My audio journey started about a year ago when I upgraded my TV. Ever since my brief time working…read morein the industry, I've always gotten my TVs ISF calibrated, so when I searched businesses that offer it, Nuts About Hi-Fi came up. When I stopped in. I was greeted by Matt, who was pretty surprised by the request, as it's been a dying service for years. He asked what kind of TV I had, and when I told him, he was intimately familiar with the model. He mentioned that my model was one of a few where the manufacturer hand picks the panels and calibrates the image out of the box, and that with a few tweaks I could do on my own, I could accomplish 95% of what a calibration would and save myself $400. Nice! Since I was there, Matt asked if I wanted to check out the store. I had a little time, so I agreed, and he took me back in to their listening room. I immediately recognized Focal and JL Audio. I run both of those brands in my car and know their excellence. This was my wheelhouse. Matt had me sit and listen to a pair of the Focal Scala Utopia speakers, and they were epic. There was also no way I was going to afford them! He asked what I had for equipment currently, and I shared my system, that they probably wouldn't even use as a door stop at this place, but Matt did not belittle my equipment. He simply asked if I was happy with it or would have any interest in upgrading. A few months later, I had some time, so I stopped in again. Matt showed me the Focal Aria Evo X line of speakers, explaining that they were a redesigned line that represented one of the best value points in the Focal lineup. Listening to them, they sounded great. Night and day difference from what I was used to at home. These both looked and sounded like they should for the price. When I was ready to start my room project, I figured I'd check in and see if Nuts sold TV wall mounts. Sure enough, they carried the same one I was looking at and matched the sale price from a reputable online dealer. Matt then mentioned the Aria speakers were on sale. The sale was technically over, but he said if I was ready, he could get Focal to honor it for a couple more days. I liked that I had the opportunity to go home and discuss with my wife, and that ended up being the difference maker. I knew Focal rarely does sales, so I decided to pull the trigger. Now, it was a race to get my room finished. I decided that I wanted to replace my existing bookshelf surrounds with in-wall. I was tearing out a fireplace and replacing carpet and baseboards, so it was an optimal time to take on the project. Matt gave me a good deal on some Focal 300 ICW6 in-ceiling/in-wall speakers that use the same cone and tweeter material as Aria lineup, so they pair perfectly with the front stage. For subs, to fit my budget and space constraints, they recommended a pair of the JL Audio Dominion 10" subs. I wanted a symmetrical setup for aesthetic reasons, and I was stepping down from a bulky 15" sub. Even though I was a big JL fan already, they still let me demo the Dominions as much as I needed to feel good about the purchase. I then ran into my first problem: The ICW6 speakers were too deep for interior walls. They are mainly used in ceiling applications, but they work in walls with 2x6 studs. Interior walls are usually 2x4. Jim told me to bring them back for a full refund, no questions, and he offered me a similar discount to upgrade to the 300 IW6 units that were in-wall only. Problem solved. Michael, one of their install techs, was extremely helpful, talking me through placement of the speakers - how far from the ceiling, rear walls, and between which studs, since my walls were not mirror images of each other. Most places would probably leave you high and dry on a DIY project, so I appreciate that Michael was willing to walk me through this job. Going on 12 weeks, my room was finished, but no Focal speakers. At this point, I'll admit I was a little frustrated, but I understood that we were all at the mercy of the manufacturer. Then this happened: Jim asked if I'd like to borrow some equipment until my order arrived. WHAT?! Who just lets a random customer borrow equipment? Of course, my Aria towers showed up just a few days later. I then finally unboxed my subs to find another problem: One was covered in hairline cracks. The box looked perfect, so I'm guessing it was a manufacturing defect. I brought the sub back in, and the next day, I had a call saying they had a replacement. They also had my second in-wall speaker. Eric's follow up on everything was on-point. After another couple weeks, I had my center channel, and all was right in the world. Yes, some components took a lot longer than expected, but the savings, communication, and loaner equipment made me feel like family, even though I was a first-time customer. Don't be afraid to stop in here. Don't let the $100k speakers in the showroom scare you off. They've got something for every budget.

If you are in the market for excellent audio and video components this is the shop to acquire your…read moredream equipment. They have product for all financial needs. The knowledge of the staff and variety of product should solve your questions on filling your home with great sound and sights. Jim Lee, owner, Matt Silberstein, manager and installer Michael provided us with excellent customer service. If you visit the store be sure to ask for a sound experience in the audio room..!! We love our Focal speakers..!

I always have a great experience when stopping at Gig Harbor Audio. I purchased my HiFi system…read moreelsewhere, so I haven't bought equipment from them, but I've spent over $1000 on records here. I've spent hours listening to various setups over time. The staff is knowledgeable and interesting. There is a good selection of high-end records here which are hard or impossible to find at most vinyl-only shops. Prices are reasonable considering Discogs market rates. I make a point to stop in every time I'm in Gig Harbor!

This is the kind of Hi Fi shop you thought had gone extinct - really excellent gear, carefully…read morechosen and well presented, and classic timeless pieces. Definitely not flavor of the month. The staff are quirky - the good kind of quirky. They know their stuff and they aren't herding you to buy what they have. Instead I feel like I'm having a conversation with a super knowledgeable enthusiast whose opinions I can trust. I bought my first piece, a Leben amp, and it was everything it was claimed to be. Recently I added a set of Chartwell speakers which have their special charms. Great shops like GHA make you want to return. They dig their music and they treat customers with respect - educating where helpful and never condescending. They lean towards tubes and English hifi, but spend time listening and you'll understand the charm. Prices are fair and trades are welcome and fairly valued.

