I am located in Los Angeles, and I reached out to Dariusz in July 2021 regarding a rare Basis 2200 turntable for sale. While it was an incredible pain to ship the turntable quickly, it was by no fault of Dariusz who communicated with me perfectly every step of the way. The person who sold the TT to Q Audio did not have the original boxes and packing materials, and Dariusz did the right thing by refusing to ship it with non-manufacturer supplied materials. It caused an extra wait and a small additional cost, but I cannot thank him enough for his care with shipping the TT properly to ensure absolutely zero damage and issues during transit. He also included a new Basis belt for free, almost a $200 value, an out-of-pocket cost on his end. It's been about 6 months since I've had the turntable now, and I cannot be happier with the purchase. It was a big investment and I am so glad I trusted him with the transaction. Dariusz is incredibly knowledgable and passionate about his work and took care of me with total professionalism. Can't recommend highly enough. read more

Q Audio - Electronics Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Dariusz serviced my Pioneer PL-530. He was able to complete in a few days. He walked me through what he fixed and helped me understand how the mechanisms and electronics worked. Great resource and would definitely have him work on other electronics in the future. read more

Owner was very nice and willing to explain a lot of things to me regarding audio subjects and equipment. Very trustworthy I think. Plan on going back read more

So I call to ask the guy if he does the service of installing speakers in your apartment and he tells me it depends so I tell him the details of what kind of speakers they were and he had no idea what kind of speaker system when they are ranked number one for PC speakers then he tells me to send him an email with all the information and then tells me that he will decide if he wants to do the job for me all over a very poor customer service read more

More than satisfied: Darius at Q Audio does fabulous work, designing and installing a new tv/audio home entertainment center. It's complicated stuff-- but Darius installed the system with great care, and explaining the details and functions as he went along. He exceeded any expectations with patiently demonstrating how to operate all aspects of the system, with capabilities we never had in past systems. Could not be more enthusiastic in recommending Q Audio to everyone. read more

Q Audio is one of my favorite audio stores! Great service from Darius - very knowledgeable, patient and spot-on with his recommendations. Well appointed store, comfortable place to audition equipment. I ended up buying a Musical Fidelity M3si stereo amplifier, Bluesound Node 2i streamer and Kimber cables - sound great with the my Bowers and Wilkins 603 speakers - more than enough power, clean, detailed couldn't be happier! Much thanks Darius! I had only recently realized that I bought an NAD AV Receiver and Grado headphones about 20 hrs ago from Q Audio and decided I had to visit when I was in Boston - very glad that I did :-) read more

I. LOVE. THIS. PLACE. Do yourself a favor - you can spend countless hours going to CNET, Wirecutter, WhatHiFi, Wired, AudioScienceReview, etc or you can talk to Dariusz. Read some of the negative reviews and that's simply not been my experience - he's not a "mansplainer" (he's an audio enthusiast who will share with his opinion) and he's not a closet racist (I am black, I am super sensitive to establishments where I do not feel welcome and Dariusz has been anything but). Dariusz is knowledgeable, took his time to research my equipment and offered suggestions on how to change settings to improve it, and has actually talked me out spending more money than I need to. Q Audio is now my go to place for audio equipment!!! read more

Do not shop at this store if you want a simple system. That is what I clearly asked for, but that is not what I got. I also specifically said I wanted to be able to use my iPod by connecting it with a cable, not using Bluetooth, but every time I've communicated with Dariusz, he's given me a long lecture about using Bluetooth. Dariusz sold me a fairly expensive Powernode and Paradigm speakers. I don't think he understands what "simple" means even though I made very clear that I didn't have the skills to figure out anything complicated, nor the time or patience to acquire them. I had to get a friend who works in IT to help me set it up. Then the troubles started. First, Powernode stopped supporting Apple music. Not Dariusz's fault, but perhaps could have been predicted given that Powernode is, as my IT friend put it, very "niche." This wasn't a huge problem for me since I was using a cable. Then, after a series of updates, the "analog" option disappeared from the menu. I've written to the Powernode support team and their advice has not been helpful. I've written to Dariusz asking him to buy back the Powernode from me (not for what I paid for it, of course) because in my opinion, he failed to provide what I requested: a simple device. He could have written back saying no, but instead he didn't even answer me. So: if you are a techie, this store will be great for you. Otherwise, avoid it. Dariusz will tell you he is giving you something user-friendly but I think he is incapable of understanding what that means for people who are not as knowledgeable as he is. read more

