Though Definitive has awesome listening rooms that might look daunting to newbies not looking to spend over $3k, let alone $100k, they actually have a nice range of brands and equipment at prices starting from fairly affordable price points (for those shopping at big box stores such as Magnolia) to the astronomically priced. I personally appreciate that they have a strong lineup of brands focusing on dedicated 2-channel music listening rather than just emphasizing home theater. What I like best about Definitive is working with Scott. I find that I know what I like and don't like pretty quickly when auditioning equipment. I'm not swayed by brands, equipment prices, visual appearance, or reviews. Only the sound quality is what's important to me (and something visually acceptable to my wife!) I appreciate that when Scott had set up equipment comparisons for me that he is politely honest in his subjective assessments; this is not just better/worse judgments but how he describes the qualities of the music reproduction. And that Scott's subjective assessments dovetail closely with what I'm hearing as well. He seems to have a good sense of what his customers' listening preferences are & is good at providing equipment recommendations to match with those preferences. I had casually asked via email about a specific model of integrated amplifier with active room correction that was well reviewed in the audio media & was surprised to hear his comments that it might not necessarily be the best fit for my listening preferences. I appreciate his honesty and trust his opinions and recommendations. His honesty and integrity may not necessarily get Definitive my business every time (after all Seattle is not lacking for good high-end audio stores), but it has certainly won Definitive a place on my short-list of audio store that I will always consult before making a purchase. If you live on the Eastside, definitely consider visiting Definitive whether you are shopping big box stores or other high-end audio stores. read more

I had a wonderful experience with Definitive Audio working on a big project for my home. Huge shout out to Bryce who did an amazing job navigating through the options with me, finding all the components that I needed (including some used ones in perfect condition), and making the overall experience totally fun and enjoyable. Communication was excellent and professional and installation was perfect. Most importantly, the final result is incredible and even better than anticipated which doesn't happen very often! I'm so happy with Definitive Audio and highly recommend working with this team. They are pros! read more

I 've been a Definitive customer for about 40 years now. Their new owner and current business model is the best yet.

I have been a customer of Definitive for years. I moved to the area from out of state and needed help setting my Linn systems up in our new house. I was fortunate to meet Zach Hale and cannot tell you how wonderful he and his team have been. They provide honest, timely service, keep their promises and are engaged every step of the way. I have since replaced all my older Linn equipment and upgraded my LP12. I can 100% recommend the entire team (including Ron who has worked on my turntable). Thank you Zach for exemplary service! read more

Definitive Audio is a bespoke audio tailor. If one is accustomed to a big box electronics store experience it would be easy to feel, 'I don't belong here, this is clearly way too upscale.' If I were looking to spend $100,000 on creating an audio/video experience in my house or boat, this is where I'd go. But I haven't. I've come here to buy stereo audio speakers several times, and to buy a headset and a DAC to use with the headset. I wasn't looking for mass market stuff, and I didn't want the mass market experience. The selection has been thoughtful and the service has been superb. Most notably, a year ago I spent a couple hours here on two occasions mixing and matching headsets with DACs before purchasing the combination that sounded best to my ears and felt best to my budget. A few days ago I dropped my DAC and yesterday I returned to say, "I think I broke this, can you please confirm and sell me another?" After mucking around with new DACs, my iPhone audio source, and the DAC I brought in, the salesperson determined, "No, your DAC is fine, you need a new cable" and sent me home. I'm grateful for his time and attention, and intend to repay it by returning after Christmas to buy myself some presents. I've been in the store sometimes when it's crowded and the salespeople can't afford to give everyone the time and attention they want. That's normal. I always find a slower time to come back. My experience has consistently been that each person I've purchased from is passionate and educated about their craft, thoughtful about their recommendations, patient with my need for verbal and auditory experiential education, as well as pleasant and polite. They don't have a huge selection, which I appreciate. Instead they do the editorial sifting work to have determined the best several offerings at several price points. I appreciate that they've taken a lot of the analysis work out of my decisions by having already determined a whole lot of things that aren't worthy of consideration relative to what they've selected. No cheap garbage. Physical retail is a particularly tough business these days. I intend to keep supporting these folks and I encourage you to do the same. read more

