Sound Spectrum is one of the oldest record shops in OC and is definitely an OG in the game. This shop is located in Laguna Beach where street parking will be your best bet. Inside, they have a quirky and fun setup with a good amount of crates to dig through. Despite its old age, this shop has an amazing selection of old school and modern records. They definitely have some rare finds that I have not seen at other record shops! Overall, all of the staff here are friendly and welcoming and the record prices are fair. I did not want to break the bank, but some of my fave finds I saw here were Mk.Gee, Orion Sun, Faye Webster, and Playboi Carti. Definitely stop by if you are in the area and spend some time browsing! read more

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This local gem just had a revamp with new ownership earlier this year and I have to say things are better than ever! James and the staff are super friendly and really care about making sure you leave feeling satisfied. Each time I've been I've found there vinyl collection to be growing with a mix of new age and old age. Add to your list to stop in next time you are in the area! read more

This store closed for 8 months after the passing of owner, Jim Otto, who passed in July, 2023. His wife, Edith, did her best to run the store before closing it in October, 2024. On May 29, 2025 the store re-opened with new owners who want to honor Jim and Edith and their legacy. Founded in 1967, it remains the oldest record store in OC and continues to be a community gem with vintage and new vinyl, quirky merchandise, and community events. The beat goes on. read more

I felt like I was back in the 70's when I came in here and saw all of the cool albums I had as a child! Why didn't I hang on to all of my memorabilia? This record store is FANTASTIC and I highly recommend a visit! I want to buy a turntable and come back and buy some CSNY and Jackson Browne albums!! read more

Sound Spectrum - Outside - Vinyl Records Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

I don't get it! Mostly new vinyl and it's been pressed off cd recordings. Titles are trendy - Nirvana, Lana Del Rey, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath like what one can find at Target or Walmart. Nothing for the real music enthusiast. I bet it used to be good! Weird hate vibe!! read more

My go-to record store! So happy new owners have been able to re-open the store and continue the legacy! I love the vibe in here

I had a FANTASTIC experience. They had a great selection of music (both new + used items!) The employee that helped me was incredibly helpful and kind; I felt right at home! He checked my CDs for scratches and damage to ensure I was good to go. Pricing felt fair as well. I can't wait to listen to the goodies I took home! read more

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You better call before you go down there. I went on a bustling Friday afternoon and found a locked door. The guy inside gave the the slit throat sign, as in were closed, beat it. I drove over from mission viejo and turned around and went home again. I won't ever see that store, I will find somewhere else for vinyl. The internet is always open. Thanks for not advertising being randomly closed read more

Bring that vast, dusty heap of records this way. Bring them this way, Sound Spectrum. I got the time. The planet is basically a shambles, but you, you Sound Spectrum, you have managed to provide me with some quality beats during these times of massive upheaval. I can safely say I am glad the government did not close down the human ear yet. Well, at least the government has not done that completely. I guess people still need to hear whatever the latest agitprop might be. State of the planet aside, I did appreciate the troves of 45s, cheapo records, and cast off heat on the floor, and in the back of the Sound Spectrum. The main bins reflect the fact that the store is located in a beach city, and I cannot imagine the rent or cost of living is a bargain in Laguna. Plus, enough people living nearby can spend extra--especially if one has spare dough to blow on vinyl. I remember seeing a solid Val Young LP for a few dollars. The staff let me dig through some 45s in the back, if memory serves. I came away with a neat looking copy of "Rapper's Delight" by Sugarhill Gang on .45, and I think I found an eerily minty Prince single too. Would dig here again to check out the sleeper hits under the main bins and the heaps of 45s. Thanks for listening in Spectrum. (Rumor has it a supercool individual by the name of Luna works here. I have had the privilege of speaking with Luna once or twice; she knows her stuff, and she is most congenial, so if you happen by Sound Spectrum, ask for Luna, she will be sure you leave the store with the record you need.) read more

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My pal and I are avid record collectors and always stop to see what they've got! The guy working the counter is always super helpful! He overheard my friend and I talking about the artist Beach House and pulled some vinyls he had behind the counter, which was super cool of him to do. A box of free records is always outside the shop. I recommend carefully looking through all the free ones! I found some hidden gems that normally would have overlooked! Overall this is one of the many unique spots that makes Laguna beach stand out from other beach towns! read more

