I hadn't been in sound exchange in almost a decade but when I stepped inside looking for holidays gifts this season it was as if I stepped back in time to my 20s. Nostalgia factor through the roof. I swear some of the posters up are the same. A solid selection of vinyl, cds, and other music needs. I saw a small wall of books for sale as well. They're still buying 2nd hand if your items are in demand and good condition. We were not in there to sell so I can't speak to any rules or advice there. We did score a couple used and new vinyl to gift the in laws and it made them mighty happy come xmas day. read more

The staff doesn't seem like they want to work here. Not super friendly or very attentive. I am not a big fan of new vinyl being mixed in with old used vinyl. The majority of their stock is used vinyl and that's great if you're into that, which I am not. The new records I did purchase had permanent impressions on the cover from their anti-theft tag. there were only a couple people in the store. How hard is it to pay attention to what they are doing. A lot of used hi fi gear that's not in great shape seems to be collecting dust. Pretty underwhelming experience overall and I won't be back. It was my second trip. Too many other good record stores in the Tampa Bay Area to patronize. read more

Zero return policy. Supposed to be : return within 7 days. Purchased a CD player , turntable and Radio. The CD player had a Brocken plug. Not only Would it not work. It's obviously dangerous 2/10/2025. Returned 2/15/2025. Requested an exchange for a different CD player. NO WAY. The ONLY option Is to leave it for Ron (the owner ) , to fix it!! Since I live an hour away, it's not practical. Further, if the items are tested thoroughly prior to sales; how did this happen. Shady business. read more

Sound Exchange - Sound Like exchange Tampa, Fl. - Music & DVDs Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Cool place - lots and lots of good vinyl, cds, some cassettes. Fantastic posters on the wall - none for sale . Prices seem fair. Friendly staff. read more

I strongly advise against doing business with Sound Exchange. I came in with a well-maintained collection of 126 DVDs and Blu-rays -- many unopened, including steelbooks, limited editions, and top titles. I'd just been offered $120 by a local pawn shop and asked if Sound Exchange could do better. The clerk dismissed me immediately, stating, "We typically offer 50 cents to a dollar per Blu-ray," and refused to even glance at the organized digital catalog I offered to share (via CLZ) to save her time. Instead, she insisted I bring in the entire collection, clearly uninterested in helping or making an informed offer. Her attitude felt unwelcoming and uninterested -- like my time and business weren't worth the effort. Ironically, as I left, I saw one of my exact steelbook editions on their shelf priced at $89.99. They offer you pennies, then turn around and mark up massively. I rarely leave negative reviews, but this was one of the most dismissive and disappointing retail interactions I've had. It felt like they just didn't want my business. Based on my experience, I do not recommend Sound Exchange to anyone. read more

Sound Exchange - They seem to take as much care for prospective customers as they do their building. - Music & DVDs Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Very nice people, highly recommended! I didn't use them, but they were super awesome to deal with!

I've been using this place for years since I moved here and it is nothing short of amazing. They have an amazing selection of CD's, DVD's, Vinyl and more. Also, they without a doubt have the BEST prices on DVDs / Blu-Rays, it's always a happy moment when I'm in there. The staff too are always so chill, they're kind and never breathing down your neck. They let you shop and browse in peace, and if you do need help or have a question they will do all they can to help you. 10/10 my go to and you should all check them out too. read more

I must say, Mr. Ron W. and Co. have so much in terms of selection of all types of media at both their Tampa and Pinellas locations! I am not sure of the negative reviews others are giving on customer service. I've always been asked if I needed assistance or if I found everything that I was looking for, and I mainly prefer to be left to my own devices while browsing anyways. Further, James of the Tampa location was a huge help in special ordering a St. Anger vinyl by Metallica for me! Prices and value are very competitive with other record stores in the area. Very hard for me to leave empty-handed, I always find something I have been looking for here. I doubt it possible due to the layout of the shop, but the only thing preventing this from being 100% perfect is space for local artists to do live shows. That would put the icing on the cake for me! Also Mr. Ron W., if you are reading this, I would love to work at your store, when an opening is available! You guys rock! One of if not THE best record shop in Tampa, could not recommend more. Cheers read more

