Great & knowledgable team to guide one through the sometimes daunting but very satisfying and fun world of high end audio. Kevin, Jared and Craig get the best stuff from which to choose and, from there, can help you get the precise sound that you're seeking (even for someone like myself who is particular and has a very specific audio quality in mind). I never thought my home stereo could sound this great. This is really THE place to go in Southern Cal for audio stuff. Top shelf outfit! read more

Anyone interested in this place should just go to YouTube and watch some of Kevin's videos first. When he says nobody gives a s@!t about you he really means it, including himself. I had the unfortunate experience of dealing with him the other day. I purchased what I would consider to be an expense piece of HiFi equipment that arrived with a channel out. Rather than make me whole and refund my entire purchase, Kevin chooses to play semantics about what is refundable and what is not. Go to his website and read the return policy. It says shipping is non refundable, but my shipping was free. He did charge me for "shipping insurance" however that he is now keeping. Total bush league dick move in my opinion. You would think that somebody who cared about their customers would offer an apology for the equipment arriving broken, but not Kevin. Instead he said it was my mistake for paying the insurance and complained about losing money. And because Kevin lost money, I too am now losing money. In my opinion Kevin at Upscale Audio does not give a s@!t about you, remember that. read more

I was anxious to go there and buy a few things and maybe learn something new. They were all busy watching their monitors. 15-20 minutes after arriving someone ask if they could help me. I guess it's Easier to buy on Amazon, sorry I bothered them. read more

I was in the market to purchase my first really high "Audiophile" system. Living in LA, the entertainment capital of the world, I though it would be easy to find local vendors with lots of equipment to test and answers to questions. I was surprised to find very very few. More importantly, I found them to be extremely limited in both aspects. I got turned on to Kevin at Upscale Audio with his informative and helpful YouTube videos. I made an appointment and drove out to his showroom. It was well worth it. He and his staff were amazing! I knew what he was talking about and was extremely patient. He set us up with an amazing rig that I'm very proud of and look forward to growing over the years. He also set us up with a pretty good deal, hard to beat. I look forward to acquiring more gear under his guidance. Thanks Kevin! read more

Without hesitation I will do business with Upscale again. Ken Davis took my call, we had a polite and professional exchange about what my audio and listening goals were, the room's acoustics, and the challenges I was facing with generating a better listening experience. Within 30 minutes he made recommendations for an integrated amp (naim Uniti Atom) and speakers (Revel F206). We ended the call, I did some research, looked at other options and frankly, Ken hit the nail on the head on that original call. Called him back a few days later with a few questions and I placed the order, to include appropriate high end cables. Ken took a look at inventory and was upfront about what item was in stock and the other items that would have to ship to them. Free shipping to me via Fedex Ground. 3 boxes, 2 of 3 were oversized and just under 200 lbs total weight. I can not imagine the bill for that ($600-$750 would be my guess), even with a commercial discount, and all of my items were priced no more than any other retailers. Despite a disrupted supply chain thanks to COVID-19, all of my gear arrived, extremely well packed, and the fun began. Truly. The naim integrated amp is a work of art in both appearance and the man machine interface. Everything worked first time out of the box and all of my acoustic challenges and goals were met despite my hearing changes due to my military aviation career in jets. I wish I had bought an analog system decades ago. read more

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How much money does Upscale Audio pay Yelp to have 40 bad reviews not count toward their overall rating? If you check out Upscale Audio's website, you'll notice they never post anything less than 4 or 5 stars. Completely unethical. read more

From all the high end audio places I've been to around So Cal. This place is by far my best experience. The staff is extremely attentive to helping you find what you want and never pushy to sell you. Never thought I could get into the tube amp setup without spending arm & leg. You can get to into a high quality tube setup for around 2k. I've elected to spend a little more for the PrimaLuna Prologue premium & Bluesound node 2 for about 3k. My system sound jAll I can say watch some of Kevin YouTube videos. Drop by and give Kevin, Craig or any staff member a chance to work with you. Believe me 10k budget was orginal for a tube setup and preamp. Now this allows me to purchase additional toys (Focal Electra or Focal Sopra No2 is my next purchase). read more

take your money then take several days to ship. i made the mistake of not verifying a shipping day 4 days after payment and no shipping info. the item was in stock. read more

