I can't say enough good things about Howard at The Audio Specialist. Over the years, I've brought multiple Marantz receivers and turntables to his shop, and every single experience has been outstanding. Howard is incredibly knowledgeable, meticulous in his work, and genuinely honest, a combination that feels increasingly rare these days. He takes the time to explain what's going on, never upsells, and clearly cares about doing the job right rather than rushing repairs out the door. My gear has always come back sounding fantastic, properly serviced, and treated with real respect. If you have vintage or modern audio equipment and want someone you can truly trust, Howard is your guy. His expertise, integrity, and passion for audio are evident the moment you talk with him. I highly, highly recommend The Audio Specialist and will continue to bring my gear here for years to come. read more

Howard is a rare gem in the world of audiophiles. We not only found the record player of our dreams at an extremely reasonable price, but down the road when we had an issue with it, he immediately helped us to successfully resolve it. We can't sing his praises loud enough. Check out his selections, you won't regret it, plus his customer service is unparalleled. read more

So I bought a used analog receiver, amplifier, tuner, and equalizer. After getting it up and was ready to crank this mother up until I heard the click and pop... dang it *%!& Doing my due diligence I looked for a reliable repair shop. Thankfully I found Audio Specialist (Howard) ! He was straight with me ,said how long and what I was to expect time wise. It took a couple weeks, not many specialists like these guys around anymore, and it was definitely worth the wait! And the money. ( very reasonable) Got my stereo home and the sound and power from the amp, is incredible. Going back to buy a turntable as well. . It's like finding a great auto mechanic, you want to let people know. Go see Audio Speciast and Howard . read more

See all

Brought in a sentimental set up. Early '80's Technics power amp and Onkyo preamp. Howard was straight up about what needed to be done and didn't disappoint! Just remember, this is an art form now and patience is a necessity but well worth the wait. Nice job Howard I am so happy read more

Thank you, Howard, for diagnosing and fixing my awesome McIntosh 6700 Receiver! I love this receiver and was so disappointed after only a few years ownership, it had a leak underneath! Howard knew what it was right away, got the new capacitors and fixed it quickly. The Mac sounds great as always. Quick, accurate diagnostics and fast repair. Howard is the guy to see when you need help with your stereo. read more

Audio Specialist - McIntosh 6700 - High Fidelity Audio Equipment Near Me - Valley Village, California

Howard is a wizard. My record player and amp, which have been in the family for decades, weren't working. The team at Freakbeat recommended I go to the Audio Specialist. Talk about a good referral. When I walked into the shop, Howard's kindness radiated, and I could immediately tell that he was a true, dedicated expert. He fixed the record player in no time. The amp was a bit more complicated. Howard was upfront about the challenges and made sure to keep me in the loop with regular updates. Ultimately, the price I paid was about half of what he originally quoted me - a perfect example of "under promise, over deliver". He also gave me some extra wires free of charge. Believe the five-star reviews. Your audio equipment is in the best hands with Howard. read more

Howard is one of the last of a great dying breed - resuscitating life back into these vintage components - I've seen him twice in 15 years - the only reason I had to return was because a kid manhandled the turntable - when he does a repair it sticks - a great business that I hope'll be around for years to come read more

I wanted to recreate the hi-fi system I had when I was much younger and do an upgrade in the process. So I got a set of KEF 103.2 speakers and a NAD 3150 amp. (I'm using a Topping D50III DAC with my iPad Pro as the source.) The sound was very good but the mid range seemed dull and not punchy. I searched around on the internet to find a place for a service and ended up at Howards. Howard fixed some things (including one of the speakers that stopped working) and the sound is now incredible. Way better than when I first bought the equipment in to him. He said I'd hear a difference and he wasn't kidding. And he's a nice guy !! Would highly recommend Howard and Audio Specialist. read more

I needed a set of speakers to improve my home audio system and figured I'd try and support a local business. Howard focuses mostly on repairs but has a couple items for sale. Luckily he had a set of vintage speakers in my price range and he tuned up my record player on the spot. I hooked everything up back home and it works perfectly. Thank you Howard! read more