starting to see the 1-star pattern as of 2025... uneducated management staff, especially when dealing with used vinyl. I'm not going to waste my time with specifics, as I'm sure "Ron" will contradict everything I've said. All I ask is you don't give a dime of your money to this business!! There are too many record stores in the Tampa Bay Area that treat people well and are knowledgeable in grading vinyl. Lastly, their vinyl section is atrocious! At least 80% of their vinyl are new, crummy digital copies to lathe that sound worse than streaming. There's the lack of knowledge right there-lol! read more

Since the first time I visited Sound Exchange, I have experienced nothing but top-tier customer service. The vinyl, CD, and DVD selection is incredible and speaks for itself, but if you're looking for sound system equipment, Ron is one of Tampa Bay's most valuable resources. I reached out to Ron in 2023 as I was looking to service a hand-me-down turntable, and he was very up front about his repair policy and what to expect. I can imagine I'm one of many who come to him with an older turntable in disrepair, and Ron clearly explained that my equipment could be fixed but it wouldn't be worth the value of the piece overall. Instead of taking my money and turning me away, at my request, he walked me through how I could upgrade by current sound system. This man is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to home audio systems, and he explained all the nuances of how I could modify and improve my current setup. He will tell you he's long-winded, but he will also ask you how much you WANT to learn; in my case, I wanted to understand everything that I could absorb. Ron sold me a direct-drive Technics that has been a massive upgrade to my record system; I couldn't be happier with that addition. In December 2025, I reached back out to Sound Exchange inquiring about a CD carousel and amplifier service, and Ron very promptly responded to my email request and invited me back to the store to look over his selections and repair my system. When I arrived, he had several units for me to review, and he walked me through the ups and downs of each. At my inquiring, he even explained how I could upgrade and/or modify my current amplifier. Not once did he pressure me or try to upsell me on a unit, but he was still willing to take his time and walk me through the store and educate me about how various speakers and amplifiers work, as well as what I could do in the future to make my home audio station stronger. Since getting it serviced at Sound Exchange, the amplifier has never worked better. I did purchase a JVC CD player that day that unfortunately didn't operate or function entirely to its capabilities. I emailed Ron promptly within the 7-day return policy window to let him know and determine the next steps, and once again, he responded immediately and explained to me that I could bring it back and exchange it for another unit. Once more, he had two units available and gladly swapped mine for another. I'm happy to say that the Pioneer CD player that I took home has worked impeccably and has expanded my sound system to new heights. I'd recommend anyone who is looking for sound equipment to reach out to Ron and Sound Exchange and experience this valuable resource in the Bay area. He truly is a unicorn in an age where everything is bought online! read more

First time visiting this store. Good collection of music. I bought two CDs for $10. I recommend this business. read more

I have been going to this place for as long as I can remember and I don't see myself stopping anytime soon. Great selection, prices are much lower than the local competition, and the staff are incredibly knowledgeable. If you're looking for any kind of movies, music, or hardware, SE is definitely the best place to start. read more

Sound exchange has several locations all of them pretty much laid out the same, which is a good thing, you have no trouble going to the sections that interest you. Good prices on used music as well as competitive prices on new music read more

If you're interested in music this is the place to check out, huge layout, great staff, Leo especially helped make my day special one. Thanks man read more

I could honestly spend hours in this store (and I plan to on a day I have more time to wander). A plethora of music options for music lovers of all kinds, books, media and more! I came looking for Amy Winehouse's 2nd album, 'Back to Black' on vinyl and did not leave disappointed (I even snagged a cute little TLC magnet on my way out ). read more

Sound Exchange - Amy Winehouse x 'Back to Black" - Music & DVDs Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Rude and untimely. went in trying to sell some tapes at 2:00. they said the tape buyer would be there shortly. also said that they could not buy the cassettes without the buyer there when on there website they said "CDs, Blu-Rays, DVDs, and cassettes can be brought into any store at any time to sell ". liars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I stayed there until 3:00 in hopes of the buyer showing up, but never did. will not be visiting again. also this "Ron w" fellow seems terribly rude. read more

