I met Nick many years ago when I needed an honest factory tech for my Rega P5 turntable. It was…read moreintroducing an electrical hum into the phono stage and the Rega rep who originally sold it to me wanted to sell me new tubes for my preamp instead of identifying the problem with the turntable. I walked out and never went back. Since then I've relied on Nick to help me put together a sound system that I am now *very* happy with. No BS, just solid advice, long experience, an impressive depth of knowledge and a genuine desire to get you the best sound you've ever had. Nick will tell you the truth. He can repair and upgrade as well. He primarily represents Audio Note UK (which now comprises the bulk of my system) but he specializes in getting the best sound, new or pre owned, for you within your means. This is genuinely important to him. Nick and his wife Lee are good people. I trust them.

They are truly amazing people. I had some issues setting up my turntable and speaker system…read more Even though I didn't purchase the audio system directly from them, they were happy to provide consultations over the phone and reviewed all the photos and steps I sent. They are incredibly knowledgeable and walked me through instructions I might have missed. They even followed up with a call afterward. I would highly recommend them.

Phenomenal customer service. Myself and a coworker scheduled an appointment to evaluate some…read morespeakers. We were hosted the next day by the most professional staff, and ultimately purchased what we demoed. I wouldn't hesitate to use Audio High again in the future.

I bought my first setup here at Audio High and my experience has been great and worry-free. Daniel…read moreand Paul are both friendly and experienced, helping me through demo, order, and delivery, and providing me advices. Communications and follow-up have been also excellent. I feel comfortable to recommend the team to people around me.

Walked in by chance and was met with such a friendly spirited and passionate audiophile comrade who…read morewas so open to spend time and share with me. I can't wait to find a chance to check back in. Top notch and truly a quality nobleman of what hifi audio is about to me. Thanks Tim!

For the price of a second hand Porsche you can have a sound system worth a Ferrari…read more Vivacious trebles that sparkle like a coastal chandelier hit by a chilly ocean sunrise. Bass so full and concentrated, it makes my coffee dance into drops. And the mids? Ahhh the mids. It's like love. True, mad, first love. Taut and perfumed like an exotic spice wood violin bow, warm-honey rich and loving beyond generosity. My special order speakers have yet to arrive, but already listening to the sound system that Tim made for me is how I imagine picnics in heaven. Tim was in craft, he is in art. Expect directness, honesty, detailed instructions. Tim walks the fine line between grace and sternness, and comes through with grace. Way ahead of the competition.

Found as I walking by. Went in, it's a very nice shop! I was not looking for anything in particular…read moreand just browsed around. Employees were nice and let me look and spend some time in the shop. Can't speak to price or anything didn't inquire about anything.

I stopped in Curtis on upgrading my system and Jacob was an absolute gem of knowledge! He took me…read morethrough multiple listening rooms and let me try some incredible speakers and we talked room design and musical instruments, the kind people at Music Lovers Audio are there for your audio questions and upgrades

Music Lovers Audio & Video is exactly what its name promises, and Spencer Giel is exactly the kind…read moreof person you want guiding you through one of the most rewarding and dangerous journeys you can embark on as an audiophile. I came in as someone just getting into the high end audio market, surrounded by gear I could only dream about, and Spencer never once made me feel unwelcome or out of place. I've visited other stores where you can feel judged the moment you walk in based on your wallet size. That was never the case here. As someone around my age with the same passion for amazing sound without millionaire budgets, he got it immediately. He worked with me from start to finish, helping me build a system that punches well above its price point. The result was a carefully curated blend of tubes and solid state that created a synergy I didn't fully appreciate until I heard it all together. He helped me select my Paradigm Persona 5F speakers, Audio Research LS27 preamp, Parasound A21+, AudioQuest Niagara 3000, and interconnects. Each brand chosen with intention, Paradigm out of Toronto, Parasound originally based right here in San Francisco, Audio Research from Minnesota, and AudioQuest from Irvine CA. Respected names with solid reputations in the audiophile community that fit my budget without compromising on quality. Any system I was curious about I was able to audition without any pressure or hesitation. That kind of access says a lot about how they treat customers. And it doesn't stop at the sale. They helped with three moves of my audio gear, something regular movers simply are not equipped to handle with equipment this precious. They also helped connect my system which is a level of service you just don't expect from a retailer. That kind of relationship goes well beyond a transaction. The store itself is filled with incredible gear across some of the most coveted lines in the industry. McIntosh, Audio Research, Boulder, Anthem, dCS, and speakers from Paradigm, KEF, Wilson, Sonus Faber, and more. They also specialize in home theater if that's your thing. Just be warned, every visit is a little dangerous to the wallet. And don't overlook their preowned section either, it's where real bargains hide. That's how I picked up my Audio Research preamp for half its original price. This place is a "Music Lovers" dream whether you are just starting out or building your end game system. Ask for Spencer Giel, he's the real deal!

