My first purchase from Stereo Exchange showed me the benchmark in New York high-end audio dealer support. I've been in the audio hobby for over 27 years, so I've learned the difference between a team that actually knows their stuff and one that's just moving boxes. I am the proud new owner of Certified Authentic Pre-Owned Wilson Sabrinas in Obsidian Black. Honestly, taking the leap on Wilsons wasn't really on my radar until a credible, certified pair popped up at a reputable regional dealer. That sense of local security and support is the only reason I felt comfortable taking my system to the next level. Right from the first message, the team was straight-up with me. They walked me through exactly what Wilson's Certified Authentic program entails, the Certification work done on the speakers, the warranty, and the realistic logistics. No hard sell, no runaround, and no question left unanswered. That's the kind of foresight you get from decades of real experience. What really set this apart was the installation. Their Certified installer Mike came out to do the Wilson Audio Setup Procedure (WASP). The guy is a total pro - super patient, incredibly knowledgeable, and just a great person to work with. He added a ton of value to the whole experience. My space is far from a showroom. It's a tight studio apartment, with a corner-loaded left channel, a workstation that isn't moving anywhere; essentially a "lab in motion" for my audio hobby. Mike didn't blink. He worked around the real-world constraints and went through the WASP methodically. Everything was done ear-first and with serious precision. Watching him dial it in showed me exactly why Wilson insists on this setup process; it's not just marketing fluff, it's real substance. The Sabrinas sound phenomenal, and they absolutely live up to their reputation. The speakers and set-up rival my former reference Levinson and Magnepan system. Once you graduate into equipment that has serious value, it's 100% about trust. You have to trust the product, the transaction, and the follow-through. Stereo Exchange nailed all three. If you're serious about bringing your experience to the next level, Stereo Exchange is the place. read more

Excellent service, professional, ,friendly considerate and knowledgeable salespeople; wonderful selection of stereo and excellent listening situation. read more

Yet another satisfying purchase from stereo exchange. I bought a turntable, phono amp, etc etc. Bob is their turntable expert and I told him a budget and we came in just under. Plus he selected components that would work with my existing Simaudio Sonus Faber setup. My original salesman Glenn was there as well to chime in ha ha. I have nothing but praise for these guys. They know their products inside out. Literally. If you are going to spend some serious cash for gear, may as well buy from people that actually own the stuff you are buying. Glenn has the exact same turntable I bought today in his house. They won't sell you something they wouldn't use themselves. read more

I understand that I had high expectations when submitting a very comprehensive list of audio equipment for an estimate (and hopefully an offer). I did my research and then conservatively priced items based on Ebay comparisons (comps) of what people have paid for the exact same items. I spent hours compiling an excel spreadsheet with details and prices. I realize what I submitted was a little bit of a mixed bag, but on the high end - the 75 items that I submitted had a price estimate of approximately $75,000. I fully understand that these were sold prices on Ebay and not reality. I thought that they left a Zero off their offer when they quoted $2,000 (not $20,000). $20,000 would have been OK if they would have followed through with the picking up and appraisal, but that's no longer on the table. I should have known that a company called "Stereo Exchange" (in NYC) had very little interest in paying anywhere CLOSE to a fair value for the rare and well taken care of items that we have in our possession. As another reviewer said "they're happy to sell items for beyond full price, but the whole "exchange" part isn't really in their formula." I felt like we had just offered them a smelly box of garbage out of our basement and that they were doing us a favor by "taking the items off of our hands" - hello? We all have the internet and hopefully all know how to do research. I'd highly HIGHLY caution anyone considering selling to these fine folks as they'll 100% give you a low ball offer and then move on with their lives. To say I'm insulted would be an understatement which is why I took the time to write this review. Use Caution when dealing with these people.. (attached photos of some item comps from Ebay of items we submitted) Not a hater... but read the room Stereo Exchange... I know the rent in NYC is high, but this is absurd... (didn't give 1 star out of respect of some kind) read more