I brought my cd collection of smooth jazz cds from Hudson florida. And left them so they could go through them I then called back and they told me they were not interested in my collection of jazz cds and to come and pick them up.I drove all the way from Hudson when I got there they couldn't fin my cds. A couple of days later they called me that they found my cds . Again I drove from Hudson to their place of business. I would not recommend this place to anyone looking to sell their cds. I'm no read more

I went in last week with 67 4k movies. I was offered $140 from the clerk, I told him that the price didn't work and I would go sell what I could and bring the rest back. So I sold half of my collection for more than what he offered me and I brought the other discs back. I was told they have a store policy that if you reject their initial offer then you cannot go back and sell discs there again because they considered the first quote a waste of time. I never leave reviews but this was the pettiest thing I have ever experienced. So if you plan to go in for a highly low baller price and don't accept it, don't go back because they won't work with you again "store policy". read more

Rude customer service! I stood there for quite a while before I was even glanced at. Three people at the register and not one could let me know they would be with me momentarily. They didn't speak , make eye contact or acknowledge. Strange to me but how you treat people matters to me. read more

| Good Sounds, Affordable Exchange | I've always been a music lover and enjoyed vinyl collecting. With the onset of vinyl becoming more popular these days the prices at certain places reflect that, but at Sound Exchange you can find awesome deals. They have multiple sections of items like books, posters, DVDs, music equipment, albums in all formats, and anyone can leave with something they enjoy. I was specifically there for vinyl but I did see some books that I liked as well. This shop has a large vinyl selection but particularly focuses more on rock than other genres. Country, R&B, recent Pop, Hip Hop, and other genres have smaller sections in comparison. Likely this just reflects interest of consumers in the area and the industry as a whole but if you are looking for something other than rock your choices are limited. However, even with smaller sections there are great album finds that average $3 - $5 for used vinyls. It's a great place for music and movie lovers of all types and you can definitely find something affordable to add to or start any collection. read more

The selection in this store is unbeatable. They've got such a variety of generes and artists, both new and old. They are not limited to just music either. The dvd selection here is greater than anywhere else nowadays. I love the hometown vibe that this place has. When you step in here, you feel the vibe of a locally owned business and I love it. Their prices are fair. It might be a couple of dollars cheaper in amazon if you're buying something that was recently released but I'd pay the extra fee dollars to support a local business and to not have to wait for it to come in the mail. The staff was super nice and there's plenty of parking. Definitely worth the trip out. read more

Was in town on vacation and wanted to do some record shopping and this came up on a list of top stores in Tampa. Selection of vinyl was mostly new, with some used mixed in. I'm mostly looking for punk (specifically 90s skate punk). Was tough here since things were not really sorted by genre and since a lot of what I was looking for is not bigger artists, for each letter of the alphabet I'd have to go through all the artists then flip through all the miscellaneous. Ended up scoring a deal on a vintage copy of Never Mind the Bollocks by the Sex Pistols so that was sweet. read more

The following is an OPINION related to my bad experiences I have had at Tampa Sound Exchange: I used to love shopping here, but I feel that customer service is no longer up to my standards. It pains me to say this, but some Blu-rays, CDs, or DVDs will not work at all. I let it slide for a while, but now I feel like it's become a nuisance to have to deal with multiple returns. Equipment sales feel like a hassle to deal with as well. Sometimes involving multiple trips back to the store for various reasons. I will be avoiding this place in the future. *EDIT* Obviously I've been banned for my 1 star review on Sound Exchange. This is the first time in my entire life I've ever been banned from anything. If you look at the 1 star reviews on the Pinellas store, you'll see a long pattern of argumentative responses dating back several years which does nothing more than prove my point about customer service. In the post digital age, people do not deserve to be treated like this. read more