Howy is the absolute best at what he does. Not only is he incredibly kind and genuine, but he's also a true expert when it comes to audio equipment. He was one of my dad's closest friends, and after my dad recently passed, I brought Howy my dad's old record player and audio controller, hoping to hold onto a piece of him through music. Howy told me it might take a couple of weeks to fix, but just a week later, he called to say it was done. I also asked if he could help me find a good set of speakers, since my dad never replaced the ones that were stolen years ago. Howy found me a pair of JBL 4311s--some of the best vintage speakers of all time. He knew exactly what I was looking for and gave me an incredible deal, especially considering the time and care he put into getting them ready. The shop has the best selection of audio gear at all price ranges--from affordable setups to legendary vintage pieces--and it's hands-down the best value you'll find anywhere. Whether you're just getting into vinyl or have been collecting for years, Howy will treat you right and make sure you leave with something perfect for you. Please check him out. There's no doubt in my mind--he's the best at what he does. read more

In the World of Hi-Fi Vintage repair, Los Angeles has one of the last great repair technicians, and in my book a living legend in Howard Bardach of Audio Specialist. As a video tech myself, there is a library of experience in Howard's head that knows the ins and outs of audio repair that no schematic or service manual will ever tell you. I brought in a "restored" Kenwood 6160 receiver but it had problems. The owner was a tech, went down the rabbit hole of audio forums but he could not get the sound right, so he passed it on to me. I called other reputable audio repair techs in Southern California and when I shared the back story of the unit, it was end of discussion, "Don't bring that unit to me. If someone else has worked on it, I don't want to see it." Audio Specialist was last on the list, and I gave Howard a call. There was concern in his voice about the unit being worked on before, but he seemed open and said to bring it in. Walking into his shop was like walking into stacks and stacks of vintage receiver history, wall to wall jobs of gear in need of repair from highly prized Marantz's and even rare Sherwood tube receivers. It was clear to me the people bringing their prized gear to Howard knew or at least were hoping that he could get it done. Howard came out from his back office with a handwritten estimate notating the issues like a physician diagnosing the problem. When he spoke to me, he never talked down, always spoke humbly yet with a sense of certainty and professionalism that no big box, Best Buy Geek Squad could ever match. Then Howard pointed to a sign stating he had such an immense back log that it would be at least two months before he could give an estimate and to "please be patient." I know some folks may immediately walk away at this point but having worked on my own repairs on cameras and sewing machines, if you do something right it is hours of troubleshooting and just talking with him, I knew I had to take the leap of faith and just wait. Two months later, just like clockwork, I get a call from Howard. And just like your doctor giving you the bad news, it sounded like there was a lot done to the unit that he would not do and he shared that he may not be able to get the balance issue resolved. There was also an additional issue with the FM tuner string that was replaced previously with kite string that could easily snap at any time. At that point, I had to make the decision not to move forward or to do the work. I decided to go for it hoping for the best. "See what you can do on the other sound issues," I said but let's move forward and get it done right. I thought it would be another month until I would see the unit but true to his word as soon as I approved the work Howard immediately jumped on the repair. Then within a week called me to let me know the work was complete. Now this is where in all my years of bringing vintage audio gear to other folks that Howard stands above the rest. Typically, when a tech says they will repair that one thing that is wrong. That's all they do. Howard treated my receiver like it was his own. Installed the correct feet, aligned and installed the correct FM string, and of course, Howard found two incorrect caps that were installed previously on the tone board that were affecting the sound imbalance. Honestly, he must have gone through it and dialed it in even more because I hear no pops on start up. The signal was clean, warm and not the grading unbalanced fatiguing sound that I was hearing before. I was flat out shocked how good it sounded. Howard cared enough to go the extra mile and then some shows just how much he cares and desires to resolve every issue. The kind of care that only a master technician who absolutely loves what he does can achieve. Sound excellence. Bar none, if you care about your vintage audio gear and you want a class act of old school professionalism, knowledge and expertise, and the confidence and follow through to resolve difficult sound issues, Howard Bardach is your man. You will be rewarded with an audio miracle as he was able to do for me and with a price point that honestly is extremely fair. Without any hesitation, I would bring highly recommend Audio Specialist the experience and result only speak for itself. I am still floored and have not stopped listening to how good my Kenwood 6160 sounds. There should be a Mayors Award to Howard Bardach for running his shop for over 45 years and providing joy to music lovers in SoCal and beyond through his gift and expertise of Hi-Fi audio repair. His shop is humble means and is a rare gem of Southern California Gold. read more

