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November 2023 by Christopher Arjune
Decided to check this place out on a whim, since I'd never been able to find a place to audition nice headphones before - best audio-related decision I've made in a long time. The staff were super friendly and eager to let me try on a bunch of different headphones (Focals, Sennheisers, etc.), and offered suggestions and insights based on my preferences. We also ended up having a pleasant conversation about headphones versus speakers, and I got the chance to stay past closing just to experience an absolutely awesome speaker setup with some tracks picked to match my preferences while showing me just how good audio can get. I seriously walked away from this place elated and with a newfound perspective on consumer audio, and I'm really glad places like this exist, being run by people like the awesome staff here. Make it a point to check Music Lovers out, you won't regret it!
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October 2023 by Michael Gordon
I recently (2 months ago?) purchased a demo pair of Vivid loudspeakers and had a fantastic experience working with Spencer Giel. He is perhaps the nicest and most patient audio salesperson I have dealt with. We visited 3 times to make our final decision, Spencer set up the demos and allowed us a lengthy listen to evaluate including comparisons with other speakers at the store. During one demo I had concern that something was not sounding right, Spencer patiently investigated what was a loose connection. There were several follow-up phone calls and emails for various issues - my friend left his work badge and Spencer mailed it back to us, Spencer noticed a problem with a binding post, and we had warranty and other questions, and Spencer replied promptly and thoroughly to all communications. Highly recommended!
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June 2023 by Ethan Garrett
Very homely vibe inside, incredibly nice staff who will help you find anything and even let you demo equipment. Staff are friendly but also very knowledgeable.
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May 2023 by D J.
I am so thankful that when I wanted to upgrade my audio system I found Music Lovers Audio & Video. Overwhelmed with choices and not tech minded I told Jacob what I wanted: a system that would work in an awkward space but sound fantastic. Jacob selected a system that went beyond what I had hoped for. Later I added a subwoofer and WOW, I love that I can feel the music to my core, even at very low volume. I now hear my CDs in a whole new way and my old turntable plugged into it easily and I'm loving my vinyl again! I had a few questions regarding the setup along the way and all dilemmas were addresses quickly. Can't recommend these folks enough.
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April 2023 by Tamara G.
Hugh and Jae, the owners, are indeed, quite brilliant, to echo other reviews. However, our experience with the actual business, including the owners was a bit meh.We hired them to replace our home theater system. After that we hired them to update our Sonos. We hired them for the latter because we needed them to update the Sonos to use to Sony system and C4 remote they had set up. It's a long story, but we paid to upgrade our television and speakers and after months, the television still does not turn on reliably. We were told that our internet was the problem, we had this checked. We even had electricians out to upgrade things as well. It's all good on our end, yet we still do not have a consistently working system. We are in the dark when we need help, which is most of the time, because we can't get a hold of anyone in the shop. Yesterday, I was trying to take a Peloton class during a break from work and I spent 30 minutes trying to get the TV to turn on. The install process was incredibly fraught, with people out here every day (almost) for a week. They did try. Yet, I think it's important that I mention that we (my husband and I) started this process with me being the contact person. I got back to Spencer (the sales rep) right away, answered emails, and was ready with the credit card to pay within a few hours of receiving a bill. Yet, when we had problems, I sent questions to Spencer and the owners and I never heard back. I had an idea. I asked my husband to send an email about our problems and guess what? He got a response right away. So that confirmed my hypothesis that this was a group that responds more to men than women. So cool. I let my husband manage things. We ended up with the Sonos upgrade and spent yet more money with them trying to get our Sony TV system to work. The Sonos does work but the television system, as I said, does not consistently. And though my husband gets responses, the truth is we never got a manual to explain how the remote works. Even though he asked. For example, apparently when turning on the Sony TV, with the C4 remote, you have to click menu. No one told us that. I don't see how this would be obvious, because there are like a million buttons on the remote. I have never ever dealt with a company that installs a product without a manual. We have asked several times for one and no response. To be clear, the install guys are nice too. Everyone there is nice and genuinely likable (despite the fact that my husband gets them to respond to emails; I can live with the likely inherent sexism in the AV world), but I can't live with a product that does not work and no reliable help. And for the kind of money we paid, this kind of treatment is unconscionable. No apologies and certainly no break on the bills for something that is not our problem. And even today my husband got instructions to power off the Sony remote if the Sony TV does not come on... Wait, what, we paid thousands for a Universal C4 remote and we are supposed to use our Sony remote???? Why did we pay for the C4 Universal Remote???We were hoping to use them for an upgrade in another room, but that's not going to happen.
