I travel the country extensively visiting record stores in every city. I gotta say, this one is up there! Arguably one of the best record stores in Austin. Highly curated, with so many off-beat selections. Prices are reasonable for what they offer. I have found several "Holy Grails" here. I love the fun decor and high ceilings. One thing that makes it a little hard to browse is the three-tier bins. If you're under 6' then it's actually a lot harder to see what's in the upper bins without having to take things out. Not a lot of flippability for us height challenged folk. (Just a note as an avid crate digger) I make this my FIRST stop. The employees are nice, and you get decent quality vinyl for a decent price. Love End of an Ear! read more

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Rad indie record store that carries just about anything you're looking for. They have a decent selection of vinyl as well as other old school formats like cassettes and CDs. I find lots of hidden gems in the used section as well as new. They buy and trade as well. So if you're looking to unload stuff, give them a try. Coming from an old school punk background, I'm a big fan of their curation of the genre. They also sell band shirts and other little tidbits. Staff are extremely knowledgeable whether you're looking for a Blues or Jazz record, Rap or Hiphop, Punk or Rock, they've got the answers and what you're looking for. I could get lost at End of an Ear for hours reading jacket liners and chatting with employees about music. read more

When I first moved to Austin, I started spending half of my paycheck at End of an Ear. It is a quaint little shop, but I think their curation is the best in all of Austin. Their jazz selection is always great, their electronic section is strong, hip-hop and soul are well represented, and their indie and country collections are absolutely killer as well. The staff is always very friendly, especially the owner, who is normally moving around the shop making sure everything is going smoothly. Even compared to other shops, they have a larger selection of cassettes than most. This place feels connected to the community. At their busiest times, parking can be kind of a hassle. They have a decent number of spots, but there is more space in their shop for customers than parking spots outside. It is especially intense if they are hosting listening parties that allow customers to hear new albums early. The only downside of that is that people will congregate in spaces and stand around to listen to the album, which can block off some sections from access, but that is more of a customer issue than an issue with the shop itself. Prices are pretty on par with modern records, but sometimes you can get lucky and find some used gems for a decent price. I got this Dire Straights Brothers in Arms cassette for $3. What a steal! This is easily the best record store and music shop in town. read more

End Of An Ear - cassette city - Music & DVDs Near Me - Austin, Texas

Fantastic business. One of my favorite places in Austin. Ironically though, even though it's obviously a record store, they have an amazing film section and great literature. I've bought some rare Criterion Collection movies and some cool box sets over the years. I wanna give a shoutout to the fact that they are one of the few recognized main carriers of the book series 33 1/3, a book series where various writers gush about an album of their choice. The music is good, staff friendly and knowledgeable. It's such a charming place, but parking is kinda meh and it's always busy --for good reason, of course. This may be Austin's best record store. read more

Full disclosure: I only came here because they were hosting an early listening party for AFI's latest album. I'm glad it was here because I never knew this spot existed and it's absolutely lovely. It's really clean, spacious, and the artwork is lovingly curated. The staff are all friendly and I have to admit the other patrons were all quiet during this listening time. They have so much to offer in a variety of media, I spent a lot of time in the soundtrack section and picked up a Studio Ghibli vinyl for my husband. I also spent way too long looking through their CDs. I went ahead and replaced my Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge disc. My old one kept skipping from overuse. Fantastic pricing, I love having physical media which is important right now. I'll be back, not only for AFI's album, but for any other music needs I might have in the future. Stop in if you have the chance! read more

Great record store with good prices and rare finds if you are in the south side. This store is pretty big and has a large selection. They have multiple check out lines for quick convenience. I almost did not know this place existed because there are no huge signs on the building. read more

End Of An Ear - Music & DVDs Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Nice people, great and large selection and good atmosphere. The space is a little too small for the huge amount of records available, though. There's only enough room between the racks for one person at a time. The records are jam-packed, and I mean jam-packed, together so tightly that it's difficult to leaf through them. That aside, though, it's an excellent record store. read more

