We had a problem at our house with the power going out and it affected some of the systems and Alex came out right away was very prompt helpful. What more can you ask. Great company! read more

If you live north of Seattle in Western Washington, definitely check out Reference Media for both 2-channel audio and home theater. Apparently, they also do a lot of home theater installations in King County so consider them also for home theater installations if you're also speaking with the usual home theater companies in King County. I can recommend Reference Media from two perspectives: 1. They can put together a good sounding system: Believe it or not. stores that carry expensive audio equipment aren't always good at creating systems that sound good. I listened to the Acoustic Signature turntable in their main listening room and it sounded more veiled than I would have expected. The owner knew right away that it was the Pro-ject phono amp that was causing that veiling. To his credit, switching to a digital source through the same system showed that was the case as the same system immediately started sounding pretty epic. 2. They carry a lot of less common audio brands. What initially motivated me to visit Reference Media was that they were a Nottingham Analogue turntable dealer. I've been researching options to upgrade my turntable which has a power supply that is probably overdue to fail. In addition, they also carry Gold Note & Boulder. Though these are more esoteric brands, I would encourage you to visit them even if you have a more reasonable budget. They also carry more mainstream audio brands such as Rega, Marantz, and NAD. I believe a good proportion of their clientele comes from Western Washington University and I am confident that they can put together a great sounding system at more reasonable price points. read more

Reference Media - Electronics Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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I thought days of finding salespeople who knew their product AND were passionate about it were long gone. I am thrilled to write that I was very, very wrong. I went to see Rob after my subwoofer decided to abandon me in a heap of smoke. Anyone with an interest in top tier audio equipment should do the same. He presented me with different options and did it with a staggering depth of knowledge. I'll be a customer for life. read more

This place was awesome to go to had a lot of technology that I didn't even know existed everyone was super nice sadly didn't buy anything cuz I'm broke but what makes it even better is that my aunt is one of the owners read more

This is the place to go for high end audio/video in Bellingham. The owner is great and willing to take the time to talk shop. Very nice equipment and a great new space to experience various set-ups. The prices are competitive and what you'd expect for what you are purchasing. Love it. Only wish I had more money to spend there. read more

The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. They make every effort to make sure you get what you need and they stand behind every product that leaves their store. read more

Stopped in today because I was in the market for my first "nice" turntable. I've had several over the years, but more basic stuff. My experience couldn't have gone better. Erik helped me out and thoroughly explained how it all works. Ended up leaving with a new Pro-Ject turntable and new (well new to me) receiver. Erik gave me a great one on one lesson on getting it all hooked up. And after all that I got the treat of sitting in their listening room and hearing the greatest speakers I've ever heard in my life! Got my new gear home, hooked up and it sounds soooo good. I spent 17 years working in musical instrument retail, over 10 of which in management. In training employees I would always say "we don't sell products, we sell the experience". Sure, I could've got the same turntable online...ordering from home on the couch and it showing up on my porch in two days, but why would you do that when you can get awesome one-on-one help from an expert. One of the best retail experiences I've ever had! read more

I purchased a turntable and speaker combo from Sonos (a brand that Reference sells) and it wasn't working correctly. I went in just to ask advice about how to address the issues. Rob, one of the owners, helped me troubleshoot my issues. Turns out that Sonos shouldn't really be selling turntables as going analog to digital is not the best and Sonos should really stay in their lane. Rob was so helpful and informative though that I decided to have him help me pick out some speakers to use with my new turntable. I got some Totem mini bookshelf speakers that are amazing. I got them home and was getting some pretty terrible sound issues. I called him and he walked me through a few troubleshooting steps and then he had me bring him the turntable to do some checking. Not only was it set up wrong but it also had some grounding issues from the factory. Again, he was so helpful and so non-pressuring that I decided to buy a turntable and return the one I had. I got it home and it sounds AMAZING. Expert or beginner, I feel like everyone looking at audio or home theater systems should go and talk to these guys. Helpful, no pressure, expert advice. read more

Reference Media has the most knowledgeable, low key staff for the highest quality gear. I've visited many times and one day will purchase a high end audio set-up. There's no pressure and I enjoy getting demos of the latest gear - before Reference Media I had know idea that vinyl is NOT an inferior technology and a thing of the past. Even if you don't plan on buying right now it's worth stopping in and checking some incredible audio and home theater gear. The personal service and dedication to quality is worth the trade off for price. Even if I could get a theater system for less at Best Buy I would go to Reference Media because they have their customers best interest at heart. They tune your system to your room, install and offer consulting with the systems that I don't think is offered anywhere else. I look forward to the day when I'll go into Reference Media and purchase my system. read more

High-end audio stores sometimes share the worst attributes of many niche hobby venues -- run by people who lack social skills, a customer orientation, or, apparently, a need to sell product to survive. The most successful stores, however, feature friendly staff, comfortable settings, and a wide range of items from the entry-level to the ultra-high-end, and distinguish themselves with their service. Reference Media, thankfully, is one of the latter. The owners clearly love audio gear and good music, and love to share it with their customers -- friendly, welcoming, and chatty almost to a fault. They'll demonstrate anything they carry, and let you spend quality time watching or listening to your favorite media. They carry a range of brands of both high-end two channel and home theater gear, and offer custom design and installation to boot. Whether you're looking for a quality starter system or a ton of prestigious, flashy kit, Reference Media has you covered. read more

Very friendly service. Had an vintage turntable that needed a new cartridge. Rob found one that would work and installed it while I waited. Just what I needed. read more

I didn't realize how deep the audiophile rabbit hole goes until I dropped into Reference Media looking for a good RCA cable. Turns out that in addition to selling $20,000 speakers, they also sell stuff in my price range ($300 or less). They let you bring in your own headphones to compare to what they have in stock--and they have everything an avid music listener could want. The staff cares about what YOU want, not what they think you should buy. Ask them what they recommend and their response will be a question to sort out what you really need. They helped me find a digital analog converter in my price range and have steered me away from expensive products I didn't really need. According to the guy on duty when I first visited, "I don't like spending other people's money unless I do it right." This shop definitely lives by that philosophy. read more

Great little store, super friendly and knowledgeable staff. Very quick and responsive over e-mail regarding questions about different products. Give these guys a shot if you're looking into audio gear read more