I had a great experience buying a stereo from the guys at Stereo Exchange. They understood my goals and my budget and set me up with an incredible system. No nonsense or hard-sell and lots of patience in explaining details and options to me. Really nice and knowledgeable folks who love audio and who have been in the business for many years. read more

I have been looking for higher quality audio stores for a while but didn't know where to start. Being a newbie, I didn't want to spend too much money but also wanted to get some good quality speakers. Glenn and Bob were welcoming and helpful. Glenn was happy to teach me about audio equipment and showed me speakers that fit the music I described wanting to play. He was able to find me wonderful speakers within my budget, and guide me through the setup (eg what wires go where) in a patient and friendly manner. He also followed up to see how I was enjoying the speakers and gave me free tech support when I had incorrectly configured my amp. He figured out why just by thinking about the symptoms I described. I randomly happened upon this space and was pleasantly surprised. Their showroom is set up for great acoustics and listening areas to preview the sound before buying, there was no sales pressure - the people who work there truly love their craft and are happy to share their knowledge. They genuinely want customers to go home with the right equipment at the price that fits their budget. These are experts that have phds in audio without the official diploma. An old school classic nyc place and it's clear why they are still in business. A+ and I will be returning when I extend my system further. Thanks! One important tip - call ahead to make an appointment. I was lucky to be able to walk in but they sometimes have appointments and can't allow walk ins at those times. Also I couldn't get as much time for the listening experience due to no prior appointment and they had another guest coming. That is the only thing to remember. read more

I've been a buyer from and seller to Stereo Exchange since they were in their first location over 40 years ago. These are serious, dedicated professionals. There is no legitimate competition. read more

While visiting Manhattan I walked into the store last week. I clearly told them that since I was from out of town I was not going to buy but instead wanted to browse and chat if they had time to spare. The representative (sorry I didn't catch his name) was awesome: he showed me around the store, discussed the system I already own, and let me listen to the system that they had set up (Moon amp, Rockport floorstanding speakers)...all of this while knowing that I was not going to buy anything. This is a great business: if I ever move to Manhattan I'll definitely buy from them! read more

Suffice it to say, I'm taken aback by the two-star average rating this place has on Yelp given our recent experience. However I do trust the collective wisdom of Yelp reviewers so there must be something to such a low average. But on our visit, the experience was positive so I wanted to weigh in. We were greeted by an effusive, friendly and completely un-pushy salesman named Anthony. We told him right off the bat we were there as lovers of McIntosh brand audio equipment (both vintage and new) and just wanted to take a look at what they had to offer. There ensued a most pleasant 30 minutes or so of Anthony showing us the fabulous equipment they had. This included him bringing us into one of the comfy sound rooms where he played some great CDs for our listening pleasure. This was certainly a terrific place to see and hear the latest in what McIntosh has to offer. Stereo Exchange has a lot of square footage so there is plenty of room to explore all the offerings. Anthony and my husband enjoyed swapping stories of their competing McIntosh obsessions, what they own or have owned, when and where, but it was all in fun. There was nothing snooty about any of our interactions as others have stated having had. We didn't buy anything; in fact the intent of this visit was to browse and yet we never once felt pressured even though Anthony chose to spend a lot of time with us. I'm sorry to read of the terrible service others have received here. All I can say is ask for Anthony! And if you, like us, are fans of the McIntosh brand, do take a gander at what they have to offer here. read more

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Years later update: I spoke to the owner shortly after this incident, he was friendly and responsive, and understood the issues I had with the staff. They have since moved and streamlined staff. When I went in a couple years ago they were noticeably more friendly and took the time to demo and discuss differences in gear. While still not a stellar experience, I've increased the rating, and at this point I'd recommend checking out the new Stereo Exchange location for high-end audio gear as one option in NYC. read more

