I asked for help. Olson's asked me not to write a review…read more I've had a very strange and poor customer experience with Ben Olson and Sam of Olson's Hi-Fi. This review was written without anger or exaggeration. I wish I could have read a similar review before engaging this company, as I would NEVER have asked them into my home. I called Ben because I moved from a 600sqft apartment to a house with a large Great Room, and didn't understand why my 10" subwoofer (MartinLogan Dynamo 800x) sounded weird. I didn't know you pick a sub based on the size of the room it's pressurizing, not by model. All I needed was to upgrade to paired ML Dynamo 12s and have them delivered and set up - an easy $3.5k sale. Ben knew the size of my room, but came over to diagnose the "sound issue". I thought he was going to bring a laptop and mic, equipment to test the room's acoustics, etc. He didn't. What followed was consistently unprofessional behavior and boundary issues, a lack of understanding about the equipment he sells, undertrained employees who require payment regardless of outcome, fear-based upselling, and a lot of wasted time. Ben came over 3 times for 7 hours total, Sam was here for 4 hours, and neither succeeded in proper setup. From minute one, Ben spent more time talking about his 'spiritual journey' than about audio. Look, he thinks he's a nice guy, so I chatted along to be polite, but he would NOT take a hint. Ben repeatedly pushed me to become part of his social circle, asked irrelevant (and invasive) personal questions, and later asked me twice to hang out with him. (I declined.) He insisted on taking my old sub to consign without discussing financials or giving me a receipt - I asked multiple times before I received an amateurish version lacking terms or the sub's serial number. (I eventually had it returned.) He promised free installation "as a favor" because 'he liked me', which he seemed to take as permission to work only at his convenience. Later, he gave out my contact info without my consent. (Admittedly, his intentions here were good; still a privacy violation). Ben also made a big deal about giving me 15% off, making it seem like a special just-for-you discount, but I soon found the subs were marked down the same on ML's own site. Why the subterfuge? One bright spot is he left me a loaner 12" while ordering my subs. That was helpful. When I finally asked Ben to let me pay for a tech, he raised his stated install rate by 40%. I asked if he had misspoken, and he agreed to honor their "old rate". (Ben said $250 flat on 2/16, and $175/hr with a 2h min [$350+] on 3/11... 2 days after I turned down his invitation to a jazz show. Coincidence, or was he mad I wouldn't be his friend?) I did end up paying his tech Sam to come out. Sam told me my setup would never sound right, that it was "underpowered", my front speakers were "power hungry", and later said I'd need $8,000 in upgrades for it to sound good. I have run this setup for six years with no issues whatsoever, thoroughly loving the audio quality - only the subwoofer needed to be upgraded, and they have external power. I also clearly told him everything already sounded perfect in the new house except for the deep bass, but he ignored that. Sam blamed the material construction of my house, the crawlspace, the closets, and the carpet for the problems. I did pay the $250 he required 'for his time' before he would release my 800x, but everything was the same when he left as when he arrived. (Sam asked for personal payment instead of sending a shop invoice - I asked why, and he said Ben thought I wouldn't pay. Insulting, and an irregular business practice that lacks a paper trail.) And then Sam asked me not to write a review. (I declined.) The ONLY problem was the subs were not broken in. Now that I've heard the difference, it's obvious. It can be heard when a subwoofer's suspension is restricting the cone's movement - the deep bass is less powerful and less smooth - just like it's possible to hear when a tweeter's clarity is muffled by dust. Why couldn't these "experts" hear that? Why didn't they suggest I let the subs break in before making a decision on new equipment or fearing my room's acoustics were uncorrectable? Sam did mention the break-in period, but only once, as an aside, and otherwise repeatedly tried to scare me into spending more with Olson's. I got my system to sound perfect on my own by going against everything Ben and Sam suggested. Ben got the hardware correct. All their other settings - room correction, volume, crossover, cabling - were wildly incorrect. Ben treats customers as captive audiences for his personal life stories rather than clients paying for expertise. Neither understands what they're hearing when they configure an audio system. It baffles me that their other reviews are positive... or maybe the others like me were also asked not to write reviews. (I anticipate an unprofessional response.) Please do not trust this business.