See all

I'm very happy with my refurbished Marantz 2385. Howard did a great job of renewing it. I took mine there knowing it would take awhile for the repairs. There are not many people left that still do this kind of work, and am grateful Howard and his shop exist. It's a dying profession since everything is throwaway these days. I would definitely recommend this shop. read more

Audio Specialist - Sound system - High Fidelity Audio Equipment Near Me - Valley Village, California

See all

I know less than nothing about vintage HiFi other than it is built to high quality standards and when working well, sounds amazing. Not to mention how sexy a lot of vintage wifi looks, it adds aesthetic quality to any room. That being the case I was very nervous purchasing a vintage Marantz receiver and accompanying vintage JBL speakers. So much so that I didn't trust myself purchasing speaker wire to be able to use the equipment. Enter Howard at Audio Specialist. As soon as I walked in I felt my tension ease. Howard spent time answering my 20 something questions and explained everything in terms that were easy for someone like me to understand. In addition to that Howard helped me select the correct speaker wire for not only my equipment but also for my set up at home. In addition to that he gave me recommendations on suitable turntables as the final piece for my set up. Howard was so knowledgeable, polite and patient with his time that I could not recommend Audio Specialist any higher. 5 stars is simply not enough! If you have vintage HiFi equipment Howard is THE man to see! read more

I have a very rare Mackie guitar amplifier that only 100 were made because the factory burned down and they lost all of the records, blueprints, schematics, and tooling. All of a sudden it just basically died. It would only make a fast shrill low to high pitch noise and then a pop and shut down. Being in the music business I know most of the dealers and repair shops in town. I took it to 3 DIFFERENT PLACES and they ALL SAID that it would NOT be POSSIBLE to repair it BECAUSE NO Blueprints, Schematics and needless to say PARTS were AVAILABLE! Howard Bardach (the owner) has "over" a year's worth of work on site. It took 7 months to get my amp back AND it was WORTH THE WAIT!!! HOWARD, YOU ARE THE BEST, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! read more

Howard is a genius at audio repair. My 25 year old Sony receiver after Howard's magic, works better than when I bought it!

Howard was fantastic! My record player sounds so good! I am so happy with Howard's communication and his ability to restore my turntable.

I felt compelled to write about my experience with Howard and his shop, Audio Specialist. I live in Oregon but lived in LA for a long time and I love great music and great sound. Long story short, years ago I remembered being told about Howard's shop by a hi fi person I trusted. When my Parasound integrated amp blew a circuit I didn't feel comfortable with the repair facilities here in Oregon. I couldn't replace this amp with anything that would do what I wanted for my system. I called Howard and found him to be very knowledgeable and helpful. I took the unit down on a trip, left it with him and a few weeks later it was fixed. I got it home and it works and sounds exactly like it did before. Thanks to Howard and the great tech staff he has! read more

Never been so disappointed in a business. After waiting 2 months for a diagnosis that I had to initiate correspondence to receive, I'm told the fix is going to be quadruple what I initially paid for the unit. This guy's fully cooked and out of touch. read more

I have an old Sansui AU-7900 stereo amplifier that someone else couldn't repair after multiple attempts. After a couple of years of doing without it I finally took it to Howard to repair and now it works flawlessly (turns out it didn't need new any parts, only a good thorough electronic cleaning due to contacts oxidizing, being fifty plus year old.) It took him a long time to get to it but that's the way things are now with so few competent repair people for these types of units. I highly recommend Howard for repairs of this nature. Thanks Howard for the great repair work. read more

I purchased a hi-fi system for my cafe here, and the owner's recommendations, service, and even the pricing were impeccable. I'd recommend shopping here to anyone else looking to set up an audio system! read more