Brought in an older Denon amp that produced scratchy sounds out of one, sometimes two, ports. Dariusz had performed outstanding service about 10 years prior on this amp and, again, repaired, cleaned all controls and switches, soldered pcb board, AND had the unit back to me within a few days. Dariusz is an audio repair genius, and, more important, a fair, honest, and reasonable businessman. Go to him if you are having ANY problems with your audio equipment...won't be sorry! read more

Excellent customer service. I called in and talked with the owner about my record player and the pieces I need. He happily talked with me on the phone for 20 minutes and walked me through the quality of equipment I had and instructed me on how to set my speakers up with my amp and pre-amp. This is a fantastic business and happy to support its business! read more

Q Audio shines for its customer service. Darius not only did a superb job repairing a used vintage Technics turntable that I brought in a pretty rough state of wear, but also took 20 minutes to answer all of my questions about it, including specific questions about what he fixed and general questions about the mechanics of the device and how to care for it going forward. I considered giving him a four-star review because it took a while to get on his calendar, but even that was a result of his exceptional commitment to doing right by his clients. Darius may be very busy, but it's because he is in such high demand for doing great work. read more

Customer service is incredible!! I was having an issue setting up the new speakers I bought from him with my receiver. I sent Dariousz an email on Friday night on Memorial Day weekend not thinking I would hear back until Tuesday. He called me Satuday morning to try and troubleshoot some things over the phone. Unfortunately that didn't work, but he contacted me first thing on Tuesday morning to continue trying to solve my problem with some additional things to try. He was going to come to my house if I still could resolve my issue. Thankfully, his additional advice solved the problem. To have someone call you back on a holiday weekend shows how important his customers are to him!! I will certainly be back to make any future purchases. Dariousz knows his stuff for sure and does not try to upsell you. He will tell you exectly what you need to get the best sounding system at the price you can afford and give you things to keep in mind if you want to upgrade in the future!! read more

Dariusz was super helpful in sorting out a used turntable I brought in. When I ran into technical issues due to my own stupidity, he was so helpful in troubleshooting and even followed up to make sure I was all set. Excellent customer experience and some great sounding gear in the store. Recommended without hesitation! read more

My son discovered Q Audio when he moved back to Boston. We have both made several purchases there and been totally satisfied. We've also had Dariusz repair or adjust certain components of our systems. He is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. He clearly deserves all the 5 star ratings he gets. We always recommend Q Audio to our audiophile friends. Shocked to see that he received even one bad review. Steve S read more

I've never taken time to review a business on Yelp, not even a bad review, but I had such a positive experience with Dariusz, I had no choice. I brought in my father's receiver from the late 70's for an overhaul on a Friday and Dariusz had it cleaned up and working like new by Monday. read more

I purchased a Marantz PM5005 receiver that began shutting down immediately after powering unit up and still in warranty. I called Dariusz with the situation and while we were on the phone he emailed my original invoice to me all while explaining procedure to return to Marantz. Within a few weeks of returning unit an exchange PM5005 arrived and I think it sounds better than new unit I returned! Another one Dariusz has hit out of the ballpark. Thanks! read more

I fully agree with all these 5 star reviews. I tried to install a new cartridge on my turntable, but I couldn't get it quite right. I ended up taking it to another shop, but then my records kept skipping. I took it to Darius and he immediately recognized the problem, and made further adjustments. He even had me sit down in a comfortable chair as he hooked my newly tweaked turntable up to some of his nicest speakers to ensure that we didn't hear any skips throughout a whole side of an album. At the end of it, he didn't even charge me. He'll have my business for life. Amazing customer service. read more

The best audio store you will find, bar none. Dariusz is as good as it gets. I have been in here multiple times and every time I get personalized service for what I need. My first set of beginner audiophile speakers the MA RS8s I bought here and he was helpful when looking for the right pair for me. More recently my father in law wanted to buy a high end amp. Dariusz walked us through what we get and what the benefits are. If you are looking for good equipment for whatever listening you are doing, gone to Q Audio. read more

A pearl of a store. I have been to many hi-fi stores over the years, both here and in Europe. Dariusz is incredibly knowledgeable and generous with his expertise. I had an issue with my M6si and he had it back to me in a few days. Even the used equipment he sells is top notch.....he won't sell "junk". I wound up unexpectedly leaving with a used Mira 3 (yummy) and some Martin Logans, both at stupid prices. :) I couldn't resist. He is amazingly patient with newbies, no audio snobbery and not pushy at all; so don't hesitate to stop in. read more

Called and the guy was really rude on the phone. Unprompted, he went through a criticism of my whole setup. Just needed a repair, but he managed to ruin my morning :) read more