I have been researching KEF speaker models and own a pair of LS50 Wireless IIs that sound stellar,…read morework flawlessly (though do need to be directly connected to ethernet hardwired for maximum highres via streaming if not using a connected DAC/Streamer FYI), and look beautiful. They took the audio world by storm a few years back and after intense comparison research I bought a pair with matching stands in red - so cool. I searched for Hi-Fi in the greater Seattle/Bellevue looking for the new KEF LS60 60th anniversary speaker model and found Olson's Hi-Fi in Lynnwood WA. For me, having been familiar with Hi-Fi locations in Bellevue and Seattle since the early 70s, Olson's Hi-Fi looked like an unknown gem. I decided to visit for a listen on the drive back from Olympia the Monday after Easter. Olson's is tucked away in their amazing showroom on North Aurora/Highway 99. They specialize in audiophile stereo, mid level and highenbd systems, muscial reproduction platforms/technology, and complete ARV home theatre/cinema systems and installation. There was so much more there than I expected, with an incredible selection of demo systems to experience and hear in person. Everything there was a delight, The brands, the systems, the platforms, the cinema room and above all Ben and Dom. I had a blast listening to my some of my favorite music and sharing my knowledge about the art and science of the audiophile journey. The cinema room is incredible. Ben's detailed knowledge, passion, and expertise was a joy to experience along with his home cinema system design and installation expertise outlines - he made it so enjoyable and explained his approach - the sound of his systems speak for themselves. He and Dom are so fun to talk to! I will be designing my next system(s). with the team and incorporating Roon, Plex, Qobuz, and KEF to name a few of my next systems elements. Olson's is both the destination and journey for stellar home multi media. I can't wait for my first delivery.

Alee is professional, punctual, quick to respond and overall does excellent work. He installed a…read moremulti camera ethernet powered unifi camera security system at my home and the quality of work was great. We ran into a hardware issue 2 years later and he was quick to fix everything up like brand new.

TLDR; you get what you pay for. If you have demanding network needs and want a well engineered…read moresystem with service to match, I can't recommend Alee and HiTek Telecom enough. I contacted Alee with HiTek Telecom to get a quote on a complete network job for my home. Not only do my spouse that I work from home, but I also do a lot of photography and video that I transfer back-and-forth on my network and into the cloud. I was tired of poor and drop connections with my consumer level Wi-Fi system. In addition, I wanted a local security camera system that I can control without relying on a cloud service. After receiving a quote and agreeing on the scope of work, I scheduled the installation. Alee came out on time on the date scheduled and we walked through the plan of installation and confirmed what all my needs were. Alee and his team worked through the day and completed the install job in an incredibly professional manner. The installation and the cable runs, and all of the final product was exactly as described. After the install, Alee walked me through downloading all of the software that I needed, how to access and navigate the system, how to navigate and operate the security cameras, and ensure that everything was working properly. To be sure, this was a relatively large install for a residential application. I wanted ethernet drops in every room of my house, a new professional grade network cabinet, in-ceiling WIFi network, and a new suite of security cameras. I couldn't have asked for a better end product. I am quite pleased with the attention to detail of the install and making sure everything was perfect, workmanlike, and care was taken in my home. Alee came back out to adjust a couple of things for me after the fact and install an additional camera. Again, he was on time on the scheduled day. The workmanship was just as good and the communication has been stellar throughout. I truly can't recommend HiTek and Alee enough. Top-notch product and top-notch service.