I've been to this Bellevue location several times to listen to various subwoofers, speakers, and headphones -- and the customer service has been exceptional each and every time. I was helped by Allen, who made sure I found the products that I was 100% happy with. (The reviews on Google also seem to align with my positive experience, and I honestly don't know why several here on Yelp seem so negative!) Allen has been amazingly patient and helpful throughout, as I spent a lot of time cumulatively listening to various products in the showroom (even though what I purchased in the end is probably orders of magnitude less expensive than many of their customers). I am impressed that they even go the extra length to haul the speakers you're interested in comparing into the same listening room, and set them up side-by-side for direct comparison on whatever music you want! Prices for high end audio are not cheap, and this should be no surprise to you if you visit here. That said, if you want to save money, they occasionally have some good clearance and "demo model" deals as well, if you ask. I'm extremely happy with my subwoofer I bought on clearance, for example! And finally, they've *proven* that they care about their customers' total satisfaction, even after the sale: For example, I purchased some headphones that ended up not working out for me (for reasons not the fault of the headphones), and since I was not totally happy with them, they were happy to accept the return for a full refund, even though there was nothing wrong with the headphones themselves! I would highly recommended this as your first (and last) stop in hifi sound system shopping. read more

We too are a return customer for Definitive Audio. They installed our media room and all our technology when we first moved into our home, years ago and now it was time to replace the big screen and upgrade the audio and media. Their service was incredible. They clearly explained what we needed for our stated goals, educated us on the options, the reviews and which products were least affected by supply chain issues. They installed everything, recommended a great electrician for some changes we needed for the lighting for the room, coordinated with the electrician and got everything up and running for us in time for an important family football game gathering. Everyone of their service people was terrific. Prices were fair and competitive and the handholding, education and service was pricelessly valuable to us. We highly recommend them! read more

Just made my second purchase from Zach at Definitive. What a great experience! Zach and the rest of the Definitive team treat their customers extremely well. Friendly, very enthusiastic about music, and extremely strong product knowledge. He recommended components that turned out to be spot on in terms of my needs, budget, etc. - they have some high end stuff, and my system is nowhere near that expensive, but still sounds terrific (first listening session last night). Highly recommend. read more

Wow - moved into a floating home on lake union with a complex sound system that Scott W had installed for Definitive 7 -8 years ago. We are the new owners Called Definitive and they immediately remembered the place and the set up and put me in touch with Scott - who was so helpful in helping figure it out and had great reasonable suggestions to make a 2013 system upgrade to 2020. He came out and spent almost two hours with us and we now have a plan to upgrade to present day. Never felt he was selling us on anything he really just wanted us to enjoy the sound system. We feel the upgrade purchases are totally reasonable and Scott's helpfulness and knowledge are what makes me a new definitive customer from now on! read more

There are not many places to see higher end AV hardware in the area. Unfortunately, it seems to be getting less likely at Definitive Audio as well. This place was once an audiophile's fantasy land. These days, they have thinned their display stock, and apparently do not actually stock many manufacturers they list on their website. These are unarguably hard times, and in high end audio that may be especially true. The above is not intended to criticize, but to provide a backdrop for what I experienced recently. After I stated that I was looking for a specific type of gear, and that my price range did not include their top-of-the-line product, the otherwise helpful sales guy proceeded to try to sell me a component from that just-mentioned manufacturer. This component would need in-store surgery to upgrade it to the function that I sought. He tried several times to get me going on that piece, which was also unappealing as it seemed to have an alternative provenance from what a typical component would have-he pulled it unboxed out of a side cabinet. The bottom line on this is they had nothing else in the store at any price that would meet my needs, and I was after something rather common. read more

This is my second major purchase from Definitive Audio, and working with Zach, again, from start to finish was an absolutely amazing experience. Buying equipment can be tricky and you start to fuss over things and A/B test everything - Zach was patient while I let a variety of systems run through their paces. And he was incredibly responsive, even outside of business hours. I highly recommend Definitive Audio for their selection of equipment and I doubly recommend working with Zach! read more

My husband and I had an extremely negative experience trying to buy headphones at Definitive Audio. My husband tried out some amazing headphones and loved them. The people who worked there didn't mention they didn't have the headphones in stock until after he'd paid for them. However, we decided to go ahead with "the order" and wait for them to arrive, even though the salesperson said it would be two weeks. That was a bummer, but some things are worth waiting for and we like supporting local businesses. Besides, they seemed helpful when my husband was picking out the headphones. The day before we were supposed to pick up the headphones, we hadn't heard from Definitive Audio, so we decided to give them a call. We just wanted to check in and make sure our order was still on track, but the associate said they would need to call us back. We didn't hear from them until the next day. When we finally received the call, the associate said he didn't know why the headphones hadn't arrived and that we'd need to wait at least another week. At this point, given their lack of communication and inability to identify the issue, we decided to get a refund for the purchase and go elsewhere. Sadly, when we indicated to the person on the phone that we wanted a refund, he became really snarky and mean. He accused us of "showrooming" (which doesn't make sense given that we had already purchased the item from them) and told us we'd have to go into the store for a refund. When we went to the store for our refund, the two people there were scornful, condescending, and also insulted us with the "showrooming" comment. It was an extremely frustrating experience. We tried to give Definitive Audio our business, and were willing to pay extra for those headphones because we wanted to support a local company. We are not willing to support a local business that is all charm when they're selling you something, but demonstrates abysmal customer service after they believe the sale is over. If the item had arrived when they said it would, we'd have taken it home and been satisfied. If they'd handled the refund with a brief apology and explanation about the delay (like a normal retailer), we could have forgiven the issue. If their customer service had been anything other than terrible, we wouldn't have needed to write this review. But ultimately, their unwarranted accusations and unprofessional customer service has cost them our ongoing business. I'm just grateful we won't have to deal with Definitive Audio again. read more