Jared Rigney from Upscale Audio responded rapidly to my request of information regarding the status of my order. He provided excellent customer service. If you ever want to shop online for astonishing HiFi gear; Upscale Audio is where to shop! Thanks Jared! read more

I received my new DAC, sooner than expected. I haven't stopped listening to music, so far today. Thanks, Upscale Audio for making my music sound even better. Support your local businesses! read more

I have very good tube components and have purchased my tubes to roll from Upscale Audio. I have always bought the best tubes I could afford, but this time I decided to go large and buy an expensive tube for my headphone amplifier. Without going into all detail, I had an issue with the tube after a short period of time. Needless to say I was upset when the tube failed so I called Upscale Audio. All I can say is that Kevin called me back personally. He listen to my issue and made it right and fair! Look, I know these older NOS tubes are rare, they are expensive and they are critical to our equipment to make it sound as good as possible. Sometimes NOS tubes may not work correctly, last as long or perform as well as expected. If they don't work, there is no one anyone can go after since the manufacturer has long since gone out of business. Therefore you must trust that your dealer tests these tubes and stands by them. Upscale Audio's testing and quality control is tops in the business as far as I am concerned. And when it comes to customer service...when Kevin says he treats your amplifier as if it was his own, he is not exaggerating. When it comes to these NOS tubes, Kevin is your only back up. He has your back and and because he had my back, I will never buy tubes from another dealer. read more

After reading the great reviews of the Prima Luna Evo DAC 100, I contacted UA to gather their thoughts. As before, the salesman (Ken) asked about my equipment to see if it would work in my system. He knows Fritz, the guy who built my speakers, which is very cool. He confirmed that The PL would work well in my system and was an incredible piece of equipment. He was right on both counts. Just like Thom, he was knowledgeable and a great listener. In fact, everyone from Thom to Ken to Joel, Tamara, and Kevin couldn't have been nicer or more helpful. I love how everyone has their specialty areas and you are steered to that person. Anyway, I'm a very happy customer. Now I'm looking at the Audioquest Niagara 3000 and Thunder power cords. What an expensive but fun hobby this is, especially having found the right dealer. Thank you Upscale Audio! read more

I was looking for a place locally (really just with in driving distance) where I could purchase and pick up a Kirmus ultra sonic record cleaning system. Fortunately for me, they had plenty in stock. I easily made an appointment using their message system on the website and I was so happy I could get over there and scoop one up. Jake, the employee who took care of me was great. Then, I was blown away to find that they had a turntable in stock I was on a waiting list for over 6 months. I am currently waiting for the table to arrive but they even offered set up play testing before they send out the unit. Bill from their analog department was very helpful, and this was just over the phone. I am simply blown away by the care and service they are willing to provide me, a brand new customer. Thank you to the entire team at Upscale Audio. I look forward to when I can spend some time, physically in the showroom read more

Fantastic. One of the last true brick and mortar audio stores where you can find people that love music. As far as finding cheaper prices shopping online? Not necessarily so... by the time they offer recommendations and bundled a package deal together you won't have saved anything. Visiting the showroom felt like walking into their home. Phone technical after sale support could be improved, but good luck with that anywhere else. Besides if the manufacturer did a better job of supplying better manuals it would have been a non issue. However crossing over into music Server and streaming for the first time can be confusing. read more

Living in Las Vegas there is no where to have a real high end listening experience for two channel. So I was lucky enough to locate Upscale Audio; Joel couldn't have been more accommodating, setting up a private speaker listening audition for my wife and I. First over email Joel took the time to understand what we were looking for, the equipment we already have and then what would be a great speaker match with it. Joel then set an appointment that would be convenient for us. When we arrived Joel gave us a tour, took time to discuss our expectations and then basically set us up on our own and let us experience the music and the speakers. We couldn't have been more impressed and had an exceptional buying experience, almost lost track of time listening to great music in an unbelievable audio room. Needless to say we pulled the speaker trigger and within four days the speakers arrived in great shape, and are being broken in as I write this. Thanks Joel! read more