Howard repaired my non-working Sansui 7070. I am completely satisfied with the work. Although it's a hard to remember when it was new, I think it works better now. Howard tells you he's going to do, and he does what he says very well. You can't get any better than that. Thanks again Howard. read more

Top notch repair and service for hifi gear! Great communication and friendly vibes! Speakers, receiver and turntable are all good as new. Thanks Howard! read more

The BEST audio specialist in Los Angeles! Howard is a heck of a guy, answered all my questions and got my baby back to me in time for my birthday. My husband and I took over ownership of his grandparents '70s Pioneer turntable and although I thought I did a great job taking matters into my own hands, it really needed a qualified specialist to give 'er a look over. Howard made sure she was up and running just like she was in the 70s and I am forever grateful for his service! Thank you so much, Howard, it was really lovely meeting you and getting to chat with such a cool guy! read more

Howard's brain is a machine! I first called Howard over the phone to explain the situation with my record player's set up. He was so close to diagnosing the issue, but made an appointment for me to bring in the pieces of my setup just in case. When I arrived, I could tell I was dealing with a professional. Howard had me bring in my setup piece by piece (record player, pre amp, power amp, speakers), so he could test each part individually and find the problem. Once he discovered the faulty part (that damn power amp!) I let him know I was dead set on being able to play records when I got home and asked if he could sell me anything to help my set up be successful sooner. After a short look around his place, he recommended a part that would consolidate my set up (no more separate pre-amp/power amp!) and, eliminate the amount of wires I would need to use. I had never been more excited to set up a record player in my life. Thank you Howard for filling my house with music again! If your looking for a expert specialist, you've found him! THANK YOU HOWARD! read more

Audio Specialist - My new amazing setup that WORKS NOW!!! - High Fidelity Audio Equipment Near Me - Valley Village, California

Howard is one-in-a-million!!! And I mean that literally. Anyone who has HI-FI equipment and lives in So Cal, knows Howard's supreme genius for fixing vintage audio. I bought a 6300 Marantz turntable on Ebay (I know, I know, bad decision). UPS packed and shipped it and I wish I had a picture of the contents when it arrived. The turntable was in pieces and the only thing that it had been packed in was a SINGLE layer of bubble wrap, the arm wasn't even secured with the littlest piece of tape. Deplorable. I was in tears. I found Howard with online research. I read all the reviews; everyone said how amazing he was. I just knew he was the only one to put the pieces back together and make it work. I picked it up today and it is STUNNING. IMPECCABLE. He, during the pandemic shutdown mind-you, found another 6300 and had to pick the needed parts from a spare he found, to make mine whole again. I have been playing it all afternoon and it works beautifully. It truly is in pristine condition. I am grateful to Howard for all the effort he put into my turntable. His little shop is bursting at the seams, he has so much work and so little help. He truly is a master of his craft. God bless you Sir. I am so grateful for your work. read more

See all

I've had this Marantz 2325 receiver for forty years. A friend gave it to me around 1986 and it always had issues. I took it to someone back then and they sort of repaired it but there was always some distortion in it. Understand this beast weighs around 60 pounds; not something you wanna drag around from shop to shop. Took it to Howard and dropped it off. Yes, it was there for about 8 months before they got to it. Brought it home and voila! It is hands down the BEST sounding piece of gear I've ever owned. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? HELL yes. They are the ONLY stereo repair place in L.A. I would go to. So, so worth the time and money. Thank you Howard. read more

I have a beautiful vintage record player that refused to play for years! Howard was able to not only get it back up and running, but also got it shining again. In addition, he took extra care to ship it to me safely. His shop is filled with piles of old treasures, be prepared to wait a little. However, his skill is VERY MUCH worth the wait. Incredibly happy with his work and care. read more