I thought these kinds of old school vinyl joints had all been bought out to make way for another strip mall smoothie place. But, thank goodness, I was wrong. THIS place is how I love Laguna Beach - nostalgic with soul & heart. Wave was so kind and shared some philosophies that 50+ years of living will form up wonderfully. What a way to spend a few hours thumbing through used records and choosing posters. read more

The service here was amazing, great deals and options to choose from. The employees were so open and friendly and they made our visit to downtown laguna so much better. Cannot wait to come back! read more

Sound Spectrum - CDs! - Vinyl Records Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

I got channel orange here... don't need to say much else. Staff always very friendly and helpful, 10/10 great experience!! read more

Sound Spectrum - Beautiful girlfriend with channel orange - Vinyl Records Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Great service and hospitality, in what an area where I would suspect the shop to be charging upper tier for used records, they were fair and reasonable! read more

This place is amazing!!! If you love trinkets, vintage vinyls, one of a kind hippie trippy jewelry, glasses, stickers, patches, posters, this is the place to go!! And the owner and other workers are cool! I love going here and adding random cool stuff to my collections read more

Sound Spectrum - Bottom bracelet and ring finger ring from here!! - Vinyl Records Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Long time shop just great folks! I'm a relative newbie been selling gear and repairing it for just under 7 years, and these fine folks are constantly sending customers in to learn about turntables and receivers and getting units repaired! I'm honored that they put their good name on the line in support of my shop Left of the Dial Records! Classy operation I'm proud to call my friends! I'll be in soon to say thanks in person! Keep on doing your thing! I'm happy to be linked to you--another referral came through today who walked out with a gorgeous vintage 70s Kenwood receiver! Much appreciated and all the best-- Bill read more

NYC/East coaster here....A fantastic store. It's been around for decades. The real deal, folks! So glad I found while vacationing. I will venture down from LA no question my next trip out there. An extremely knowledgeable, friendly and cool guy named Wave was working the store when my wife and I visited and we both were so grateful for his help. I found not one, not two, but THREE grail records I was on the (bordering on desperate) hunt for! Not to mention, Wave graciously let me check out their REAL copy of the ultra rare Beatles "Butcher Cover" album (IYKYK); for a Fab Four geek like me who likely who won't get that close to one of these again, I'm was VERY happy! Thank you, Wave and Sound Spectrum! You rule! read more

Hippie culture and history is embodied in the soul and fabric of this late 1960s record store with a connection to Pinnacle Productions, the famous promotion and ticket agency that facilitated people with names like Gerry, Janice, Jimi and related contemporaries to perform at festivals with diverse musical styles under the influence of LSD. I hit it off with Kurt, the store owner, who must have sensed my musical heritage and Dead Head family influence. He not only showed me the store's best features and offerings, we got into a great discussion about how the drugs the artists used performed a change in the social fabric culminating in the deaths of four great musicians at age 27. Kurt was there from the beginning and if I ever conduct research into that era, he's what we call a 'primary source' in historic methodology. When a connection hits it's fun and he excitedly showed me a book about the artist who used mixed media to create those sensational psychedelic posters and handbills, often created the same week as the performance! If you look closely, they do not always indicate the year, just day/month/date. For $14-20 there are many fantastic heavy weight card stock posters to select from. These are worthy of a nice frame. Being one of the older record stores in the high rent district, the relative size belies the vast selection and every nook, cranny or corner contains something for sale or house memorabilia of an age before digital distractions and ADHD. I think the small things were most interesting since my record collection is so big. Kurt was pleased that I knew about the audiophile labels and we discussed the merits of older pressings versus reissues on 180 gram vinyl. We agreed that in most cases, assuming the old record was moderately clean, they were genuinely analog until the early 80s. This discussion took a turn to cleaning records and I was happy to share my knowledge and resources. Happy to say that physical music media is alive and well. Come to this historic, one-part museum, one-part record store for good vibes! read more

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Amazing selection, really great vibes, and the customer service is next level. Thanks so much to Wave for all of his help!

i LOVE this record store. dream job honestly. the workers here are so so friendly and i always find a record to treat myself to here. love visiting this store when able to. read more

Super cool place, with great people! The vibes are immaculate and the atmosphere is chill. They were super nice to me and you get discounts when you purchase more than one vinyl. They've got a ton of great stuff other than the vinyls. I would definitely recommend checking this place out. read more