Ok. I read every single review about this place before stepping through the doors. I was a bit uncertain about what to expect, but being relatively new to the audio world, and after a very painful $35,000 experience with Magnolia and their "White Glove Service", I was really skeptical if such thing even exists still in the audio world. In comes Evan Fusco, who I talked to on the phone when deciding to add a couple of components to my system after giving up on Magnolia's performance, customer care, and even the most basic understanding of what they are supposed to do. After a very brief and friendly chat on the phone, I decided to schedule an appointment and view their showroom. To say that the experience was phenomenally celestial does not do that man justice. I fully expected to be upsold on products, to be blasted by technical terms that I did not understand in order to make a sale, or to bamboozled with a whole "return everything to Magnolia, get a refund, and we'll build it better." That was not the case. Evan took over an hour to answer every question, explain to me in a very friendly and simple way every misconception I had. He came over to my place, checked every input, every audio configuration, the Savant programming, and gave me an incredibly reasonable pricing to "fix it, without replacing it." I was completely surprised by the honesty, and finding someone who actually wants to win a long-term client, versus make a quick sale. Three weeks later, everything that was wrong in my Magnolia setup was fixed. I've added some SimAudio Moon components, and upgraded my Turntable and it's Phono Stage, and the difference in sound was exemplary, and the best part about it, is that I was not forced into buying any item. Things were explained to me in the most detailed yet simple fashion, and I made the decisions to actually invest in those upgrades. The result is outstanding. I could not recommend this place enough. I understand that a lot of the negative review bombings are from people who just walked in, and felt neglected. Well, to be fair, this is not a RadioShack or a BestBuy. I would recommend anyone to call, make an appointment, and I assure you, regardless of your budget, you will find an excellent reception, and attention to your time and needs as a potential buyer. I wish I could give a six-star, but I guess it will suffice that Stereo Exchange has won a permanent client. I can truly say now that I have "an audio guy". read more

Ok folks, there is something you all need to understand. This store doesn't fuck around. Maybe some people in today's age of epic politeness require everyone to hem and haw to your every desire but it isn't true. You do not walk into a store like this clueless about audio and expect someone to spend an hour talking to you and then you walk out because you had no idea those 'nice sounding' speakers you were listening to where $4500 a pair. Can they sales guys be a bit brusk? Yeah, totally. But if you know what you want and are serious they can set you up with whatever you want. If this doesn't sound like you - go to best buy. I walked in the other day to demo a few pairs of headphones. Primarily a pair of HD800's but while I was there I might as well strap some more $2000 pairs of cans to my head. They immediately whisked me into their headphone room, took out what I wanted, and left me alone. After 15m trying stuff out and getting my head thoroughly blown by the HD800's I decided to make the purchase. They were out of stock, and frankly I could have purchased them for $100 less online but hey - where else has this kind of selection to demo*? I even chatted to them about the HD800s expecting an upsell but we both jokes about how it was a waste of money. If you are serious about audio and want to try and buy some stuff that you just can't get in other B&M's come here. *Update - the day I purchased them the price had changed but was not yet updated in the system. They refunded me $100+tax when I picked them up. read more