Years later End of an Ear has my vinyl record lovin' heart forever and even my friends know it. At least once a year I will get a generous gift card to EoE for my birthday and/or holiday gifts from friends. It is awesome because I would have it no other way but to continue to grow my vinyl collection by shopping at a. local music shop. What a great and long way EoE has come from being pushed out by the South 1st / Annie area that turned tall condos and wild property craze for their old spot. I very much miss that S. 1st spot but this new location is even better. Never much of an issue to park nor does it feel crowded when they have in-store shows or events. Even after all of these years they are still a spot that actively has weekly listening and in-store music events that anyone can attend. Often times I will be here browsing and shopping and don't realize they have an in-store which is always a delightful surprise to have. I have seen my idols, Sleater-Kinney to now local Austinite John Doe from the band X do some great and brief in-store gigs here. Online ordering is super easy and EoE is so generous and fast about creating and saving your order until you pick it up. I never hesitate to order online and still come in to browse their catalog. Organization and labeling is clear and appreciated for identifying genres, artists, and categories. They sell books, cassettes, rarities, singles, music equipment, and even apparel. I believe they have an equipment repair and advising service too which is worth checking out. I have never been disappointed with the quality of records I have purchased here. All very reasonably priced and often times I will out do my budget that I initially came in because I found a record I had on my list and I don't want to miss out on not getting it in the future. Indie exclusives can be found here and Record Store Day is a pleasure and never feels like a chore here. They are intentional about displaying any special editions evenly dispersed for fairness on the actual Record Store Day(s). Staff here are knowledgeable, admiringly cooler than me, and always helpful and nice. I appreciate their recommendations and always make a note of what is playing overhead as I am shopping because it will always end up being something I had never heard of but happy I did. read more

I end up ordering a Bobby Pulido vinyl through the shop app and they provide a quick shipping service and I was very grateful that the price was respectful for being a new release. Once I was done, I end up browsing through their website and I was amazed by how wide selections they had a vinyl CDs, even DVDs. Definitely a place we're checking out next time. I travel to Austin Texas. Highly recommend this place. The vinyl was perfectly wrapped and shipped. No dense everything just arrived perfectly. They really do treat their customers with respect. You can buy more things from them through the Shop app. read more

This is hands down the best record store I have been to in Austin. The staff is welcoming and helpful. The selection is honestly never-ending, I've never left without a record. Overall great experience everytime. read more

This store is widely hyped as the best record store in Austin, but for me it wasn't. I collect vintage vinyl specifically, and reviews and online stories state it has a lot of vintage vinyl. It doesn't. Not compared to how many new releases and reissues they carry. I collect a lot of varieties of music, but there wasn't t a single album there for me. I went to another highly regarded store in the town, and while it wasn't a great store either, I still bought three albums and probably would have bought more if the condition was better and the prices weren't as high. Another note - if you are a vintage jazz collector there's no reason to go here. The only vintage jazz they have is common stuff - nothing collectible. Also - the wall here does not have many vintage rare albums. The best selection of vintage albums is their classic rock (1960s-1980s). If you have limited time visiting Austin like I did, you can skip this place. read more

This little record shop has so many LPs! Vinyl is categorized by genre and filed alphabetically, and the place is usually doing a brisk business, with cool folks searching the stacks all over the store. They also resell CDs and DVDs and some posters, and have a few turntables and helpful gadgets and record care products along the back wall. The staff was friendly and helpful and the prices are reasonable. They bought some of my LPs and unfortunately I didn't get a lot of cash, but they will go to someone else for a good price, too. They have a small parking lot and there's an adjacent road where you can park too. One of my favorite record shops in Austin to find a hidden treasure. read more

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Feels like you've walked into the 90s stepping in here. Used and new vinyl and movies everywhere. Everything is organized super well. You'll definitely find what you're looking for...assuming it's in stock. Their parking lot is a bit small but was able to grab a spot after wait a bit. read more

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What an absolute gem this place is. My S/O hadn't been before and we were told by friends it was a MUST. It was busy but still manageable to get through the aisles. You get a free canvas bag if you spend $150+! Parking was limited but understandable considering how busy as it was. High Fidelity vibes *hands up emoji* read more

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First time here recently, they had a great selection and better prices than any other large record store I have visited in the area

This is one of the best record stores in Austin that feature a great combination of both new and analog records. They have a large comprehensive selection of every artist you can think of. However, records aren't the only thing they sell. I was surprised to find at the rear of the store they have a room devoted to vintage stereo equipment and speakers. This stuff is not cheap and if you have any old vintage equipment in very good working order, they will make an offer. They also sell DVDs and VHS tapes along with some T-shirts. This place is definitely worth the drive across town to explore. read more