I just left the store. Didn't seem particularly interested in helping us out. We've bought from them over the past few years. Way to treat former customers (with emphasis on former). Ignored for the most part and when asked questions, we were essentially blown off and left to ourselves to look at tower speakers. Dude at the counter was more interested in sorting his cables then talk to the family that had questions about their current Paradigm towers and were thinking of walking out with Bower & Wilkin towers. We loitered on for a few minutes in hopes of someone else coming to help but gave up and left. I don't think any reasonable customer deserves this kind of treatment. I love local business and support them over other guys. But no longer for these guys. Will be looking for a new home theater dealer and sharing my experience with any and all. And judging by other yelp reviews, we're not alone in this experience. read more

I experienced exceptional customer service today and a problem was solved and money was saved. Mel, the gentlemenan that helped me, did not quit until he resolved my issue. I would give six stars if that was possible. Definitive Audio will always be my first choice. Here are the 6 stars. ****** read more

I Ubered to this location straight from the airport. Will helped me get situated with a pair of Wilson Alexia 2s and I was flabbergasted. I spent a good 4 hours here bathing my ears in audio heaven. They even demoed their new Atmos theater room. These guys are so knowledgeable and helpful! read more

My wife and another couple of friends visited Definitive at one of their big events, and even though the place was packed, still we received good personal attention. All of us were highly impressed with the scope of products and services offered by Definitive; amazing technology and the service aspect to deliver and maintain it. Wish I could afford a few of the high-tech toys, but we were made to feel as welcome as the "normal" high-rolling clients. Highly recommended! read more

Hans, some kind of manager, so he says, speaks like a robot without manners. Forget this company -- they've gotten too big for their pants. Prices are high and service is lousy. read more

These guys rock! I walked into the Bellevue store when they were having a party, yet Tom from the Seattle store and Zach took the time to look at my turntable, fix the arm balance, and install a new cartridge! A number of others eddied around bringing him tools and the new cartridge. I am very grateful! read more

I had an integrated amp delivered by Mark to my home yesterday. His professionalism and expertise is incredible. From the first time in the store he zeroed in on what I needed for the price range that fit my budget. He was at my home for three hours setting it up and making sure I was comfortable with all facets of the unit! Outstanding service all around! read more

Today's experience at Definitive Audio in Bellevue left me with an extremely bitter taste in my mouth. I had walked into the store, after having a good conversation with someone on the phone the previous day. My goal was to listen to some speakers so that I could get an idea of what I would like. At this point, the sales associate asked how I came about these speakers and in response, I said it was through research, I was in the market for a speaker in the $10k range. He immediately said, well, the speakers you are wanting to look at are in the $17k range. Ok... I had spoken to someone on the phone the other day about demo options closer to the $10k range but I did not feel inclined to say anything at this point. I was told that it was disingenuous of me to come to the store, listen to their speakers and buy it used elsewhere. I was floored. I then responded by asking if it was alright for me to listen to the speakers and make a decision from there and was told that this was not what their showrooms were for. The rudeness of his comments was shocking. This kind of "customer service" was akin to what I would have expected from a sleezy car dealership - those that only want business from prospective customers and do not care to spend their time with those that do not show an immediate interest. It was a truly disappointing experience as I was keen in learning about the demo models that they might be selling for a reduced price but after this encounter, I will not be setting foot back into this shop and I will be recommending that others stay away from this store as well. The audiophile community has more often than not, been a very welcoming community with people who are passionate about what they do and are keen to share that passion with others. This particular sales associate showed today that he only cared about making a sale. If your audio shop is not in the business of allowing customers to listen to your gear and you, as a sale associate, are not in the business of providing customer service, what are you good for? read more