Stereo Exchange - High Fidelity Audio Equipment Near Me - New York, New York

I'm an audio enthusiast. But I don't like the snooty crap that can go along with that. I've found Stereo Exchange to be an honest, no-nonsense, easy to deal with retailer. Unlike some of the comments below, I recently had a great experience here. I'll elaborate. In this day of internet shopping and price wars, it has been a race-to-the-bottom in terms of customer service. This is all fine and good when you get a great price and the gizmo works, but what happens when it breaks? And as you go up the ladder of the high end, this question becomes more important and less easily answered. Enter the brick and mortar establishment. The value premise has been difficult to support recently, but the kind of service I recently received from Stereo Exchange portends good things I hope. In 2013, I purchased a good home theater receiver and some good speakers. This was not a stratospheric setup (around $5k) but I received solid, professional help. To be honest, it was a pretty easy, but fairly uneventful experience. Fine. Fast forward 4 YEARS LATER. The AV receiver I bought died. It suffered from a known issue from the manufacturer, and was the subject of a recall. I was dreading dealing with it, though. The receiver weighs 50 pounds and getting an RMA, etc. was going to be an enormous pain in the ass. So I emailed Stereo Exchange, expecting fully that they would tell me I was on my own. WRONG. The OWNER responded in less than 24 hours and said he'd take care of the swap and make sure everything worked out fine. Over the course of the next week, he was communicative and attentive and made sure that I got my replacement unit, which I am watching right now. And even when the replacement arrived without some of the accessories (the manufacturer's fault), he said no worries and took care of things. That doesn't happen at whizbanggadgets.com. So what's the moral of the story? These days, part of what you pay for at a B&M retail establishment is this promise of customer service. But do they deliver? In the case of Stereo Exchange, the answer is a resounding YES. Certainly your mileage may vary and this store is not necessarily going to cater to the dorm room setup (though they do have a superb headphone collection), but if you're serious about audio and want to ensure no worries if/when something goes wrong down the road, check these guys out. I'm glad I did. read more

We got our peachtree amp that powers our speakers. Music sounds different on our speakers and I'm so thankful for the service that Stereo Exchange provides. When our Amp got blown 4 years after purchase, they provided a loaner amp to us while we waited for our Peachtree to get serviced. Excellent service and excellent products. read more

I have been a customer on-again off-again of Stereo Exchange for many years. They are quite simply the best A/V dealer in NYC. They are extremely knowledgable, friendly and helpful, and carry only quality products. I've dealt with Dave, Ann and Glenn over time, and they all go out of their way to help. A few years ago my subwoofer started making strange sounds, and they diagnosed the problem and fixed it--it's been fine ever since. Recently, I needed a A/V center to put my TV on. In the midst of the coronavirus confinement, they found a way to negotiate with the manufacturer to get it to their warehouse ahead of schedule; and deliver it the next day to my doorstep. Etc. They are reliable, trustworthy and transparent, make bona fide efforts to understand what you're trying to accomplish and then offer suggestions. And in my experience, they always get it right What more could one ask? Oh, and their showroom is just so cool! read more

I have to add my negative customer service experience to the pile: I came into the store to look at some turntables in order to replace the old piece of garbage I've been using. The turntables are all on display with little to no literature, forcing you to engage with one of their sales staff, but since I was only browsing I decided to just have a quick look around on my own. I was checking out one of the turntables and had gingerly lifted the tonearm to check its weight and balance, when from behind me I heard a sharp "sir! SIR!" which caused me to drop the stylus onto the mat, and then "be CAREFUL!!" as though I was a five year-old child. This was all done in front of some sort of class that was being conducted in the middle of the showroom. The instructor stopped the lesson and everybody stared. I left, immediately. Screw these guys, I'll just buy online. read more

I had a great experience here! Although I'm decidedly not an "audiophile" (neither my ears nor level of knowledge), Glenn was very helpful and I feel I learned a lot from just being there for an hour listening to my Tidal playlist and talking to him about the qualities of the equipment being demoed. We listened to 2 different amplifiers and three different speakers. I came away with a deeper understanding of the weaknesses and strengths of my current system and a lot to think about. There wasn't the slightest element of pushiness or condescension or anything else that "beginner audiophiles" sometimes expect from a high-end store. I eventually decided not to go ahead with the amps I listened to, but that's not any fault of the store or the demoed gear (it's just that my currrent vintage NAD sounds great, even compared to state-of-the-art equipment). read more