Short version: 5…read morestars. Best of class in San Francisco for people who love music. Go there for good gear selection, good conditions to try stuff, honest expert opinions (that will challenge you), and professional service. Long version: I have been shopping at the San Francisco location for close to a decade now. Over that period, I bought three or four pairs of headsets, a turntable, and a tube amplifier, along with a set of random accessories. So, presumably, somewhere under $10k total. I am not rich by any standard, and every purchase usually takes me months, sometimes years before I make a decision. I have also, during that period, bought equipment from other shops as well (specifically a number of DACs that they do not carry), and sometimes online. On the "issues" side, I brought back my amp and they got it serviced for free, working with the company (something was defective with the power unit). I also had to replace the cartridge of my turntable (broken by a (now) former friend), and they got me a good discount on the replacement. Every time, this was handled seriously and professionally. What I like with Music Lovers: - I never feel pressured to buy anything - they let me hang out in the store for extended headsets listening sessions (yes, you have to show that you are serious about this, not just passing by) - when asking ahead of time, they will setup a listening room for me with a reproduction of my existing system for a test session (just that is gold) - they know what they are talking about - they are not afraid of having opinions and sharing them - not (too much) audiophile bullshit - their brand selection is satisfying - you can score good deals on pre-owned, demo units, or previous-gen - they are responsive Now, reading some of the negative reviews, I thought I would add a few words to help people make the best of it - or decide it is not for them. The most recurring complaint is that "they are arrogant", "customer service is disrespectful". Yeah well, this is audiophile territory. People in this are driven by passion before anything else. So, what do you want exactly? Passion, but without passion? Yes, they will dish out on gear WX, or push gear YZ, or might look down on you if you claim that your gimmicky Wirecutter-recommended-gizmo is awesome. Deal with it. Drop the entitled American customer attitude. Just because you have money does not make your every dumb view worthy of respect. If you can't tell the difference between an honest opinion and "bad" customer service, then you should go to Walmart. "Talking down to you" and out of your shitty takes is them doing you a big service, instead of sucking up to you and selling you whatever overpriced cool-aid. No one is forcing you to agree with their opinions, or get passionate yourself. Just take these in for what they are (informed, expert views), do some side reading and research, develop your ear, and test yourself to figure out what is good for you. Agree with what you can confirm. Then ignore the rest. Simple. At the end of the day, this is not so much about their attitude than it is about yours: are you in it to find gear that you objectively like? or for the "shopping experience", to have people polish that oversized ego, hypnotizing you into buying the latest over-hyped idiocy? Loving music is very much like loving wine. It is hard. Nothing is obvious at first. It is exclusive. It's about honesty, and developing that ability to focus on intrinsic qualities rather than whatever a gullible market say is good. It takes a lifetime of commitment to developing that organ. So, do you expect reverent staff feeding you, ad-nauseam, that disgusting, sticker-buyer $500 Napa Chardonnay? Or do you want to learn something about wine and get to experience that Chablis Grand-Cru? Have fun, music lover :-).

I would give this place and the owner Stuart Lee 6 stars if I could! What he did for me~…read more 1) called looking for a Sony TV that was recently discontinued and the guy gave me two 45 minute educational phone consultations on everything I need to know about TVs,cable and Satellite and componentry. 2) Then he sold me a better TV than I wanted for less than the best price I found on the discontinued one! 3) THEN he sold me a blue ray DVD player super cheap to go along with the TV purchase! 4) THEN he personally came over and installed and programmed everything to my liking! 5) Then he gave me two pairs of real SONY 3-D glasses for my two youngest children who tore up his show room and store while he was educated me two days prior! 6) THEN Stuart guy further phone consulted with his vast knowledge a friend of mine and informed him of many issues of cable service and TVs as well.... 7) THEN I told a Pastor friend about Stuart only to find out Stuart was instrumental in the Pastor becoming what and who he is today! If i needed a TV or home entertainment system set up,I would call and have Stew do his thing with full faith and confidence in his work,pricing and subsequent customer service! I could not give someone on YELP a higher recommendation.I would ask this guy to babysit for me if I needed a babysitter-LOL-I totally trust him and you can as well! :). This is NOT a paid endorsement-this place and the owner are everything you want in sales and service!

These guys are great and a truly under-the-radar gem…read more I was having a tough time choosing between crappy service / clueless help and low prices from the big chains when I was introduced to these guys. Their showroom is bare-bones at best but their service is off the charts and the prices are scary low. Let me give you an idea of how good the service is. We had to make a compromise on the installation because of a 'wife acceptance factor'--no way she wanted some big piece of equipment exactly where it needed to go because of the way it looked. We knew this would cause a drop in performance, but I said OK and signed off anyway. But here is the thing. A month later, Stuart called up and said 'hey can I drop by' and said he had been thinking about the issue, made a modification and everything worked better--at no extra charge, just for free and because he wanted the job to be perfect. This was a month AFTER I had paid for everything and signed off! Would Circuit City do that for you? I think not. They have also talked me into less expensive options more than once. That ever happen to you at Best Buy? These guys are the best, by far, for high end entertainment installation.

Came to the store today to look for karaoke equipment so I could fix the sound system problem I…read morehave at home. Customer service was great here. Marwan was very knowledgeable. You could tell he knows his stuff and speaks the truth. Equipment prices here are reasonable and comparable to others. Lots of brand names, levels and options depends on your needs. I'm so glad I finally found my audio go to shop locally.

They have so much great gear, all the things a pro needs!!! But their customer service needs work…read more You get followed/stalked as if you'll steal something, and if you say you're just looking around they get mad. They need to play some background music and let customers look around for a minute.

Pros: - David was great at assessing the situation and being…read moreable to test out the doorbell I needed him to install - great communication and was able to come help me out the next day. Was on time and worked quickly. - charged a fair price that's to standard Cons: - didn't really have room for negotiation but price was fair Overall, very happy with the work and results. Would recommend!

Managed to get David on an off day. He needed to come by to see what he could really do. I was…read moreinterested to get Ethernet pulled from my basement to my wire closet. It came quickly. Measured. Realized there was no internal way to get the cable down rather had to come up the side of the house through the bedrooms. Not ideal but now I know. He was patient and knowledgeable through the process. Now let's see if I have to get starlink or frontier.