My dad is an audiophile. I grew up going to LA high end audio shops in the late 70s and early 80s. There was a powerful feeling inside of those darkened stores. The gleam of brushed aluminum face panels, the dampened motion as a Nakamichi tape deck opens, the sound of live-room jazz in a listening room demoing brands like Dahlquist, Nakamichi, Sota, Threshold, Celestion, Thorens, NAD and more. The list goes on. At age 45, my dad quit his career and opened a high end stereo shop of his own in the late 1980s. Then a few years back, my dad was closing his store, and while he hates taking money from his kids almost as much as he hates giving us anything for free, he found a mid-2000s Audio Research vs55 tube amp in just about new condition. I bought it. And then, as if by magic, a customer of his appeared with an Audio Research SP16 tube preamp, the exact perfect match. And for a few years, I just enjoyed them. Music opened up, I heard things that I hadn't heard before, and I truly loved my setup, diving deep into vinyl for the third time in my life. I remember the evening well. I was listening to my friend Sam Gendel's reworking of a Vampire Weekend song that reworked a Haroumi Hosono song. (fittingly called 2021) And then there was a pop, a sizzle, and the smell of burning electronics. Or is it burning electronica? I tried swapping in all new tubes and it still didn't work. My multimeter indicated that it wasn't just one of the tubes. Google told me that most likely, the blown tube had taken out a resistor. There are some usual suspects in town for repair, most with terrible reputations. On Audio Reseach's recommendation, I started reading about Audio Specialist in Studio City, and it started to feel like a place I would trust: a small business with New York roots that touched on some of the true greats in high end audio's past: Rudi Bozak, Paul Klipsch, Bernie Kardon and Sidney Harman. A holdover from a different period of time with 44 years of skin in the game that was paradoxically deeply in demand as interest in classic audio componentry expands. People are starting to realize that there is more to music than Spotify allows you to experience. I decided to have the amp and the preamp, which had an intermittent short in one of the channels of the phono section, gone through as well. I easily got Howard Bardach on the phone. His estimate to evaluate the units ($100/ea) was four weeks, which expanded to six weeks when I got there. I totally get it. The shop is packed with all kinds of vintage audio components, from commonplace items like 1970s Marantz receivers to very very rare pieces. You definitely get a sense of the workload Howard is functioning under. Intake was quick. I waited patiently, suffering through a Sony AV receiver in the mean time. Finally I checked in. He had almost isolated the problem, fixed the resistor, and recommended replacing my power tubes as well. It took a few more weeks to get the preamp sorted out. Howard always responded to emails and answered the phone when I called. His communication was always clear.  While it wasn't immediate, the way he spoke of his process really reminded me that high end audio gear requires patience, care, and a deep understanding of electronics on both a technical and qualitative level: sounding amazing is the ultimate goal. I finally got my units back. Eventually the repair process took about two months. The cost of repair wasn't cheap. But when I did the math, it actually wasn't expensive either. These are components that, properly cared for, will hold their value and last a lifetime. And they WORK. They sound so damn good, so alive and open and warm and textured. Howard will tell you what he did to fix your components, but there is still a degree of mystery and alchemy behind the curtain. 'Use it, enjoy it!' he said, and I think this is very good advice. I hope that my amp just keeps on working for a long, long time. Audio Specialist has my highest recommendation. You can trust that your components are in the absolute finest care when Howard Bardach is attending to their needs. Thanks, Howard! read more

Repaired my Record Player to brand new status after a move wrecked it. Howard went above and beyond to make sure I was satisfied with the repair and I recommend him to everyone I know now! read more

Years ago I took a Marantz receiver to Howard at Audio Specialist. They were on Ventura Blvd in Studio City at that time. Howard did the repair and it's worked flawlessly ever since. Four months ago my Classe' 201 power amp ceased to work. So, I took it to Howard, now in Valley Village on Laurel Canyon. I picked it up last week. It functions beautifully, just as it did 23 years ago when I purchased it. Audio Specialist are honest, highly trained, experienced and capable. The rates are competitive. Don't dump your existing quality audio units then pay an arm and a leg for a replacement. Have it repaired. Hayden Driscoll read more