I called to order some high quality tubes and spoke with the owner/salesman. He was unpleasant, very pushy on selling something I didn't want, and did not offer helpful advice when I told him what I was looking for. I was turned-off enough to not make a purchase from him, even though he had tubes I intended to buy. I would suggest you do the same! read more

Great transaction from start to finish. Purchased 5 channels of Focal Arias. Beat every local dealer on price, and I was most impressed at the high quality shipping they chose. It was palletized and handled with great care. Super nice and convenient delivery. Couldn't have been cheap and shipping was free. Communication was also very good with UA. There were some last minute changes and everything went smoothly. Will do business with again. Thanks! read more

this is by far the worst joint in the audio business. way overpriced and the game he plays with vacuum tubes is insane. he sells vacuum tubes by different grades and that's a lie. do not trust kevin deal in any way shape or form. that's my opinion and i've been an audiophile all my life. the guy just can't help himself from lying, he also let a racist slur slip and then tried to make good on it by putting his foot in his mouth and making it worse so in my honest opinion, i would steer clear of kevin deal and his snake oil outfit called upscale audio if i were you. do not trust his bs! kevin will now respond to this one star review with a fabricated dishonest story as he does on every negative review he gets. don't believe this guy kevin deal. believe the reviewers who gave him negative reviews. newcomers to the audio hobby fall for his nonsense. once people have become seasoned audiophiles, they steer clear of kevin deal and upscale audio. see for yourself in all the audio forums on facebook. stay away from upscale audio and kevin deal. read more

I have been researching tube amplifiers and replacement vacuum tubes for the last 18 months. I can tell you, based on about 500 man-hours of research, Kevin and his team have it together. From the informative You-Tube videos, to the no-nonsense "advice" and, I can say, attractive prices, to the prompt shipment and delivery, Upscale is its own league. My purchase was not tremendous, 6 vacuum tubes that replaced items that attracted me at the 100 man-hour stage of my development. I look forward to purchasing a Cary tube amp... sometime. It will be from Upscale. read more

These really are stand up people! I was searching for a new Phono Preamp, I was very interested in the Sutherland products so I gave them a call I spoke with a young man named Josh, he was super helpful and more to the point honest as it turns out the best match for my cartridge was actually a unit that cost less than the one I intended to buy, I've been in this hobby for over 30 years and that was a first! Usually its a hard up sale...not the case! A few days later I was heading out of town and called to see the status of shipment (didn't want it sitting alone on porch while gone) I spoke with another nice fella and was told it had not shipped yet, now keep in mind I was not upset it hadn't shipped I just wanted to be home! A couple days later I received an email from Kat, apologizing for the delay and offered me a gift card! The fact that this company was PRO active with customer service is a new one on me, Also I find the videos very informative, seeing how something is built I find very helpful! I appreciate the brands they carry and trust the quality! Some of the reviews on here in the negative vein sound like a bunch of Jive, I for one will be shopping here again as a matter of fact it will be my first stop...Kudos read more

Purchased a pair of Brimar 12AU7 tubes for my preamp from Upscale for $200. Within 6 months or about 75 hours of playing the tubes developed a condition called microphonics. It took me a while to trouble shoot the source of the sonic distortion as I thought it most likely was a connect cable or terminal malfunction and I never heard of or experienced microphonics. Contacted Upscale and their offer was a $40 gift card. I know it was outside the 90 day warranty but am truly disappointed in the performance of both the expensive tubes and Upscale's standing behind the product they recommended and sold. read more

Just started doing business with usa talked to kat about turntables i'm just moving back to socal for oregon. i have three upper end systems in my home so i'm always looking for a (excellent) high end audio store where i feel that i'm not being played. read more