Save yourself countless hours of research through online forums and call Burt for all your AV…read moreneeds! Home AV is one of my passions and definitely a hobby. One of the frustrating things about getting into something beyond Home Theater in a Box is the barrier to entry. Burt at Seattle Hi-Fi can help you demystify any questions you might have whether you are a novice or interested in bi-amping into a stereo amp bridge to a mono-block. Burt can hang with just about anyone and has the same positive attitude no matter the conversation. One of the key differentiators with Seattle Hi-Fi vs every other company I have done business with is how welcoming they are to your needs AND budget! Any AV shop will cater to your needs if your budget is right. All AV shops can make you feel welcomed if you are spending a huge amount of money. Burt has helped me when I was spending a single digit % of his suggested budget on an item the exact same as when I was spending more than what he suggested! I have felt like an extremely valued customer through every interaction with Burt, regardless of what I needed or what I was spending. Burt has spent time helping me debug problems AFTER the purchase was complete on a new use case I had and just generally is fantastic. Seattle Hi-Fi is my favorite store in the greater Seattle area, and my favorite AV store I have ever been to! Cannot recommend Seattle Hi-Fi enough.

Update - came back after the first great experience to investigate a power filter. I've not had…read moregreat luck with power conditioners - they are expensive and don't seem to do much. If anything, they've limited sound quality. Seattle HiFi recommended the Niagara 1200, and phoned me when one became available. I was open to looking at the more expensive versions but was persuaded that I really just needed the basic 1200 model. With low expectations, I plugged my gear in. Wow. Immediately heard improvements. Cleaner top end, more detail, better bass definition, and less ear fatigue when listening to digital gear. Color me highly impressed again.

Abel did a great job for us today. He arrived right on time and even brought his son along as a…read morehelper. They capped all the wires on both ends and really cleaned up and organized the electrical box -- it looks much better now. After they left, I discovered a small issue and gave Abel a call. He came right back out and quickly solved the problem without hesitation. Good work, fair price, and excellent follow-through. I would definitely have him out again and highly recommend J&J Low Voltage Systems

I had a an exterior Ethernet cable run from my wiring cabinet on the first floor to my office on…read morethe second floor. Jorge from J&J was prompt, professional and thorough. And the price was very reasonable. I highly recommend J&J and will definitely be using them again in the future!

We needed a security system deployed throughout our 20 year old home. The job required difficult…read moreattic placements and challenging camera mounts. We specifically required that they integrate with existing equipment already on site. Connor's team met all our requirements and provided many helpful suggestions along the way to provide good value on an already competitive bid. Their installer, Randy, was great to work with, equipped with all the right tools, and able to perform minor miracles routing cables within walls. He was meticulous in his work so that the system was up and running on the first try. Look forward to working with AV on even more projects in the future..

I had AV Smart Solutions out in Dec 2025 to trouble shoot lighting in a large chapel. The previous…read moreowners took part of the system when they left. I worked with Connor and he was great. They came in and fixed/upgraded my lighting. Also, they set up a microphone DJ system for me from scratch. I was very impressed with both Connor and Randy who did the install. Both were easy to work with and went above and beyond in making sure I was satisfied with the results. Connor worked with my budget very efficiently and was mindful of that budget throughout the process. I got several quotes and chose AV Smart Solutions because Connor was great to work with. I would highly recommend them if you need similar work.

Mike was amazing. The service I had requested was help with was mounting a 75 inch Samsung frame…read moreand he was really fast and the quality of the work was amazing. His price are also really reasonable compared to others out there.

Mike is a friendly guy and installed many things for me. Some of them were unique and I'm impressed…read morewith his work. Would hire him again and again!

Responded very quickly and was able 2 mounts, 2 TVs and one of our sound bars at a great price.read more

Whidbey Audio Visual is just what I have always needed. They set up a sound system for me, which…read morestopped working when I switched over to fiber optic. They quickly fixed my issues, and they have always been there for me wherever I have questions um or need technical help. Abby is kind, polite, and knowledgeable, and I think Greg can fix anything. D.P.

Greg was super helpful in helping me select the right TV and hardware for my space. The install…read moreguys were very friendly and very skilled in the installation. Gabriella (scheduling) was very responsive. Overall a great experience and would definitely use again!