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Doesn't look like much from the outside but when you enter, you will find whatever it is you can put to your ear to in records and CDs. Many genres can be found with a nice mix of used and new pressings. Found a lot of new artists here as well as some old favorites. Very impressed with the setup. Dvds and VHS tapes are also here in the right corner of the store for that nostalgia of media viewing. Only con is some vinyl isn't placed in the right alphabetical order but that's likely due to people being too lazy to put things back where they belong. As a former retail employee decades ago, it's quite infuriating. Do the right thing people!!! read more

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Great local Gem. Really liked their selection of records. Prices weren't bad either. Would def come back

I remember way back when End of an Ear was basically down the hill, just south of South Congress. The music/vinyl selections at EOAE are, as I recall, well curated. I haven't been to the new location, but loved the old location. I had a great conversation with two guys at the store once about movies. One guy recommended Alejandro Jodorowsky's El Topo and the other guy suggested an old 1960s movie called Chappaqua. I don't think it gets much cooler than that! read more

I've been frequenting record stores for a little over a decade now and it's pretty safe to say that End Of An Ear is hands down the best record store I have ever been too, no joke. From the moment I walked into the store and was completely overwhelmed by the massive selection of records they had and by how well it was organized. On top of a killer record selection this store also sells a ton of CD's, T-Shirts, VHS's, DVD's, Posters, Flyers, Record players, speakers, cassettes, and I could probably go on for a few more minutes listing the things this store has. I spent about 45 minutes combing through this stores larger selection of punk, metal, and hip-hop records wishing I had a way to transport some records on a plane. On top of a killer selection the staff was super friendly and knowledgeable and was a delight to deal with. Overall, you won't find a better record store in Texas then End of an Ear, period. The selection and staff were unmatchable and I will definitely be hitting this store up in the future! read more

End Of An Ear - Small sample of the records. - Music & DVDs Near Me - Austin, Texas

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My favorite record store in Austin (Austin overall is one of the best places in the world for records). Well stocked store, great range of secondhand and new vinyl. Well priced read more

My husband always gets his records here and I've never seen him disappointed! They have a complete inventory online and are doing curbside pick up therefore I feel safe read more

Good stock, deep cuts, and fair prices. They carry a lot of inde artists and labels. They have a great selection of experimental, goth/post punk, synth, soundtracks, and all the main rock/punk/metal you'd expect. They have one of the biggest reggae sections I've seen in the USA, and it's not just Bob Marley, UB40 and Third World. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. read more

I dont even know where to begin... End of an Ear has become a happy space for me. I only started collecting records about a year ago. End of Ear always has just about everything I ever want at a more than fair price. When I travel I try to check out record shops in other towns and I've never seen anything that compares to the coolness of End of an Ear. If you want to buy some records or you are interested at all go here. read more

Awesome indie record store! They always pick up their phone and answer any questions you have and will help personally reserve something if you ask. The vibe in the store is chill, and you could spend an hour or two atleast with all their inventory. Every once in a while they will have artists come in and sign copies, so giveaways,etc If you are a fan of Texas artists Khruangbin and Leon bridges, there is a mural of the Texas sun artwork on the side of the building! read more

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super nice store with pretty good prices and selection. also a good amount of 45s. they have a good number of employees around and they seemed genuinely nice and helpful. the store also sells used stereo equipment and had listening stations for vinyl. if I lived nearby I'd be stopping in all the time. read more

Great record store, wish there were more like this. Well stocked with new stuff, but plenty of used as well. I'm in town from Chicago, and am mostly looking for Blues records. They had plenty of blues, and I grabbed a couple things hard to find in Chicago by Chicago artists. Of course a couple of texas blues albums as well. Prices were generally reasonable, staff seemed friendly enough, and they have a decent sized parking lot. It's not a hard spot to get in/out of for travelers in strange rental cars. I'll definitely be back again next time I'm in Austin. read more

If "The Music Capitol of the World" had a heart & soul, it would be here. You can buy, sell, or trade all of your favorite albums from local artists like the Black Pumas and Annabelle Chairlegs, but also comb through rows of Classic Rock, Funk, and harder-to-find gems from the Flying Lizards and Thievery Corporation. They have a sizeable collection of cassettes and music-themed novels in the back, with organization significantly less chaotic since they moved from their original SoFi location. Selling is super easy and takes only minutes to cash out or turn into store credit - more juice for your next table or jam sesh. The staff is super cool and knowledgeable, adding atmosphere to the all-you-could-want-in-a-record-store vibe. read more