World's worst customer service and prejudiced against the differently-abled. Listening to music is one of my life's great joys, and keeping my turntable in tip-top shape is essential to that equation. As I have no arms, I rely on repair shops to help me when things go awry. Being handless, it's hard for me to use a traditional handset, and so I prefer to call people using a speakerphone on my computer. As an added benefit, my shoulders do not tire when I call people in this fashion. I called Stereo Exchange just now when I was looking for help with my nice, shiny expensive new turntable as they are a licensed retailer in NYC. The first man I spoke with at the store was very kind and helpful and understanding. Unfortunately, he was also in sales, and had to change me over to a nasty, mean witch of a woman in repairs, who yelled at me for using a speaker phone and refused to listen to my explanation before rudely hanging up on me. I would write a no-star review, but I can't find that on this page and - as I am armless - tire easily. Best to conserve my energy for finding another shop which will actually help me. read more

Got a email and call from a guy who worked at store named Dave asking if I'm still willing to sell my Mark Levinson No. 27 power amp. After discussing the condition it was in which was mint (I emailed him pictures) he proceeded to give me a lowball offer. I said thank you but no thank you because of the insulting offer and him also asking me to lug a 100lb amp to Manhattan. On their website they do offer to come pick up whatever you choose to sell so I was shocked he would ask me to do that on top of giving me an insulting offer. I also stated I could get way more selling it on eBay. So after hanging up Dave proceeds to send me an email with a link showing me the value of my amp. This link was a listing of someone else selling the same amp but for 500$ more than what Dave offered me. But here's the thing, the amp was broken and being sold for parts only!! So Dave not even doing research shoots himself in the foot and shows me that in reality he was trying to rip me off big time. After that I decided to take my business else where. So if you are looking to get ripped off and treated like you have the IQ of a baby then by all means shop at Stereo Exchange. read more

I wanted a new turntable and speakers, plus whatever gizmo I needed to get them to talk to each other (which I now know is called an amplifier). Ron helped me out and did a great job explaining the difference between the different levels and kinds of equipment without using too much technical language. He demoed a few different models and price points of speakers so I could hear the difference and let me hang out and listen to music to test it out. When it came time to pick a turntable I was sort of ready to go basic (ie less expensive/fancy) but didnt feel at all pressured to upgrade. In fact, Ron was great at explaining why even the basic model was a good choice. Oh, and it came in blue. So I've got a blue turntable now. After getting everything set up back at home it sounds great and I know I'll be using these components for a long time. Inexpensive, no, but i think it's a good investment. (I also like that many products they sell are made by small companies in the US.) Everyone at the store was friendly and helpful, and I'll definitely be back if I ever need new stereo equipment. read more

Dear Stereo Exchange, I must apologize. I'm so sorry that I walked in and disturbed you with my presence during the last 30 minutes before closing. What was I thinking!? Walking into a store while it was still open! What kind of an asshole does that? I should really be ashamed of myself for making a fool out of myself like that! When you told me that "just so you know - we're closing" with such disdain and scorn - rather than hanging my head in shame and heading straight for the exit, I smiled and decided to ask a couple of questions about the services you provide on my way out. I suppose I should have known better than to try to engage in a conversation with you after admitting to you that I was a stereo novice. Peasants like myself should know better than to trying to engage in conversing with holy nobilities such as yourselves, especially in the complex and sophisticated matter that is stereo. Again, truly sorry - will never be bothering you again. read more

The quality of the equipment here really is a giant step above what you can find at places like Best Buy. Great place to visit. And while it can be hard to get time with a good salesperson, when they do get to you, they give honest, helpful recommendations (though naturally they will often recommend expensive items). Maybe you are able to research individual pieces online, but these guys know how to put it all together into a system. The only problem is the service. I purchased an expensive full home theater system and they charged a high rate to install it. Then when it failed to work, they changed me again (and again) to return to my home and adjust it. They even told me I should upgrade some equipment (the same equipment they had sold me and installed!) to avoid future issues. The technicians are very friendly and seem like experts, but it's also true that to this day, my network still doesn't work well. Also, a few of the employees are not responsive or friendly when you try to call. Keep trying till you find someone nice. I'd still consider shopping here but maybe next time I'd compare what it costs to have someone else handle installation. read more