Fairly large store with amazing selection of well-priced CDs, massive vinyl selection, and DVDs and Blu-Rays. There are also box sets, stereo systems, books, magazines, and more things I'm forgetting. I like the organization here, which is by artist/director, and includes some pretty rare stuff. Also classic rock has its own CD section, which is interesting. Bonus is you can wander around the thrift store next door. read more

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Sound Exchange has a fantastic selection of vinyl, CDs, DVDs, and a nice selection of used books. Wide aisles made it easy to browse. Prices on everything seemed fair. Recommended! read more

As one of the last remaining Record Stores in the Tampa Bay Area, Sound Exchange has grown more than ever into a one-stop shop for the music and movie enthusiast. My most recent visit was the first in over a year, and I was so impressed with the improvements that I went on a bit of a spree to all three Bay Area stores. The North Tampa location is still the backbone with an amazing selection of new and vintage vinyl, deep catalogue CDs, DVDs/Bluray, posters, books, stereo equipment, etc. My favorite aspect of these local stores is that, unlike chain stores, they are able to weed out the junk to create a really unique selection. For example, this round I got a Civil Wars record, a Kurosawa Criterion DVD, and the Gene Wilder autobiography. It would be tough to find any of those in town, let alone all in one place, and at a steal of a price. You also won't find staff like this at a chain store. Everybody has their niche, which makes them super helpful for recommendations, "tip of my tongue" reminders, and for generally interesting information. Before I left, Mr. Steve helped me special order something I've been meaning to grab for months to encourage me to remember to make a return visit soon (which is what you should be doing right now). read more

Sound Exchange - I traded in a bag of DVDs and this was my haul. You just can't beat the selection anywhere in town. - Music & DVDs Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Below is the response you receive when you simply request a refund for receiving damaged merchandise from their online store. read more

Sound Exchange - The shipment. - Music & DVDs Near Me - Tampa, Florida

One of if not the best record, CD, movies and various other media store in the Central FL area. The widest selection of movies and cds I've come across in a while. read more

"Another One Bites The D...." Sound Exchange on Nebraska used to be my go to record store on the Tampa side of the bay, but not anymore. I've sold many vinyl records there over the years, and bought plenty of other things from them. However, this time, in order to sell, I had to sign a slip of paper (contract) first. Then their buyer lowballed the value of the vinyl, and when I said I'd just keep my vinyl (the six records were worth more than $5) she told me there was a $5.00 fee just for looking at my records. I said "you're kidding," and she said it's in the contract. She said I could just sell one to "comply" with the terms of the contract, so I just sold one and got out of there with my $2. From now on, I'll just make the big trip across the bay and go to Daddy Kool's in St. Pete. They're straight shooters, with a better selection and better prices (and they know how to keep customers.) Oh, and one final irony: the SE buyer said she was paying low because of 'quality,' but just a few weeks ago, I bought a Pink Floyd CD there that wouldn't play. I guess the 'exchange' is just a one way street for them. read more

Where else can you go buy the new Shout Out Louds CD in the Tampa Bay area? Oh yeah, NOWHERE ELSE. And yeah, I'd like to buy the CD and not download it free on the Internet where sound quality sucks. This place is a Tampa gem. Record stores are going extinct and we are extremely lucky to still have something like Sound Exchange. Awesome vinyl selection, vintage stereos, etc. read more

Sound Exchange is exactly what you want in a used media store: Funky selection, wide inventory, and piles of stuff to dig thru. Staff was helpful when I wanted them to be, and left me alone otherwise. Just as it should be. I honestly don't buy nearly as much music as I used to (course, I have TONS already...) and yeah, I miss Vinyl Fever and Alternative Record. Sound Exchange was never the 'cool kids' shop, but they're the last ones standing. That says something. And: They have a section with cool older (60s/70s) amps and other high end stereo equipment. Hipster paradise. Oh, did I mention the actual record sections? Ditto. I actually bought a CD today. Haven't done that in about a year. read more

Ok cleaning house, moving and decided done with clutter. Brought in about 12 movies and tons of CDs ( that they didn't buy) and walked out with $30. Obviously not a money maker, but cool store with tons of used movies, CDs and Real records! Just could really do without the lame, cocky attitude of the staff. They are just too cool for me, obviously! read more