I've been a pretty loyal customer of Definitive Audio for a while, having purchased a considerable amount of audio gear from them over the past year or so. I even referred three of my friends to Definitive, and they each dropped several grand on audio equipment. I truly appreciate the extensive amount of high-quality gear that they carry, but these guys really need to lighten up when it comes time to demo. Here's why... The other day, I happened to go into the Bellevue showroom and one of their salesman asked if I wanted to do a demo. I've been here several times to buy stuff, and just wanted to experience a new subwoofer that just came in. The salesman started off with the bass turned way down. When I asked him to "turn up the bass" he you could barely notice the difference. I was playing new age and Josh Groban, not rap, and yet this guy was still uber conservative. I'm sorry, but if I was going to drop several grand on a sub, I expect the demo to be a bit more visceral than that. Clearly, this guy was a conservative audiophile wannabe, who probably knew more about sales techniques than audio gear. Plus, he seemed impatient, which is ridiculous since I've spent a LOT of money there on my gear, so I was a serious customer and expected far better service. Sadly, I'd probably never buy anything from them again, at least the store in Bellevue. I highly recommend Craigslist (where I got my speakers), or Audiogon.com. All of us in the hi-fi community use these resources to their full extent. You'd save a ton over a store like Definitive. Oh, and forget about Magnolia Hi-Fi. They're stores are closing down pretty soon, and service tends to be far worse. To be fair, there are some really knowledgeable, and chilled-out guys at Definitive, though the particular salesman we had was not definitely one of them. (no pun intended). read more

Superb. I went to the store to buy a traditional a/v set-up (receiver, speakers, remote) for home audio video. They down-sold me to a Sonos system that was less money, way less hassle and excellent quality. They do a lot of high-end stuff, but their prices for fundamentals - tv's, speakers, audio components - include units that are price-competitive with the big box stores. Compared to the clown show at the local Best Buy, this is a quantum leap ahead in quality. read more

I was underwhelmed when coming here and I've been here several times. Limited brand offerings, mediocre customer service and much pricier than online. With Magnolia AV right across the street there's no real reason to come here and pick this place over that one. They just don't offer enough and I happened to know more than the employees (despite me not being that much of an audiophile). read more

This place gets four stars simply on the gear they carry. The sales staff can be hit and miss, sometimes I get really good service there, sometimes I get completely ignored. High end audio stores do have the reputation for being stuffy, and I can't say Definitive has done strides to break this mold. But I can say with confidence that the products they carry are some of the best. read more

I had an excellent experience at Definitive Audio in Bellevue - this is the store to come if you are interested in audiophile and high end AV equipment or are just starting to learn about high end audio. The store has a range of products from affordable but better than Best Buy audio gear, to world class sports-car priced audiophile brands. The staff is very knowledgeable, laid back and is not pushing sales. I have been able to spend several hours auditioning equipment here, and when I finally purchased several high grade components, I was able to get a great deal on my purchases. I worked with Mel and have received very respectful guidance, with a lot of follow ups and support going well beyond what would be my expectation of the call of duty here. read more

Without a question the BEST single store audiophile and home theater store in America. Best brands, custom install, retail and killer service. read more

I had a superb experience at Definitive Audio in Bellevue. The salespeople are extremely knowledgable and friendly. In particular Scott went above and beyond to help me with my speaker purchase. I could have bought them at the local "big box" store, but I went into Def Audio and he told me the real skinny on the speakers and little inexpensive tips to get the most out of them. With no hesitation when I wanted to compare two sets of speakers he set them up for side by side comparisons. His honest approach was refreshing and he talked me out of a few things that wouldn't really give me a noticeable improvement in the quality of sound. Anyway I could go on and on trust me. If you want good advice and a pleasant experience buying good quality equipment I'd recommend Definitive Audio. They have equipment for every budget btw. There was no pressure just folks their that clearly enjoy music and are more than happy to help you enjoy the same. Hell he even helped me setup my new speaker stands. -Mark read more

I finally had gotten around to building a dedicated music/video system thinking of getting DefTech 9060/9080 for speakers and went to Magnolia HiFi I've been to ages before. To my surprise, it was no longer present and as I discovered was really downgraded to the Best Buy experience. Luckily, Definitive Audio was just across the street. Looking at the reviews I guess I got really lucky to meet Mel who was awesome to work with. We've spent long past closing time to try various speakers finally landing B&W and GoldenEars. I did wanted to listen to DefTechs and ended up at the Bellevue BB where difference in experience and motivation of the sales personal was very visible (not in favor of BB). Next day I spent another couple of hours with Mel finally landing on a set of GoldenEars. Through all of this time Mel was very knowledgeable and helpful walking me through the differences, strengths and weaknesses of each speaker. I'm very impressed and would not hesitate coming back next time. read more