I had a bit of a tricky issue with my turntable that involved some rewiring and an even trickier issue getting home in time to box it up and make it to Central Square before Q Audio closed. I made it two minutes after closing time but was let in by Dariusz anyway, who politely waved away my concerns about arriving so late in the day. He assessed my turntable and agreed that it was a bit of a tricky problem, but despite the time, he told me he'd do what he could and that it might be a couple weeks because he was backed up with repair work. Sure enough, a couple of weeks later I get a call telling me the work is completed. Not only that, but Dariusz re-balanced my tonearm and even built a custom made handle for the cartridge (I'd taken mine off before bringing it in). All for a very reasonable price. I'm very impressed and my music has never sounded better. read more

I was excited to get a new stylus for my turntable, as the warm, crisp sounds it used to play had diminished. The stylus was old, and had seen particularly heavy daily use by me and my roommate over the past year. I had already done business with both the Audio Lab in Cambridge and the AudioProz in Watertown. I like them both, but wanted to check out another place I had heard about near MIT called Q Audio. The website said to email Dariusz with questions, so I did and explained the basics of why I wanted a new cartridge, what equipment I use, and what I listen to. He resonded quickly and suggested a Grado Green, which I had read about on a few forums. He also mentioned that they were out of stock but would be coming in, in a matter of days. When I checked in a few days later, he said they were in stock and to come in. I stopped by unannounced last Saturday afternoon. The store is small, but organized, and offers what looked to be a few different brands of speakers, headphones, amplifiers, and components. Some new, some used. Dariusz was on the phone and the store was empty. I introduced myself after his call. He remembered who I was, asked if I wanted to go ahead with the new cartridge, then without so much as a hesitation, started the installation. I was certain I'd have to leave it for a week or more. Watching the process was fascinating and obvious that he had done this very thing many times before. While he was working a group of three came in looking to get a turntable, preamp, and amplifier, which is certainly a big sale. Even though I would have gladly come back, he told the group he'd be with them in a bit and to make themselves comfortable. Then another guy came in to talk about upgrading to a multi-thousand dollar amplifier, which he did, all while Dariusz focused on my turntable, never so much as diverting his attention. I should mention I was spending $100. Not much. Meanwhile he has two people who will probably bring him close to $10,000 in sales and instead he treated me like I was the big dollar customer while they waited for their turn. He rang me up and I was on my way. I have no doubt he treated the others with the same level of respect and expertise. Consider me impressed, I'll be back. read more

What can I say. Utterly impressed. I needed a new cartridge for my TT and was referred to Q-Audio through a client. I called the store where Dariusz asked me about my equipment and what my taste in music was. He said to stop by so I did. He gave me a recommendation that I agreed with and had it installed with in minutes while I waited. My second encounter was when I purchased my first Marantz 2250B from another source. It was in good shape but needed cleaned and some love to bring it back to its full potential working order. Called Dariusz again and he was very busy and couldn't take it at the time and to call back in a month. I got impatient and took it to Audio Studio in Brookline. When I dropped it off i was specific in what I wanted. Lights updated to LED's as the old stock lights were half burnt and one of the channels for phono was weak. I said that I wanted this to be as if I had just opened the box. He said no problem. 3 weeks later I pick up the unit and he says he couldn't do the lights. Ok not a problem he fixed the main things inside right? Got it home and wrong still had issues. I called Dariusz and to my delight he said to bring it in. I picked it up soon after dropping it off and just looking at it in his showroom i automatically saw the difference. the face and knobs were gleaming like they were the day they were installed. He explained what he did and plugged it in to show me. He even took off the cover to show me the inside and the amazing job he did. Before he did I said "no, that's ok you don't have to". His reply was "I want to, I am proud of it". What? This shows a lost art in taking pride of your work no matter how big or small and taking the time to show his work. The Marantz needless to say is now perfect and looks/sounds amazing. Thank you, read more

I was a complete turntable neophyte. One recent Saturday afternoon, encouraged by lots of good word-of-mouth, I stopped into Q Audio, where Dariusz spent a good half hour or so patiently educating me on the constituent parts of record players and explaining how one of his turntables could suit someone with my current sound system setup and budget who wishes to dip his toe into vinyl. A week later, I came back to buy my first turntable. A couple of days later, I got a call from Dariusz -- he had been reviewing his records and noticed that I had been rung up for slightly more than the rate he had been charging for the turntable I purchased, and he wished to reimburse me the difference. Reaching out to notify when he could have just as easily let that discrepancy fly under the radar unbeknownst to me underscored what an honest businessman he is in addition to being a guy who has an honest and pure love of audio, and it reaffirmed for me that the good reputation he and his shop have is solidly grounded. read more

