This place is nothing short of sublime and well worth whatever it takes for you to make the pilgrimage. I say "pilgrimage" because 1. it was a 4 hour drive and 2. it may well be the most wonderful aural experience you will ever have. I don't care how nice your headphones are, they cannot get anywhere near the imaging, depth, and impact that is provided by the equipment in this store. Remember, sound is a pressure wave, you don't just hear it with your ears, it is something you can feel with your whole body as it vibrates the air all around you. Likely if you are reading this review then you already have your reason for being interested in what this store has to offer. My reason is that I first experienced the greats of rock on my parents' hifi system (equipped with traditional large woofers) and have a need to imprint that same experience on my children (in the hope that they will have their third eye open to what music can be: time capsules, exploding with pure emotion). So, equipped with reason enough to visit, what makes Fly Hifi worth it? So many reasons. The most basic: you'll get better quality equipment here than ANYWHERE else for a much lower price. Other important factors: reliability (all equipment has a 30 day guarantee), a great demo space (great isolation and acoustically treated walls), ideal amplification (you'll hear the speakers' full potential), expertise (Steve knows his stuff but does not lord it over you), and vibes (all the other things that you can't find anywhere else like the comfy chairs, smell of high quality wood cabinets, zero pressure to buy from folks who enjoy what they are doing). So if you read all the way to here you're probably thinking, "Ok dude, I get to the point, you liked going to the vintage hifi store (who wouldn't?); what did you actually BUY?" Answer: The Klipsch Cornwall IIIs. I listened to them and in moments I knew they were exactly what I wanted. The punch of the bass seamlessly integrated with the crystal clear mids was so focused and clear which was exactly how I felt when I first heard my parents' system with my 3 year old hyper-sensitive frame. These things are going to blow my children away (with fidelity, not dBs; be responsible) and if my kids only come out of their childhoods with a passing interest in music it will not be for lack of the right exposure! I could not be happier with everything from pre-sales communication through purchase. Thanks again Steve for all your help and I'll be sure to follow up as I build out the system. read more

Fly Hifi Stereo - Smorgasbord of sound! The monsters on the far ends are no longer available ;-) - High Fidelity Audio Equipment Near Me - Auburn, California

This is a niche business of the highest order. If you are a connoisseur of 1970's - 2000's vintage high end music making components this place is Shangri-La. I am a reformed audiophile / musician. 55 years ago I owned a frequently changing collection of big, beautiful and powerful high fidelity equipment. 95% made in the USA. Much of it movie theater caliber like giant Altec-Lansing speakers. I belonged to a small cadre of like minded audio nuts who were on a perpetual quest for machines that would turn our living rooms into giant sounding concert halls. The preferred recordings were all on vinyl LP disks. At the peak of my music addiction in the early 2000's I owned a record shop with 60,000 units. My current at home record collection is a meager 3,000 albums. So walking into this shop was an instant time travel experience to the days of my youth. I recognized and had previously owned some of the components on display. I didn't buy anything while visiting here, my family was with me and I didn't have an opportunity to browse the vinyl LP collection in the sale racks. I'll return to do that. If you are a newbie to vintage high end audio, this place should be on your bucket list to visit. If your current music listening method is from your phone feeding a pair of AirPods, you don't know what you are missing in the subtle details that recording artists painstakingly create. If you love music and want to hear and enjoy it more, visit here. read more

I'm new to the HiFi scene and wanted a setup to really enjoy my vinyl collection. Steve walked me through everything and curated pieces that perfectly fit my needs, space, and budget. It's always a pleasure to meet people who truly love what they do--and Steve at Fly HiFi is that guy. Highly recommend checking out his shop if you're looking to elevate your listening experience. read more

Great vintage equipment with a very honest and knowledgeable person. That is the owner.

Steve was very helpful to a newbie like me wanting to get into vintage hifi equipment. He took a lot of time to explain anything I wanted to know. Even put up with my anarchist comments lol. Extremely happy with the setup I purchased from him. read more

Fly Hifi Stereo - Vintage Technics from the 70s and vintage walnut JBLs also from the 70s.. - High Fidelity Audio Equipment Near Me - Auburn, California

It was a wonderful experience working with the owner, Steve. I already knew what I wanted as I spotted the items (Pioneer SX-850 & HPM-100's) on his website, and he didn't try to up-sell or push me in another direction. Instead, he was very supportive and knowledgeable about the products, and was upfront about their condition before the actual listening session. Also, I was impressed that he went the extra mile to make sure they looked their best before I picked them up. I feel great about having a reliable and trustworthy source for my Hifi needs. I will be back for more! Thanks again, Steve! read more