The comment from Kevin D. is a lie -- Upscale did not reach out to me and their sending of a B-Stock unit (instead of a new one) to me was verified by VPI. If Upscale wants to prove they are honest, then respond to the e-mail I sent you concerning your lack of response. read more

**DON'T FALL FOR THE YOUTUBE HYPE!!!*** I failed to keep my online purchase routine by beginning with Yelp reviews of other purchasers. My experience has been that even if there is one well-written negative review, it's enough to remind me that he/she who has the money, has the power. I should be deliberate and attentive to my surroundings before spending money. "Believe my lying eyes!" I should have terminated my online purchase when I heard the excuses for not returning calls. Instead, I bought over $3000 worth of Focal speakers expecting things to get better once they were in hand. Wrong! I was shipped an open box speaker. Very obviously used. What is more, once brought to their attention, there was no effort to make it right by, at a minimum, paying for the return shipping. I drove over 2 hours to fix their act of deception, which Joel embarrassingly acknowledged upon seeing the box. Wait, it gets worse. After settling on another pair of speakers, Joel searched inventory for my selection. The color was not on hand. I overheard another associate tell Joel, "A $2 can of spray paint works wonders." Total piss-poor operation Kevin. I'll take my chances buying Focal speakers online from Target before I ever patronize this store again. Much thanks for wasting my time, money and, more importantly, my trust. read more

Just wanted to leave some kind words here about the Upscale Audio team. They have to be one of the most genuine and knowledgeable folks you can run into in this industry. I have purchased New and Used equipment from here over the years. They take the time to help whether you are purchasing a used item or a new item. The Customer experience is priority here. They don't beat around the bush here, they give it to you how it is, no sugar coating. Every visit i have had, has always been great, from the old school days of Kevin mainly working the Demo room at his home to the new Retail showroom with their Super-helpful Salesperson Kat. Anytime you have any technical questions, Jarred is always very helpful. If they can't figure it out over the phone, they invite you to bring it down. So if you are interested in something Upscale has to offer, give them a call and find out for yourself! World Class Service here. Richard H Lake Elsinore read more

You would be insane to buy from these guys. All their stuff cost 3 to 10 times more than other manufacturers equipment with the same quality They are so busy and making so much money that there is absolutely no service after the sale. There warranty is 30 days- then its the manufactures problem. They are distributors BUT they don't do service and they don't know anyone to refer you to at the manufacturer. Useless- . You would get better service at Costco or a best buy read more

I've purchased two (2) significant items from Upscale Audio - a Prima Luna Prologue Premium amplifier and a Manley Chinook phono pre-amp. I dealt with Kevin and Craig, respectively, and both were incredibly service oriented and knowledgeable about the products. They took the time to ask about my listening preferences, current setup, etc. and made sure to help me find the gear that would work best for me. There was no hard sell - the focus was on ensuring that I would get the gear that fit my needs. I can't say enough about how personable and customer service oriented they were - so much so that I'm in the market for a new turntable and will definitely be getting it from Upscale Audio. Great people, great products, excellent knowledge and outstanding service - what more could you ask for? read more

Recently I was searching for a NAD M33 integrated amp and came across Upscale Audio web site. They listed the amp as in stock. I placed the order and was directed to payments. Upon entering payments I decided to call to ask questions and was then told that the amp is not in stock. I told the sales guy that there web site was incorrect. He said he would fix it.. Today three weeks later there sit still has it listed as in stock and wanted to charge my card. Beware of the lies told to get your money for items they dont have. They dont care to be truthful. read more

kat is phenomenal. thank you so much for the sutherland advise. -mike read more

I bought a Manley Chinook Phono preamp from Kevin at Upscale and his customer service was impeccable! For starters this was a special edition in black(goes with all my other gear) with upgraded tubes and at a reduced price because he had used them for photo shoot. What more can you ask for. I also arranged deal with some of my personal equipment and there was an issue when he received my unit. He handled issue in EXTREMELY professional and PERSONABLE manner. He took time with me to talk about other issues that related to tubes and my system. Kevin is the complete package, Professional, Personable and Knowledgable. I have contacted him additional times for advise on tubes and he always has time for his customers. I will do business with him again and again. Mike, Austin Texas read more