My boyfriend and I stumbled on this store because we were looking for something to do after our stay at Victoria Beach. My boyfriend bought me a record player for my graduation and I was looking for new records to buy. This place is awesome! So many vinyl records, new and used, and from so many genres (R&B, Classical, Rock, Rap, etc). They're organized by genre, then by name so it's pretty easy to find what you're looking for. If you can't seem to find a specific artist or album, the staff is super helpful! The person who helped us, he said his name was Wave, found albums for us and gave us a lesson on how to maintain and clean records. He also let us have free buttons because of our purchases! I will definitely be coming back to buy more! Purchases: Frank Sinatra - Sinatra's Sinatra $18, Johann Sebastian Bach - Brandenberg Concertos $5, Daft Punk - Daft Punk $26.99, Chariots of Fire Soundtrack $3. And all records were in great condition! read more

Sound Spectrum - Daft Punk - $26.99 Chariots of Fire - $4 Frank Sinatra - $18 Johann Sebastian Bach - $5 - Vinyl Records Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

My visit to the Sound Spectrum July 21. I could not believe the young lady's music knowledge. She knew exactly what I was talking about and excited about my questions as if she was also a fan. That is customer service at its best! I was very happy to leave with a Lou Reed CD for me and an Elton John LP for my daughter. See ya next visit to Laguna read more

This place has been around forever. It is pretty small inside but they have a ton of new and used vinyl as well as some CDs. I'm not sure I like the way it's organized but the employees know where stuff is so they can help. As with all of Laguna, parking isn't great but there is some metered street parking and a few payed lots scattered about. I didn't find anything on my shopping list but I think if I had stayed a bit longer and really searched, I may have found something I had to have. I'll go back when I have a lot of time and sit on the floor and go through all the boxes and I'm sure I'll find something. read more

This little shop has everything! I was excited to see CD's . They're all along then wall by the door. Kinda hard to get to though. There's a rack of t-shirts against that wall. But they were all organized in alphabetical order by genre. And all pretty cheap too. You'll have to walk through slow cuz there's stuff everywhere...from band flags, to shirt, vinyl records and CD's to pins, necklaces and rings...and you don't wanna miss a thing! The owner is cool, chill and informative. He even gave us our choice of band pins to go along with our purchase. I will have to come back to go through the rest of the CD's that I didn't have time to go through. Some brought back sooooo many memories:P read more

After going to the Sawdust festival today for the first time, feeling such a positive vibe, I decided to stop into this place, as my friend saw it, before I did. I was really excited to find a Charley Pride record, especially one I haven't seen before. When I went to the register, the old man working at register said, " is that a Country Record ", I said, " Yes, classic ". At one point in our conversation he said, " I never trust a black artist singing country music ". Which at that point, I said a few things back about Blues, etc. After walking away from the shop it really sunk in and hit me, being a black artist / musician myself, I was taken back. This store isn't racist, but this worker there sure was. Ironically he was wearing a Bob Marley Shirt. read more

So we were driving along in Laguna Beach (which is stunning, btw) when we stumbled across Sound Spectrum. I was with two men that are more obsessed with music than I am so we quickly decided to find parking (that was a task in itself) and we wandered inside. The shop is owned a a burnt out hippie (trust me on this one) but he's awesome! He puts together surf music mixes and sells them for $10. The shop isn't that big but it's full of all sorts of music. All used CDs are half-off, which is pretty nifty. The music playing is relaxing. The entire place gives off a very cool vibe that makes you want to flip through CDs and records and just hang out for a bit. read more

Mine of my favorite places to shop or just hang out! Great selection, well organized and a super friendly crew!

This place is the most awesome little records store. You don't find gems like this any more!!! The owner is friendly, funny, and awesome, so I don't know why other reviews have said otherwise. I almost didn't make the trip based off of the less than stellar opinions of the owner, but I had a very different and pleasant experience there, and have found my new favorite go-to record store. I could spend days going through all the bins! So much history is in that store, and the vibe is what I imagine it to be when they opened in the 60's. I can't wait to go again!!! My daughter and I will definitely be there again soon! read more

This is a very old-school record shop. It's relatively small, somewhat crowded, and like many indie record stores, suffers from a bit of hoarding mania (I.e., they've never cleared out an old record regardless of condition or overstock because "someone might want that one day"). Which means that there are records ev-er-y-where. In the racks, on the floor, on the walls, in the bins, next to the bins, under the bins... everywhere you turn there's more. Not all are in great shape. In fact. A good number are what I consider trashed (after being a collector for over 40 years), yet still have $10 price stickers on them. This can make the experience a bit frustrating. There is some good stuff to be had, but you've got to be really committed to crate digging and be in no hurry. Things are disorganized - RSD stuff in a box next to the register on the floor; records misfiled everywhere, and that record-store dust that makes your hands feel as if you e had them permanently coated in baby powder after you've finished. There is also a store dog, Einstein, who will consume more time if you are a doggo lover (which I am). In the end I came out with a Crusaders album on a blue Thumb and a Motown-era Spinners on V.I.P. That I didn't have, and the proprietor gave me a discount at checkout, just 'cuz, I guess. Overall, a cool place if you like to dig a bit, but bring your wallet :) read more