I know this place has great audio equipment but the service.... Just awful, to the point of being racist! Read on. I went in last week to ask about some stereo equipment and wanted some high end gear and not those BOSE systems one typically think is the best. Went in and had a gentleman named Michael Toto help me out. I didn't dress all fancy just t-shirt and jeans and sweaty from the 100+ temperature we were having in NYC. I must say the layout was nice and the equipment amazing. Went in and started saying I would like to look into a system for my mother since she moved into a new place and wanted to get some high end equipment since they are better. Right off the bat he told me we have many choices and sounded a little pretentious. Then I told him my budget was around $2,000 to $5,000 for a speaker and receiver. Then he told me he has some options but he would really like the person paying to come in and tried to shove me away. When I told him that I would be paying then he started helping me out. He showed me some stuff and after I told him I knew a little about audios, he became even friendlier since I guess it was different than talking to a totally new person who didn't know anything and he didn't want to waste his breath explaining. But isn't that what sales people do? Well fast forward to today July 24th 2013. I went in with my mom to show her the different systems they had color choices since she wanted to match the color scheme in her new apartment she recently bought in NoHo. It was hot and she had a headache from the heat so she wasn't all that focused. On top of that English isn't her first language so her responses weren't that spot on. Michael was around and I greeted him since he helped me last time and introduced him to my mother. He showed her the speakers he mentioned to me last week and she started asking about pricing and quality. He had mentioned to her several speakers 2 or 3 if I recall and prices for the stands. She couldn't remember all the pricing so she asked again while having Michael demo the speakers and that's when it all went to hell. He was already unhappy to deal with her because of her English skills. Mind you there is a slight accent but nothing that you cannot understand. He had this disgusted look on his face while explaining. When she asked him about pricing he gets loud and tells her, "Well if you are talking about pricing why should I even bother showing you how they sound?" Really?!? Is that what you say? My mom became irate at that and was about to walk out of the store. Luckily another salesperson Ron stepped in and helped her out. He demoed the models a Totem speaker system and a Bowers & Wilkins set. In the end i ended up paying about $3000 for a system after he gave me a discount for the treatment we got. Service was terrible, downright disrespectful and very pretentious. As a veteran if I had known I had to defend this country for turds like that I would have given my Eagle Globe and Anchor and said screw this. Treat me that way is fine but treat a 60 year old women that way, come one really?? read more

Spend your money elsewhere the customer service is atrocious. Seems like if you going spend under $10,000 you're not worthy to be A customer. read more

I spent over $10k having Stereo Exchange install a custom theater in my apartment. I purchased all of my equipment separately -- that's right, none of the $10k price included stereo or video equipment (it did include wiring and other miscellaneous equipment). The guys did a good job from an aesthetic perspective, though they refuse to paint any walls / ceilings that they cut into during their installation work. For two reasons, however, I give Stereo Exchange the worst possible rating. I am also filing a complaint with the BBB and the NY Attorney General. We'll see where that goes. First, during the installation process, I noted to the foreman that the router they had installed was not working properly. It was never replaced. Rather, they changed the ports being used. It wasn't for several months after they left that I added more equipment and realized the router still didn't work. I tried logging in to the (managed) router, and ultimately had to contact the manufacturer for a (non-warranty) replacement because Stereo Exchange had given me a USED, DEFECTIVE router, and not bothered to replace it when I pointed this fact out (in email, fortunately for my aforementioned complaints). Second, the price quote and multiple emails with Stereo Exchange clearly specified that they were to run both HDMI and component connections to my monitor. Instead, they installed CAT-5, utilizing baluns (which they charged me additional for), and ran only that through the walls. One of the baluns recently failed, at which point I realized that they didn't run the component wires (which I had provided!) through the walls at all. That's right, no redundancy whatsoever. A single HDMI connection in the form of their CAT-5/balun connection was all I got. For $10k, I expect more. Much, much more. Presumably, the BBB and/or the AG's office will agree with me. Buyer beware. read more