I have never visited the store but continue to get great service. I live in the Phoenix area. I always get lightning quick responses to my questions and have been very happy with my tube and accessories purchases from them. Fast shipping and A+ support. Purchase with confidence. Gregg S. read more

Bought an Njoe Tjoeb cd player and the transport broke with less than an hour of total use. Probably opened it 10 times tops. Sent it back to Kevin and it was "supposedly" fixed. Plugged it in and it worked maybe two more times and then the same failure. Called them back and they wanted another $269 to fix it. Poor product. Don't buy it. I ended up downloading the Marantz CD service manual and fixing it myself in less than an hour. I will never ever buy another product from these guys. UPDATE: Untrue rebuttal by Mr. Kevin Deal. I was charged the first time for the repair. They ask for $269 to fix it and swap out transports and charge you back $100. Also, I've had DVD players and CD players that have been used for hundreds of hours and the transports have never failed. They are aware of the poor product and get you on both ends (product and service). Regarding the time between, my run time is accurate regardless of number or years passed. A CD player doesn't wear down by sitting around. This is just a fair warning to potential customers. Read the other negative reviews closely and you'll see the same message. Lastly, please don't lie Kevin. Never talked to you and pounded you on the phone as you stated nor did I ask for a "free repair". I asked what the options were and your tech simply quoted me the same price fix to repair the transport. Not going to pay twice for the same failure. Prior to that, they suggested pulling the transport tray out hard until it clicks. Unfortunately, that strips the plastic gears and results in failures. That's a hack repair. So I download the manual, disassemble and realign the gears for the "right fix"! Total time = 1 hour. Total cost = $0. You think your techs could have just suggested that for good customer service? Your own replies to honest reviews are showing your true colors to your customers. Glad you did it as it helps my review. read more

I just wanted to share my experiences with Upscale Audio. My first visit was to purchase a turntable. I was helped by Craig, who was very helpful and very informative. Craig was by no means pushy or just trying to make a sale. I am very familiar with the gear I was looking to purchase. I decided for the VPI Ultra Scout II, not only a work of art, but a beautiful machine. I unfortunately was part uf the unlucky club and ended up with a defective motor. As soon as I notified Craig, he apologized for the inconvenience and assured me the problem would be remedied quickly. As soon as I was able, I stopped off and picked up a new motor waiting for me. As luck would have it I ended up with another product defect. I again spoke to Craig and he promptly asked me to just bring the unit back. When I arrived, Craig greeted me as well as Kevin. As soon as Craig mentioned the issue, Kevin knew what it was and proceeded to fix the problem on the spot. Kevin was furious at the fact that I had so many issues and graciously more than made up for my inconvenience. I have had no further issues with my VPI. I was so happy with their service, that I returned a few months later looking to purchase a tube amplifier. Craig was not in that day and Kevin himself helped me out. He was very busy that day and mentioned he was on his way out, but still took the time to help me decide on the best amplifier for my taste. He even sat down with me in the listening room for a bit. I decided on the Prima Luna ProLougue Four. I absolutely love the sound of this amplifier. With Kevin's help, I got the best amplifier for my taste. Again, so satisfied, I stopped by today looking to purchase a preamplifier. I had been connecting with Craig regarding my ideas and he was more than helpful with input and helping with any questions I had. Kevin was also there today and even though he was just finishing lunch, stopped to say hello. We spoke for a bit about music, records, equipment and what not. Kevin really knows his craft. I ended up choosing the Prima Luna DiaLogue Premium, which is what I had been eyeing. I just finished setting it up and it looks great. Without a doubt, I will definitely be back to see the team at Upscale Audio. I saw the other reviews here and I can honestly say, they couldn't be further from the truth. read more

Craig and Kevin know everything you would ever want to learn about Hi Fi systems! The Upscale Audio crew treats you as if you are a part of their family as they guide you through putting your needs into perspective. I purchased the Focal Aria 948s and a Primaluna integrated amp from them two months ago and I can't help but to sneak a listen in everyday! Thanks guys Kevin Jackson read more