I brought my turntable in to Q Audio earlier today and could not have had a better experience. It's cliche to say, but this place is a breath of fresh air when compared to the big-box electronic stores. As it turns out, the needed repair was minor, but the owner, Dariusz, could not have been more informative or friendly. He answered all of my novice questions about what differentiates quality turntables and was genuinely excited about teaching me a little more about them. Headphones, monitors, amplifiers, and speaker systems in a clean space with a great owner -- when I'm ready to upgrade my stereo system, this is where I'm heading. read more

Had a great experience here. Darius was very friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly excited to talk about anything related to stereos! I am pretty new to hifi stereo equipment and am slowly piecing together a nice home stereo. I have found other hifi audio shop owners to be a bit pretentious, making it hard to ask basic questions without feeling stupid. Darius is definitely NOT in this crowd. He is helpful and mindful of your budget when recommending equipment. I would recommend this little shop to anyone. I will definitely be back. If you drive, make sure you have quarters for the meters down the street. Like many parts of Cambridge, there is pretty limited parking. read more

I've been into the store on 2 occasions and never greeted, even though other customers in at the same time get personal attention. As an African American audio enthusiast, I feel as though I'm not welcome in the store. The audiophile grade of equipment is marginal at best. After my latest visit (today), i will not be visiting Q Audio again...EVER!!! read more

My fiancee and I were on the market for a stereo last year and decided to take our time visiting various stores in the area to sample a range of systems. Dariusz at Q Audio was extremely helpful and relaxed in letting us try out different setups in his small - but very professional - store on Vasser St. After a few trips to his store and several others, we had decided on one of the entry level bookshelf speakers (Paradigm's Mini Monitor series). Dariusz worked with us to figure out both our budget and what we really wanted in a set of speakers. He let us take our time and didn't push us to make a commitment, even the third time we came into the store. Having settled on the Mini Monitor's, that last trip we (read: I) decided to just have a listen to the next step up in the Paradigm brand, the Studio 10s. All I could say was "hallelujah!" Those took what I thought was amazing sound and opened up whole new depths of the music I'd never heard before. I'm sure Dariusz was pleased we ended up going with them (and with the NADC326BEE Amp), but I know he would have just as happily sold us the Monitors. Such service for a customer at the lower end of his sales was fantastic to see, and I think it is lost on most businesses these days. Dariusz was even kind enough to drop the system off at our house, which was on his way home. He doesn't have the biggest range in brands in the store, but he's spent a lot of time finding top quality systems for every person's needs. Even if you don't end up buying from him, I recommend stopping by to hear how your music could sound. A year on, I still smile when I play music I haven't listened to in a while and discover a hidden melody in a song I thought I knew so well. read more

I have to admit that I am mesmerized by Q audio's decoration, they are so gentle and delicacy. The color of the wood floor is warm and smooth; it is very unique and rare. I have a wood floor apartment in China, so I understand how much effort they need to pay to maintain its beauty. And I enjoy the deck chair so much, they are one important part of my journey with gs2000e. The colorful glass upon the VP gives me a different feeling. I often behold these kind of glass in the European Church. I would say the VP and glass are perfectly match because of the history they own(I really can't find an english phase to describe) in it. read more

Dariusz knows his stuff and will be 100% honest with you. If you are looking for advice or simply just want to pick his brain, he will give you his honest opinion on what audio equipment will suffice for your needs and budget. I came in looking for an entry level record player, and left a budding audiophile with some acquired knowledge. When I got home and opened the box I found that the record player had a tiny dent in one of the corners. I was little upset and called Dariusz. When I brought it in, Dariusz took it back and gave me a brand new one. If you are thinking about buying some good equipment I would recommend talking to Dariusz first. read more

Did mail order from NYC. Darius was quick and responsive to emails. Items got to me on time! read more

In a hobby full of dubious claims, inflated prices and snake oil, it's easy to be led astray. Q Audio is a refreshing change. Audio stores are a reflection of their staff. Dariusz is a one-man shop, and he knows audio equipment better than anyone I've ever met. He's a talented technician, efficient installer, and obsessed about the details of the equipment he sells. There are acres of vinyl and the latest in high-res digital streaming. Got a budget? Dariusz will stick to it. Got a piece of equipment in need of repair? Dariusz will a) give you an honest assessment of whether it's worth doing, and b) if you choose to move forward, repair it as if it were his own. Just want to come in and get some advice or listen to a few tunes? This is the place. Bottom line: a hidden gem in the audio world. read more

