service visit this past week was the final straw and we will be replacing our blinds so that we will never have to deal with Hermary's again. The technician they did not manage to fix our issue and said he was not a blinds person (yeah...). Then he managed to destroy one of the blinds by letting it roll up unevenly--it is not unusable and the tech could not fix it. Do NOT use Hermary's.

I never thought to write a good review for them till now. I…read morepurchased a blue tooth Pioneer Audi with Back up Camera in Feb 2018. I noticed that lines of the back mirror is more triangular than square. So I called them if there is a software update available for the unit. They said it's adjustable by setting. So I went the shop last Saturday. And they showed me how I can adjust the line the way I want. I feel their customer service is outstanding and highly recommend if you want to install a blue tooth backup camera for your vehicle. Quite often sales people are nice when you try to buy something. But after you buy a item, most salesman don't care about the service. But they are different. Hatch took care my issue. He is excellent. Thank you very much.

Audio Symphony updated the sound in my old school Tacoma truck. The new speakers sound a million…read moretimes better than to stock speakers, and the installation was fast. I made an appointment, dropped the truck off, and picked it up at the end of the day. They are COVID conscious and are respectful of personal space, so you don't have to worry about your space being invaded during a pandemic. The construction out front is a bit confusing, but they have their own private driveway / access to their shop just off of Pine Street behind the gas station. They used the existing, original speaker space to install the new ones, so everything looks the same, but the sound is MUCH better! They also insulated inside the doors, keeping the sound inside the cab. I use the truck for off road adventure, and they assured me the connections would be solid and not come loose. They also made it known that they stand behind their work and product and would address any future concerns should they arise. All in all, a great shop - These guys have been around for years and years and I highly recommend them.

Thank you Peter! My…read morewife and I had the pleasure of working with Peter from Future Sound, and we couldn't be more impressed. He took the time to walk us through the problems we were having with two separate systems. After Peter asked us specific questions, he knew exactly what the issues were with both systems. Peter was very professional and was excellent to deal with. He was very friendly, courteous, and as well as very knowledgeable. We recommend anyone to call Peter at Future Sound based on our experience, as well as others. In the future, I will continue to do business with Peter and his company. In this day and age, nothing beats the experience of having a true and knowledgeable individual who cares about taking the time with the customer to truly understand their needs.

I'm so glad that I made my way in to Future Sound. Peter Lee is top notch and really took the extra…read moretime explaining to me what I was inquiring about. He also has a bundle of knowledge about everything and anything in the component world. He's a very experienced guy to talk to. I don't have a big knowledge base in this area and he didn't make me feel like I was above my head. This is where you're gonna get this type of service and I will no longer be going to Best Buy or a Magnolia for my future purchases. You don't get that type of one on one service at stores like that. Peter take much pride in his craft and it shows! Thanks for all your help again Peter and I'll be back soon to keep building the set up that I've been looking for that works for me and my budget...and of course with your expertise!