Purchased a Prima Luna amplifier from Upscale audio and extremely happy with the purchase. Kevin Shipped it right away and received it in 3 days. I highly recommend Upscale audio. read more

A few months ago, I purchased a Rega P6 turntable, then months later a pair of Tannoy XTF6 speakers. Quick sale, and terrific outer packing of the items; foam peanuts, oversized outer boxes, etc. I had a complaint about a resolved pricing issue, and I actually mailed my complaint to the shop as to keep it out of the e-world, but I received no response. An acknowledgement would have been just fine. Nevertheless, I love the table, and the speakers. read more

I just received my VPI Classic 4, Sound-Smith MIMC Star and Manley Chinook SE. All arrived safe and sound and exactly on time thanks to Upscale's obsessive packing! The equipment matches beautifully and sounds amazing!! My overall experience with Upscale was outstanding. Kat was joy to work with - and as you promised treated my new turntable as if it were her own. She is a keeper: professional, passionate, knowledgeable and nice! The equipment is awesome and the deal you cut me was jaw dropping! I don't know why anyone would buy high end audio equipment from anyone else! You guys are the best!!! I live on the East Coast and Ijust wish Upscale Audio was closer! Garry N. read more

Let me tell you something: If you EVER need ANYTHING in the audio world (particularly analogue audio), you MUST check out Upscale Audio in southern California! In particular, ask for KAT or KEN. KAT is the most OUTSTANDING person I have EVER dealt with in my 45+ years of audio!! She knows exactly what she is talking about, is extremely knowledgeable, and very, very conscientious. In my case, she set up and tested a new turntable, tonearm, and cartridge. After the set-up, she sent me photos of every step of the way in setting up my system. I have NEVER had such TERRIFIC treatment before by any dealer, anywhere in the United States!! Be sure to ask for KAT. She is #1 in my book, and because of her and her knowledge and conscientious work, I will be a return customer at Upscale Audio, even though I live in Iowa. Seriously, KAT is so OUTSTANDING....I cannot say enough good things about her. But call for yourself and check it out. She, personally, designed the Quality Control protocol for every piece of analogue equipment going out their door. Their prices are competitive, but more importantly than that, Kat will be absolutely SUPERB in each step of the way with you! This is the best audio store I have dealt with, and it is primarily due to Kat's EXCEPTIONAL knowledge, effort, and work! I applaud her for being the best of the best in my many years in audio! You cannot go wrong if you deal with Kat!! read more

I live in northern Arizona and don't have access to a brick and mortar. Kevin Deal's equipment reviews on YouTube caught my attention. This year I've made 5 purchases: integrated amp, streamer-dac, equipment rack and two separate tube buys. This company consistently gave me useful buying advice without any hard sell. I traded in one piece and Kevin D. gave me a very fair price. I'm hoping to physically visit their shop one day. I agree with Kevin's comments that some people "weaponize" Yelp comments and most likely those people are the ones who are never satisfied or are looking to cause trouble. It must be tough being a retailer in today's climate. I'm very happy Upscale exists and I'll bet there are "many" satisfied customers like me. I'll be their customer for years to come. The products they carry are just top notch. read more

Today was my first experience with Upscale Audio. I was in a pinch needing some power tubes ASAP to repair my bass amp for a gig only a couple days away. Too short a time period to have the tubes shipped and arrive in time. A quick Google search yielded me Upscale Audio in La Verne (minutes from my house). Checking the website I found that they carry a good variety of tubes in stock including the 6550s I needed. I left work early and drove over to go buy my tubes. Apparently, they do not do walk-in business; the owner was surprised when I walked into the lobby and asked about buying some tubes (oops) However, they welcomed me, showed me around, and helped me get the tubes in time for the gig. I told the owner what I needed them for and he hand selected 6 exactly matched 6550 power tubes for the amp. I am extremely satisfied with my purchase and the service that was provided, I will be a return customer for sure. read more