Steve has a gem of a store and was a great guy to deal with. I purchased a great preamplifier from him we listened to it told me about the pots which needed to be cleaned them asked or I could leave it so he could go through it. I will purchase and recommend Steve every time from the new audiophile to the well-seasoned audiophile. read more

Bar, DJ who spins records, no computer mixing, album sales on site, what more can you ask for? Amazing experience, if you're visiting or live in North Park, this is a must. read more

If you're in the market for a great restored hifi system, Fly Hifi should definitely be at the top of your list if you're in the Sacramento area. Recently picked up an amp from the late 70s and after a refurbish it looks and sounds like it is brand new. Very happy with the purchase. The shop is by appointment only and Steve was very quick to respond and quickly had an appointment scheduled. read more

I had been eyeing and admiring the warm old school sound of the Marantz 2220B receiver amplifier at East J Barber adjacent to HiFi stereo for many years. Finally asked about it, and learned that the owner of East J had purchased this awesome vintage audio gear right next-door at HiFi! I made contact with Steve on the very same day, and had an appointment to view his shop and excellent selection of vintage stereo equipment on the following day. He showed us his huge available selection of Marantz equipment, told us all about his refurbishment process, and spent at least an hour with us helping to select the perfect set of speakers. Proud owner now of an identical Marantz 2220B and some Klipsch speakers, very reasonably priced. Couldn't be happier with the sound, a HUGE warm improvement over my modern digital stereo stuff. Steve is very professional and responsive, no pressure sales tactics, and backs his equipment with a 30 day warranty. Threw in some free speaker cable and RCA to 3.5 mm adapter to boot! Will definitely be back for more. Highly recommend. read more

Steve is a great local resource for the best audio and info! Extremely knowledgeable and honest. He seems like the hub for HiFi around here. Appreciate the info and help . Dan read more

Had a great experience at Fly HiFi. I had my eye on a couple different Marantz receivers and Steve made sure to have those ready to demo. He was really accommodating to my minimal knowledge on sound, even as I got distracted by other models and speakers in his store. He was upfront about the condition of a receiver where the FM transmitter was too complex to repair. I also ended up walking away with some Klipsch speakers too. You can tell Steve really truly cares about the work he does, very professional and genuine. This review is overdue from a July 2020 purchase. I am now 6 months deep into some heavy vinyl listening, and very happy. Thanks Steve! read more

Steve has a great selection of high end vintage stereo and hi-fi components. Marantz, Mcintosh, Sansui, Pioneer are some of the wonderful brands he has. I got a pair of Celestion speakers for a great price. When I visited the shop, steve ran me through about 8 pairs of speakers until I found the ones that were perfect for me. I really appreciate the selection and his honest assessment of what's good and what's hype. There is no modern stuff there, just great condition or refurbished vintage gear. read more

Purchased a cassette deck from across the country. Spoke to Steve on the phone, who seems like a solid guy to do business with. He generally does not ship but was willing to on this piece. Packaged very well, as that was a concern for a vintage deck like this. Would do business with Fly Hifi again. read more

I have the disease of procrastination I kept telling myself go to Fly HiFi Stereo and check it out, well glad I finally did. I checked out 2 Marantz receivers so glad I did I ended up with a Marantz 2230 and I am very happy with my purchase. Listening to my old vinyl records loud and clear during covid 19 has really been a blessing. Steve explained what he does in servicing these old receivers and that gave me the confidence that I was buying a receiver that should give me years of good fun. If I ever upgrade again whether it is a receiver or speakers I know where to go Fly HiFi Stereo, thanks Steve. read more

I've had two 5 star experiences dealing with Steve and his Fly HiFi vintage stereo shop. In August 2018 I purchased a Marantz 2230 from him. The receiver is amazing! Clean, professionally gone through with repairs and upgrades done where needed. Steve helped me out on a couple phone calls prior to the purchase with answers to my questions and he also gave me some options to consider. In the end I chose the 2230 and so glad that I did! The unit works flawlessly and I'm very happy with it... The second experience was in August 2019 and I was in the market to move up to a Marantz 2270 for more power, turns out I really didn't need the extra power and Steve helped with that. Steve is a great knowledge base on vintage equipment and is a true professional and business owner that takes pride in his operation and it shows with his customer service. I highly recommend Steve and Fly HiFi to anyone that's looking to get into vintage stereo equipment or looking to add to their systems. read more

Has a vast knowledge of equipment. The owner is very friendly and professional. Great local business!

Came across Fly Hifi on Craigslist, and recommendation from Delta Breeze. After interesting discussion of my interests with owner Steve, purchased a set of beautifully restored Wharfedale 60Ds. Had an issue with one of the woofers, which Steve readily resolved. Excellent customer service and communication. Very cool boutique store for vintage gear; subsequently purchased HH Scott Stereomaster 340-B. Very pleased! read more