I have had a great experience with Definitive Audio. First off, the salesman I worked with (Bryce) is very knowledgeable about the current products in the A/V field. He was timely, professional, and courteous at all times. Next, the installers were all very professional, detailed, and neat. Lastly, but most important, I called Definitive Audio after 4+ years of being frustrated with the level of quality and service provided by another Audio/Visual company in Bellevue. We had a system installed in a brand new home in 2013, and it never was quite "right". The problems were with Sonos, Control4, and basic internet/WiFi connectivity. The installer from the "other guys" came out a few times to try to fix the problems we were having, and could never get it working to our satisfaction. After 4 1/2 years, we decided an upgrade was in order, so I called Definitive Audio (I'd had more than enough of the "other guys" by this time). With the expertise of Bryce and the installers from Definitive Audio, we now have an upgraded system with everything working to our satisfaction, including a Sony 885 Laser Projector. If you are deciding between Definitive Audio and any of the "other guys", Definitive Audio is worth the extra money. You won't be sorry. read more

I don't generally write reviews but I've been frustrated enough with this experience that I decided to. We moved into a new home In August. My wife and I went to Definitive to purchase a Sonos system for our home as well as a surround sound in wall system for our basement/media room. The experience in the store was excellent. High end products, detailed explanations, etc. Our trouble was specifically the follow up after the initial visit. Getting the sales person to respond was very challenging. I sent a firm but constructive email to the sales person expressing my concern. He responded positively and in fact offered a discount on the extra equipment we needed as a result of the fact that he felt bad. (the additional equipment was more or less my mistake/misunderstanding, not the stores or the salespersons). Unfortunately, after we signed the order agreeing to the new equipment and discount he then had to take part of it back when his boss told him he couldn't discount a particular brands product!! They scheduled the 2nd install and the sales guy promised to come out and confirm everything was working right, to ensure we were happy and to make a few special tweaks that would make it all work better together. He was supposed to show up on a Sunday and cancelled that morning with a promise to reschedule. That was several weeks ago......... read more

These guys really did a great job for me. Mel is a true rock star that treated my turntable as if it was his own. I have a vintage turntable that they completely restored and charged me very little. I had a great experience and I would strongly recommend Definitive Audio! read more

Definitive Audio is a place that I had driven past many times before actually going in for the first time several years ago. The equipment, products, and customer service they have to offer is absolutely phenomenal. Upon my first visit, I came in to purchase a pair of speakers, which I was able to pick out with no hassle at all; I was shown many different models, all within my low price range. I soon purchased my speakers and was on my way. I was back sooner than expected as I wanted a new amplifier. I came in after doing a bit of my own research and was again able to quickly pick out a product that fit within my price range and was one I believed to be the best fit for me. Their service representatives were able to show me a variety of different amps and give me plenty of details on each one and we were able to figure out which one would be best for what I was looking for. I ended up buying a beautiful Rotel integrated amp for a very reasonable price and its gorgeous blue LEDs have lit my entertainment area for the past year or so now; I absolutely love it. Speaking of Rotel, as a side note, it turns out that Definitive Audio is partnered with Rotel, thus if I ever encounter an issue with my amp, I can always bring it back to them and they can handle it for me. Even if I were to bring any other sort of audio or video equipment to them with questions on some sort of issue, they also have a service center. I was able to get some help with some speaker wiring here. After being wholly satisfied with my speakers and integrated amp, I went back to purchase a sub woofer to complete my audio setup. Again, as with my previous visits, I was able to go in with a price range in mind, qualities i would like met, and something that would go well with my current equipment. Their employees were able to find me just what I needed and I now have an incredibly high quality system for the amount of money that was spent on all of my equipment. Once I decide to go bigger and better with my system or with my television, I will only be coming back to Definitive Audio. Their quality of service, equipment, and range of products is beyond anything that I could have expected, in that my expectations were greatly exceeded. I have a feeling I'll return sometime in the near future and I know that I will not be disappointed. When shopping for high performance audio and video systems and equipment, this should be the only store in your mind. read more

Definitive created a custom simple solution for our whole house audio and connectivity. Mel, Alex and his team were the most professional in home people I've ever run across. They listened to our needs and developed a creative effective solution. read more

Customer service stinks! Willing to sell you the goods, but lousy at customer support. Even when a product is under warranty, expect to do the chasing in order to get answers and even then, prepare for a fight. For a high-end audio store which sells excellent equipment, their customer support is far from high end. read more