This store was a "Best of New York" winner in New York Magazine with good reason. All the big consumer electronics stores offer a decent range of products at good to great prices but if you want the best equipment available when it comes to stereos or plasma screen televisions this is the place to go. In addition to new equipment they offer used equipment at a big savings making it possible to get a state of the art entertainment system that might otherwise be unaffordable. read more

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I came in with the intention to spend a few thousand dollars. It took over half an hour to get anyone's attention. There were a few older gentlemen who came later than I did, but were responded to much more readily. I did not appreciate the discrimination. When I finally got someone's attention, I was lectured about how my intention to purchase digital solid state equipment is misguided. While I appreciate the good intentions, the preference of solid state versus tubes is very much a personal preference, and not an absolute science. I was then told incorrect (out of date) information about the deficiencies in digital volume controls (modern 32+ bit components don't suffer from floating point truncation errors with digital volume controls except in the absolute rarest of cases, contrary to what this person told me). When I corrected him, he argued that he's right because he's older than I am......... On the bright side, he did end up showing me a few different DACs, and he took me into a nice listening room to show me why he thinks I should prefer tubes over solid state. I really did appreciate that, and I've decided to experiment a bit with tubes as a result. I also appreciated that when he suggested that I buy a piece of equipment whose price I couldn't justify without further research, he didn't try to sell me an inferior but cheaper product, but accepted that it's better I come back to get something good rather than something I'll later regret. Even still, I have a hard time recommending this place. There are far too many places that actually value their customers right when they walk in the door, no matter how old or rich they look, unlike the dismissive attitude I encountered here. In the end, I've decided to try to build my own components, since I feel like the price inflation for what I get just isn't worth it. For the money, I can build much better. read more

They help me fix a piece of equipment I bought a few years back. Great service. Didn't feel any of the attitude issues other reviewers mentioned read more

These guys are the best. They took the time to help me set up a nice little package and it sounds great. I don't write many reviews but I felt compelled because of their service and the quality of my purchases. It's my second purchase in ten years from there and I wouldn't go anywhere else. read more

Who wouldn't be excited to walk into a stereo store and listen to a two hundred grand stereo system? I was looking for some speakers and a DAC. After about ten minutes in the store, no one had come to help me. I finally tracked down an employee who found it difficult to be bothered by the prospect of a customer. I told him my setup (vintage) and asked to audition a couple of speakers. He then asked if I was serious and ready to buy or if I was just a tourist walking in to get a free listen. Customers... they're so pesky. Who puts a retail store on Broadway and complains about tourists? The earlier reviewer who said there was no pressure to buy must have gone later in the day, when the guys there get stoned. They have nice equipment (of course) and some good prices on used equipment, but they need some improvement in the attitude department. read more

Great stock, unacceptably rude staff. Kicked my son out though he was behaving fine, they simply didn't want to have a child in the store. I was prepared to spend a lot of money, which I then took elsewhere. Boycott this spot until they learn to treat people properly. read more

Great store with incredible high-end audio products and friendly service. My interactions with Glenn, Evan, and everyone else have all been A+. They've patiently put up with my indecisiveness and demoed numerous things for me to help me make the right choice. I've purchased the majority of my setup at Stereo Exchange (amp, speakers, cables) and wold recommend it to anyone who is serious about audio equipment. read more

Job Title: Downtown stereo salesman (no women allowed) Required Skills: Detailed stereo component and brand knowledge 5 years previous experience in plugging things in Desired Skills: An apathetic/indifferent disposition Sleight of hand I failed the interview but bought a pair of speakers and an amplifier and are happy with the way it sounds. I paid twice what I should have for cabling, you can call that convenience. I should have questioned the invoice, when a customer spends $1600 do you really charge them $18 for a packet of Blu Tack (Sticky blue adhesive gum) that would normally retail at $2-3. Out of principle I will buy my next component elsewhere. read more