Howard is a genius and amazingly talented! He knows everything about Hi-Fi systems and how to fix them. He is patient, understanding, knowledgeable, and meticulous. I needed new tubes in my old Audio Research amp and he talked me out of spending too much money and doing other repairs! Who does that these days? Also, he talked me out of replacing my Audio Research preamp, he said it is better to replace the tubes and overhaul it and it will sound better than the new (way more expensive) pre-amp! Thank you, Howard, for your amazing service and my amp sounds better than ever! Hope you do not retire too soon, they don't make them like you anymore and I know there is no-one in this area as talented as you. read more

I have an old Yamaha receiver and a Micro Seiki turntable from the 70's that Howard cleaned and repaired and they feel and operate like new now. Such a joy to have them light up and work like they used to! He's a master at what he does and easy to work with and the price was reasonable. read more

I couldn't recommend this spot enough. Howard is a rad guy and is great at what he does. There's a reason the place is stacked floor to ceiling with gear - it's because everyone is going there. read more

Howard is the best! I was referred to him by a fellow audiophile friend when I landed a Thorens TD 160 at an estate sale and wanted to get it serviced. I knew I couldn't trust this turntable to just anyone, and Howard is the only man for the job. Since it's COVID times, it was easy to set up an appointment to bring over the gear. His shop is a vintage Hi-Fi heaven! It's exciting to see so much gear in one place (it's nice seeing what other people have brought in to have some love)! A few weeks later I got the call my Thorens was ready and I was so excited! You can tell he did an amazing job by how beautifully the Thorens ran when I had it back home. Since I'm still a new audiophile, Howard was very gracious and patient with my zillions of questions. Truly a genius in his field. As I build my collection, Howard is the only person I'll trust to service my gear. I cannot thank him enough for his knowledge and hard work on these beautiful musical machines. :) read more

I'd been wanting a turntable and audio system for awhile. After looking at Amazon for months, I'm so grateful that I didn't pull the trigger on acquiring something from them. It finally occurred to me to look at yelp. (I can be slow sometimes.) I found AUDIO SPECIALIST and it was just down the street. I rang and spoke w Howard who reported having a Dual turntable and a Luxman receiver available. We made an appointment to meet the next day. Appointments are necessary due to COVID. I walked in the next day and was surprised to see so many turntables and receivers and other audio equipment neatly stacked everywhere. Turns out, Howard repairs the coveted equipment of many Angeleno audiophiles. Maybe Most Angeleno audiophiles. He showed the gear and kindly explained it for a guy that hasn't played any in forty years. He gave us both a win on closing the deal, and set me up w some speaker wire as well as an FM extender antenna. I lugged the gear out to my car, grumbling how heavy it was. "The good stuff is", he replied. I sat on the gear at home for a few days, waiting for some highly reduced Klipsch speakers (via Amazon - I broke down, Ok? They were half off and magnificent.) I've since set everything up, and gently and very OCD-like cleaned everything and every record (acquired from estate sales over the years), and am a bonafide audiophile. To me. Maybe just to me. read more

Howard is the man! The go-to shop for anyone in SoCal who needs to have their vintage / classic HI-FI gear repaired. I've known Howard since 2005 when I purchased a Technics SL-1200MK2 turntable from him in used but awesome condition. He sells vintage gear too. Howard knows his stuff, and this type of shop is fast becoming a rarity. Recommended. read more

I purchased a Harmam Kardon HK730 received off of eBay and it arrived with one channel out. I took it to Howard and he was well familiar with my 40 + year old unit. Within 3 weeks, I had my receiver back in my audio rig playing music. This place is pure class. DO NOT hesitate for one second to take your vintage gear in to get fixed by Howard and his team at Audio Specialist. read more

Go here! Fantastic service, quick communication, knowledgable, friendly, and well worthy of 5 stars! I have found my go to place.

I have been using Howard's services for the last forty years. His knowledge of vintage audio electronics is unbeatable. He takes great pride in his work and I have never found it lacking. His advice is always solid and his pricing is fair. He is a dying breed. read more

Audio Specialist is awesome. I have a 1962 Gerard turntable that hadn't been used for over 25 years, was falling apart and entirely frozen. Howard completely refurbished it and now it works like new. He is very professional, totally knows what he's doing and really nice too. He did what he said he'd do and I would definitely use him again. He does amazing work!!! Thank you Howard!!! Mark read more