I like the place even though it is small there seem's to be a nice selection of what everyone wants. Some of the product in this little place include: Turntables, 45's, CD's and LP's, poster's, and shirts. I'm one though who is spoiled by The Electric Fetus and Cheapo in Minneapolis & St. Paul where I can listen to things before I buy them. So for that and how tiny it is, minus one star. But in no way is that a reason not to go to this store. A couple of private spots for parking are available in the back if you don't find street parking. read more

I went to this record shop for the second time on the 8th of September and it was honestly the best experience I've had at a record store! The employee was super awesome he helped me find vinyl I was looking for and introduced me to some bands as well as answering my questions about certain symbols. This store has a wide selection of music from all genres only con is that its kinda pricey but hey I found a vinyl I was really looking forward to! read more

Sound Spectrum - Dion - Vinyl Records Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Popped in looking for an old school Sublime T and left stoked! Even scored a couple stickers. Wave was helpful and kind! Thanks, SS!

Very cool record store. Great used rock selection and tons of other memorabilia. Wave helped us and we as super nice to our kids. He let them play DJ and put on a bunch of The Beatles albums. Bought 10 great finds for a reasonable price! read more

Celebrated it's 50th anniversary last year, so it is an original, 'blast-back-to-the-past 60's' era storefront on legendary PCH in Laguna Beach, channeling memories and vintage vibes. Has not only vinyl records in all sizes and genres, but also a selection of related gifts and paraphernalia, such as vinyl totes to carry them in. read more

Sound Spectrum - Examples of the Vinyl Totes to carry/display a full LP cover &/or a smaller 45rpm - Vinyl Records Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

I came here to buy my daughter some vinyl. The prices were a little high but not bad. Everything I looked at looked like it was in good quality. A really good selection. The best thing about this store is the owner. He gave me a discount and I'm not sure why. Maybe he was in a good mood. Whatever the reason I appreciate it. I ended up spending $100 here and will definitely come back and spend more. He even threw in a sticker of my choosing and a button. More businesses need to be like this. These little gestures bring people like me back. read more

Loved this little store I came across while checking out a nearby restaurant! Ended up buying a denim jacket with a Jimi Hendrix graphic on the back and love it! They had lots of cool band tees and music themed jackets wish I had room in my luggage to buy more! read more

I love the idea of this store more than the actual product contained within. I've been aware of its existence since I was a kid, but this is one of those mythical stores that I somehow never managed to set foot in for over 20 years. After having done so, a part of me wishes I'd kept it that way, but I'm glad I finally know what's inside. The place looks bitchin' from the street, with a dark wood exterior & a large front window full of records, posters and large cutouts. Inside, it looks like it hasn't changed much since it opened some 40 years ago. One thing that's obvious as soon as you enter: this is a realm made for fanatics of The Beatles and The Grateful Dead. If you love either of those two bands, you're likely to find all kinds of gems here. I myself am not, so I stuck with browsing the used rock section. I was impressed by their prices. Most of their used CDs, even some that were relatively new, went for as little as $4.99. There was some semblance of order to things, but it's slightly chaotic. A small back section held various posters, promotional art and other ephemera. The guy running the place seemed cool - very personable & full of musical knowledge. I also noticed that they support local artists, and you can even buy tickets to many of the local shows here. The fact that a relic like this store has survived through the decades is reason enough to at least stop in and give it a look. You never know what you might find. read more

Love the Wave man and his hot red headed Sistah! Great selection of albums and cool shirts and kit! Thanks for being there and staying real! Keep that creeper who owns the 'Place' out. He's a Dick! read more

Jim Otto opened Sound Spectrum Records in the late 1960s. It remains as a sweet little time capsule of Laguna from back then. Jim and his staff are very musically enthusiastic and always ready to steer you around to interesting music. Jim supports local musicians as well (including my very own CD!). It is businesses like this that made Laguna so quaint and, unfortunately, they are becoming few and far between. If you get the chance, stop by and support this wonderful little piece of 60s heaven. PEACE! read more