Selection good. Service inexplicably miserable. This last visit really saddened me, as the shop is close to our daughter's apt, and I have looked forward to purchasing records for my collection. I will not return. read more

Another great Austin record shop. Really great used stock. Since I was traveling I didn't buy any records but I did find this bad ass custom stamp set for the Black Angels which was very cool. And the staff gave me several pins/stickers etc. Worth seeking out of you are a vinyl person. read more

This is my favorite record store in the city! Great selection and great prices, plus it's in south Austin. That's a win for me! Seriously if you haven't experienced End of an Ear stop in here and just look around. They sell other things here too but I'm here for the vinyl! If you spend enough you get a cool tote bag with your purchase. read more

This is my favorite record store I've ever been to. It's exactly what it should be and represents the kind of place other record stores should aspire to be like. The used record selection (front and center when you walk in AS IT SHOULD BE) is consistently the best I've ever seen. It's almost like a mini record convention every time I browse through it. Gems on gems on gems and for a VERY fair price. They're happy to hold records for you for a few days if you ask and offer some truly GREAT deals on Audio equipment as well as great advice if you need it (without trying to make you feel stupid/inept for asking "101 questions" which ALOT of record/audio stores are VERY guilty of) Fantastic staff! Zach and ...Sara? (So so sorry if I got your name wrong I legitimately come in stoned too often) are always SO helpful and pleasant. read more

I had SUCH a good experience here. First: I didn't expect to have such a wide selection of vinyls to choose from. I thought I'd have to order After Hours online, but was pleasantly surprised to see a copy here. 2nd: I just got my first record player, and was having trouble finding good, concise, unbiased information online about speakers and amps. I asked for some advice, and they took me to their sound guy, Sean. This guy was incredible. So knowledgeable, friendly, and unbiased. I probably wouldn't have bought my speakers and amp there otherwise. I gave him my price range, and he gave me everything I needed, setting me up for success. So grateful for his help. I absolutely love my new records and my setup! read more

An oddly enjoyable shop. Not sure how to put that and maybe you'd need to experience it yourself. Very well organized and they have a wide range of genres and items. I was frustrated by a few patrons not following crate digging etiquette but that certainly wasn't the shops fault. They also have a decent stereo equipment section in the back. Pricing was high in that it reflects the higher range on the used items compared to different online sites and area locations. Parking can also be tight on a busy day. read more

I should stay away from here. They always have something I want. Recently I was looking for a specific record. I called Waterloo and the guy didn't know what I was talking about (that's a first for Waterloo). They also didn't have it in stock, which I determined from their website. A few days later, after Amazon failed twice to mail a copy to me, I realized I hadn't called End of an Ear. The person I spoke with instantly knew what I was looking for, checked that they had a copy, and pulled it for me. If you've got the money or will power to be around this much vinyl, I dare you to check it out. read more

When I called, the person on the phone was very kind and encouraged me to bring some records in. When I entered the store, it took a few minutes to be helped and even fewer minutes to be laughed out the door. I spent an hour cleaning and caring my records before selling them. I would've appreciated more guidance and appreciation for music from a record store. I really hope they do better in the future. As for my records, I took them somewhere they'd be appreciated :)) read more

On a recent trip to Austin I tried to visit all the record stores in the city. I think this one was my favorite. It's a decent sized store and it's all vinyl. There may have been a few cds but I didn't look thru them. All the titles I picked up and looked at were in fantastic shape. I found several titles that I purchased and I am super happy with them all. They have a huge Metal section, many titles I've never seen in any store. read more

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incredible selection, really cool space to browse and super fairly priced. great customer service too, our car battery died after our shopping trip here and the man that cashed us out was nice enough to give us a jump! will def be back read more

Super cool record shop. Great selection of vinyl and cassettes too. Their country selection isn't huge though but that doesn't big me too much. Most of the country I like is alternative anyway and yo can't really find the ones I like in a typical record shop. I may go ask to see if they can get them for me though. I like Sam Outlaw and no one ever stocks his albums. I like mostly alternative, classic folk, pop-rock, neo mellow. I usually have a nice pick when I go there. And... they have competitive prices too. read more

One of my top 3 record shops in Austin. I can always find a gem in their used arrivals section and they're always willing to get in any special order / indie variant of an LP that I could want. The store is always playing good tunes and the staff is friendly. Definitely one of the best places to dig in Austin. read more