John's the best - love going to his place to see what's new in the listening room. He's always…read moretaken care of me and my Dad over the last 40 + years

The Audio Connection is one-of-a-kind. The proprietor, John, has been in the game for 45 years and…read moreit shows; he can assess what you are after quite quickly and you can enjoy the rest of your time there chatting with him. I brought my one of my Single-Ended Triode 300b mono-block tube amplifiers to have an issue addressed and Kevin had it sorted in no time. They have a diverse collection of audio gear for sale and a no-nonsense listening room to let one do just that, listen. They carry all sorts, but if you are a tubehead, you would have to be mental not to see what they have on offer.

We didn't end up buying from this store but wanted to acknowledge the great service. They have top…read moreof the line products (Hunter Douglas window coverings). The storeroom is a nice place to shop, conveniently located in Proctor with ample free street parking in the area. We got a consultation in our home so that we could see the products in our space. The quote was given right away. The salesmen was very helpful and told us that the Hunter Douglas line is a lifetime type of purchase and therefore pricier than other options. Ultimately we chose a less expensive option but I think this store is worth a look, especially if you want something less common or have a more complicated situation.

These might be the most honest company I've ever hired. They did aerobarrier on my addition, and…read moreblower door testing for me. They had a few issues with the process, but what blew me away was that every time I found a problem the owner immediately wrote me a check to cover the damage with no hesitation. Overall though it is a good product, it did a great job of sealing around all of the top and bottom plates, and I'm sure a bunch of other places I can't see. The aerobarrier got me down to 1.2 ach50, which surpassed my target. Their main guy was out of town, so they sent a less experienced tech. They ended up not taping off all of the plumbing penetrations, so we ended up getting sealant stuck in the dryer vent, b-vent, and a few other places. They either sent someone immediately to clean it up, or paid to replace the item when cleaning wasn't possible. They gave me an extra refund for the trouble. I wished I had the more experienced tech for the blower door, as this guy missed several things that would have improved the score. There was a window which was ajar, some plumbing penetrations which weren't taped off, and the HVAC duct work to the original house (which was square footage excluded from the test) needed to be taped off but wasn't. He also didn't know how to do a duct leakage test to the exterior (running duct leakage during blower door essentially). But I can't complain too much, as I still received a score which exceeded my expectations.

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.

I recently brought my Marantz 2238B receiver into Hawthorne because of persistent noise in the left…read morechannel. The staff immediately understood the issue and took great care with it right from the start. They were incredibly friendly, empathetic, and genuinely passionate about getting working perfectly again--something that's hard to find these days.After the initial repair, I took it home and unfortunately still heard some issues. No hesitation, they took it back twice, dug in deeper, and fixed it completely. The receiver is now dead silent and sounds beautiful. Best of all? They didn't charge me a single extra dollar beyond the original repair fee. That's real dedication to customer satisfaction and standing behind their work. Thank you!

Hawthorne Stereo is not just a nice place, it's a national treasure. I bought my first turntable…read moreand stereo system from their used room for a couple hundred bucks 15-20 years ago. I've been back infrequently but consistently since then for all manner of repairs and upgrades. Every time I walk through the door (or call or email) I am treated with the utmost care, patience, respect and the desire to do the right thing for me regardless of the price range I'm shopping in. Truly lovely people. I will shed a tear the day this business closes its doors.

Spencer runs his business in an ethical manner; how refreshing. What a concept - good communication…read moreand "doing the right thing"... because it's the right thing to do! Offered me a return for a full refund on an item that things didn't work out on...even though "stated policy" on eBay was "no returns". RESPECT

I really like this unique concept of turntables and outdoor gear. It's a really good idea and I…read morealways see customers in the store. Finding quality turntables in Seattle is hard. Even many record stores don't seem to carry them as much unless you go to Seattle records or inner vision. Spencer, the owner has a niche on the market. It used to be that the Dearborn Goodwill, some pawn shops that weren't sketch, and various record shops had some lp120's or technique 1200's. These days I just see cheap Crosley's for sale at Barnes and Noble. The selection of vinyl is good and prices are solid. The expertise is great and it reminds me of Hawthorne Stereo. I love the big selection of outdoor gear also and the prices are good for new and used. I enjoy shopping here and I'm glad it's part of the Lake City community. seem dated and overpriced, goodwill is often junky with quality, Hawthorne is great but can get pricy, the Ave which used to carry a lot of turntables in the early 00's scaled back. I

I'm so happy to have found NW Audio Service ! John took…read moregreat care in repairing my Marantz SR-5006 Surround Receiver. It's great that there are still people that know what their doing ! I'd highly recommend this company Thank you so much John...

John is a master technician, has talked me through multiple issues and repaired 2 machines for me…read more While his prices and web-presence are a bit behind the times, his know-how is unbeatable. One perk he may not advertise- he has what one can only described as an electronics parts-yard in his shop. He has been able to swap out machines when a project I do for work required no interruptions. Really helpful and kind, it's worth the drive.

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.

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.

The techs were professional and honest. I needed someone to verify mounting job, and they did so…read morequickly.

Did great work at a reasonable price! Scheduling was easy, and they were able to do it a few days…read moreafter asked for a quote.