All through the buying process, I was left to make my own decisions and consequently over a week later, I have no buyer's remorse. Dariusz was the consummate professional from the initial phone contact through the actual sale, answering my questions and offering information yet never wavering from the fact that I was the customer. Q Audio is my first choice for any future purchases. read more

Ducked into the store a few years ago mostly to get out of the heat and see what was in the new location. I wasn't planning on buying anything. But a couple of demo visits later, I was sold on an Anthem MRX 510 A/V receiver and NAD Viso headphones. Dariusz was knowledgeable, honest, and accommodating for a couple of demos. The advice was right for me. I have been totally satisfied with both items and with the service. read more

Had my musical fidelity m6si repaired there. Dariusz had it done in a week with reasonable price. The amp is so heavy, I can't imagine how much more it would cost only for shipping if I need to ship it back to dealer. Dariusz saved me so much time and money. Glad to have this kind of store locally! read more

I've had nothing but excellent experience at this place. Sadly this type of store is a dying breed. The selection of brands is small but that's because it is well curated - they only stock top notch audio equipment. The proprietor is a an electrical engineer and domain expert on hi fi audio and really knows his stuff. When was the last time you dealt with an expert at Radio Shack or Best Buy? The prices are competitive with online stores. If the prices are a few dollars higher you will be more than rewarded by the expertise and ability to actually try out the equipment. Audio is highly subjective. You just can't buy audio equipment from reviews alone. I recently purchased a pair of headphones. I went to the store with my old headphones and some CDs so I could A/B them with the store's models. I was set up in a comfy chair and allowed to play to my hearts content under ideal audio conditions (no blaring TVs or video games). How many other places let you do that? I choose a pair of Denons. After a week of using them they sounded great, but there was a slight squeaking coming from the plastic ear cup joints. I went back to the store and Dariusz knew exactly what I was talking about and had a perfect fix for them - a particular type of lubricant applied in the right spots. Now the phones are completely silent and the sound keeps improving with use. Dariusz definitely steered me toward the right purchase - these phones are fantastic. A few years before I also purchased a set of Grado headphones here for my college bound son. Had the same great experience back then. To my knowledge there are only two places like this in the greater Boston area - this place and a place in the Garage in Harvard Square. Q-Audio is better IMHO. read more

Small store right off of Mass Ave by MIT. I was surprised at the location and the small size, but I felt it was perfect for this One-Man Operation. It's a pretty chill and cozy place which I like. Dariusz is a wicked accommodating and friendly guy! I called in around 6:20 heading into Cambridge and he offered to stay open longer for me to come in and drop my headphones off. Got there about 20 minutes later still open. Jackpot! Before leaving we discussed about when I could pick my cans up, and he said that he might be able to finish my headphones by the next day. I think that's pretty quick for a headphone jack repair in addition to his other work. We talked and he even took into consideration the fact that I had work the next day and couldn't pick it up until sometime later next week. He called my cell and within about an 30 minutes to 1 hour later he finished! He said said that he'd be closing within 10 minutes. I rushed to make it as I was still in the area and gave him a call again to let him know, and he firmly assured me that it's fine. I was ecstatic! He was wicked professional, without being a stiff stick for sure. Oh yeah, the headphone jack was a nice One piece gold plated housing and jack, with a flexible gold plated sleeve for added durability to the wire as well was nice too. Price: $20 If you have a nice pair of cans and want to save yourself the headache (I've tried to do this with another pair) $20 is not bad at all for JUST the jack termination. A full re-cable will cost more depending on le model P.S. He has a sense of humor, and he also suggested on getting new cans, but I never felt pressured at all. I will definitely be back to take a look and consider in supporting his business. read more

I bought a turntable over the phone at Q Audio. Ever since, Dariusz, the owner, has been very helpful. He has called me back after every email I sent him, even a year after the fact. All this for a budget $350 audiophile turntable! If you're looking for a place where you will be helped readily regardless of the money you spend, this is it! read more

Had them repair a cable for me, it was quick, the cost was reasonable, and most important, the work was top notch.

I brought my receiver to Dariuz at Q audio because I thought I had fried it somehow when I first bought it a couple of years ago...it always gave me fits and problems, and Dariusz gave me a diagnostic and told me exactly what he would be doing, and what it meant. turns out I am just an idiot as there was nothing wrong with the receiver, just with the owner (me) and he showed me what I was doing wrong and how to use it in my house. All for an INCREDIBLY reasonable price, just the diagnostic. Cheers to Q audio for being honest, easy, accessible, and reasonable. Restoring my faith in local business one merchant at a time. D read more