Seemed as if all newer vinyl not my fave record store large space, but seemed to have vintage stereo equipment which was nice but limited for me on the greats in classic vinyl always in pursuit of anything original Beatles ! read more

Went looking for Abbey Road and Revolver on CD, found them very fast! They have a huge selection of albums that is sure to have something for everyone. They take social distancing very seriously, so don't fear coming here, as they will make sure everyone in the store is safe. My Revolver CD was warped on inspection, so I called them and they scheduled a replacement for me! As long as you have the item and receipt then if they have a copy in stock, you can exchange it no hassle! Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for albums. Edit: I got my revolver CD replaced very quickly, and it plays really well! Thank you for helping me and especially Yanni on the phone for helping me get the CD replaced quickly. read more

Give these folks props!!! They are among the few remaining independent record / CD / DVD shops in Florida. Plus they have several locations. Best news: They have a large selection of Rock, Hard Rock, Classic Rock, and Heavy Metal. Not just rap and pop the crappy music that MTV, radio stations, our society, and the wanna bees cram down our throats!!! Sound exchange also has a blues section, classical, and other genres. Stop in and thank them for having a record store that we can take our children too!!! Rock On!!!!!! Metal 4 Life!!!!! read more

I am a big fan of Sound Exchange. I have purchased and sold many items there. They are pretty fair and gave me good deals on everything I sold. I sold them an old skool CD player with remote and I got a $50 store credit, can't beat that! I like looking at the retro equipment, like huge 70's amps, reel to reel players, and the 80's era integrated setups. I have also purchased a majority of my Disney Blu-ray collection here. They have the rare ones and they don't sell it at exaggerated prices. I had purchased Snow White, Fantasia, Pinocchio, Toy Story and other out of print discs. They also have a nice selection of music DVD's, like concerts, documentaries, and biopics. For gamers, they have retro games for NES, SNES, Genesis and even for the old monochrome Game Boy. As far as the discs and records, wow what a treat it is to browse their extensive collection. For CD's, they have several box sets, audiophile discs like DCC, MoFi, and Audio Fidelity, import versions like SHM and Blu spec, and also SACD's. The prices are not bad, either. The vinyls are also affordable and not jacked up. The 45's are not overpriced, unlike other places who treat 80's Beatles Starline 45's as if they were original Capitol rainbow pressings. The real treat would be their clearance and compilations section. Most of those discs are below $3 and there are also a lot of real finds and not just commons and discards. Also, the exterior architecture of the store is really retro. I dunno when they first operated there but it must have been from the 80's. I would always keep coming back to Sound Exchange, they are the best! read more

Driving from about an hour away usually once a month for the last few years. Overall a great store. I primarily buy CDs, DVDs, Blu-Ray, and occasionally records. They also have some video games, novelty items, books/comics and stereo equipment. Selection is great, prices keep me coming back, and merchandise is reliable. Buying used merchandise and it's all worked perfectly. Staff are friendly and courteous. I typically don't ask questions, but when I do, answers have been good. They're always answering customers questions and I've yet to hear them be rude. Wish I could get back more frequently but when I do go, I always leave with a bag full. Weird detail, they do provide a detailed receipt always. Some small shops have just prices and totals, they have item name and price on receipt which is a plus. A+ happy customer read more

Awesome selection, awesome selection, awesome selection. I know I mentioned awesome selection, but this place has a great selection of whatever you're looking for. The only problem is he's very overpriced. read more

Great place to buy movies; nice selection with solid prices. Some off the staff are low-class individuals. I know it's cool to treat everyone like they are worthless and that they are wasting your time. I lived in NYC for many years, I get the act . I was seriously offended on two occasions there, I would love to speak to the owner of this company to share my experience. Marc Spardello read more

Huge selection of CDs and DVD's. Great selection of vintage audio equipment at great prices. Good selection of new & used vinyl too. Worth a stop. read more