Amazing service! I Needed a new projector fast and it was a hassle free, great advice and professional friendly service I could trust! Thank you Izzy!!! read more

I purchased recently a set of B&W 802D speakers and unfortunately got damaged during shipping. Needless to say once I opened the boxes, how I felt when I saw the damages. We went to the insurance claiming process, and let me tell you, if you have never experienced a shipping insurance process, this could be really painful and time consuming. The entire process was really taking longer than I expected, so David took the initiative to take care of the repairs. He was able to contact OEM directly, coordinate a tech to inspect the damages, and then ordered and shipped the replacement parts home. He was also able to coordinated a B&W technician from Boston offices, to come to my place in CA, to perform the repairs. In summary, I am very pleased with the treatment, commitment and customer support David provided to me. David was very reasonable and truly a customer oriented vendor. The speakers were repaired and are currently sounding amazingly. I will do business again with them anytime! Thank you for taking care of the issue and ensuring full satisfaction. William read more

don't believe reviews just be nice and be friendly i bought headphones here mom and pops hell yah customer service is great I will come back soon bowers & wilkins this is what I bought from them Ann is so darn sweet! I checked out with Dave a great guy he was patient customer for life! booked time through Evan he was responsive, timely you're the man Evan read more

I was a bit surprised by the cavalcade of negative reviews, and thought I'd put in my two cents. I've bought a good deal of equipment from these guys over the years, and never had cause for complaint. Some of the older salesman can be a bit...salesmanly. But there's a good crew of knowledgeable, interested, totally non-pushy younger guys there who have really helped me build a great sound system from the ground up. They've been more than generous with their time, even after a sale is completed. I guess the store's pricing is a little on the high end, and the policies regarding returns or cutting deals or doing favors can be a little rigid. But they're in downtown Manhattan. A certain amount of this stuff is probably necessary to their survival. Overall, though, I think they've got a nice, thoughtful selection of mid-to-high end equipment, and a mostly quite pleasant and helpful sales team. If you're looking for the best deal in the world, you probably shouldn't be shopping in Manhattan. If you're looking for good equipment at fair enough prices, and an overall pleasant shopping experience, I recommend this place highly. read more

After months of wanting to go there, I finally had a chance to stop in today. I was thinking about purchasing a very nice pair of headphones and had seen pictures of their headphone lounge on their website. After nobody acknowledged my existence for about 5 minutes while I looked around the empty store, I finally asked two salespeople that were sitting around talking to each other in the front of the store if I could take a look in the lounge. Their response...well what do you want to look at? I said, I'm not sure, I wanted to see what you carry. He proceeded to imply that I couldn't afford anything in that room by saying that only the really high end gear was in there and everything below that was out in the main room on display. He proceeded to quiz me on what particular headphones I wanted to see rather than just opening the door and perhaps having the opportunity to sell me on an expensive piece of equipment. From reading the other reviews, it sounds like they stay in business by ripping people off on home installations. No thanks. I think I'll find somewhere else. read more

The one and two star reviews are really misleading. After reading them I almost didn't stop at Stereo Exchange in my search for a DAC. That would have been a huge loss because the guy who I talked to there, Matt, was laid back, knowledgeable, and really helpful. He configured a stereo system in the store so it matched my system exactly - source, amp, speaker - and let me do a relaxed, pressure-free A/B listening session with the DACs they had in the store. He answered all of my questions in detail. Both the service and the products were great. I'm going to include Stereo Exchange in all of my auditions of my future HiFi purchases. read more

I love these guys. No pressure to buy. They spend the time to get it right. Salesperson Cosmo really helped me figure out the digital music for Hi-Fi thing with DACs and Headphones. They know their products, have been around forever and stand behind their goods. Not as cheap as Best Buy, and I mean that in a good way. read more