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April 2023 by Minh Luc
Music Lovers AudioFirst of all let me thanks Spencer who helped me to install my new stylus cartridge professionally to my ClearAudio turntable. It works perfectly with my sound system.My first time visit was 5 years ago and was also cartridge installation with Jacob who was highly trained by the ClearAudio company. He did a fantastic stylus installation job to my turntable and my cartridge lasted over 5 years. I respected him as an expert professional in audio equipment. I would called him for help when I have questions in my audio system upgrade or improvement needs.This is the second time I came back to this long time Super Audio store. I really like this store and their services with professionally trained personnel on site to help customers’ needs. Spencer is very nice and polite in welcoming me to the store and very happy to help me. His dedicated skills and working patiently on my turntable made me really appreciate his time and workmanship. He would readjusted anything he was not happy with what he sees or measured not to his expectations.The other staff are nice and customers oriented, listening to what customers want them to do. This is a high end audio professional store so they require customers to make appointment therefore each customer walls into the store would be served accordingly and not leaving customers without help or service. I feel so lucky that I know this store and will continually use their services as I need.Thank you Music Lovers.
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April 2023 by Jake Brown
This is a review for the eCommerce side of the business. I ordered a Cambridge Audio CXA61 from Music Lovers Audio at 9PM on Thursday night. It was dispatched on Friday and it turned up on Tuesday morning. Better yet, shipping was free, which on a 20lb package, is great. A very pleasant transaction with no hiccups. Thank you!
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February 2023 by Rob K.
Visited, with my teenage son, despite it being obvious I wouldn't be making a purchase in the near future the team at Music Lover's (esp. Spencer) were awesome, spending time with us, demonstrating their range of some of the finest Hi-Fi on the planet at various price points. If you are considering purchasing an upgrade to your audio-visual set-up these guys are a must visit.
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August 2022 by Parth Madhubhai
Odd experience, the owner said hi but was talking to another person so I quietly just looked around at their beautiful gear. He then said I couldn't have my backpack with me and asked me to put it on a seat by the entrance which I was fine with (just got off a work cnf). Then he proceeded to ask me a few questions and said "we don't just let anyone in here, we ask them to make an appointment". I get it, they don't want to waste their time if they think the person isn't a buyer or in my case, I made it clear I was from out of town visiting for work and had a flight that night. I recommend the owner updates this to indicate it's by appointment only (assuming this is in fact true).If you live in the bay area highly recommend you make an appointment and check out some gear, you will realize a whole new dimension of audio that you didn't think existed, especially with the gear they have in stock!
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May 2022 by Michael H.
Hugh and Jae are the best. Go there you won't be sorry.... Honest and more knowledge than you could even imagine. No attitude just quality.
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April 2022 by Jonah N.
Excellent products and service. Spencer was friendly, helpful and able to answer all of my questions. I will definitely be making another purchase.
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February 2022 by Kevin LaTour
Unfortunately I have to give a one star to even get my review posted. Doesn't deserve that !I called this store to see if they do repair on vacuum tube amplifiers and dont know who I spoke to ( I'm thinking it was the owner ) and he proceeded to tell me its a waste of time !!! The old amplifiers are not worth repairing and will not perform compared to the Audio Research amplifiers. I was Shocked he was spewing this garbage simply because they do not do repair and thinks its a waste of time repairing older equipment ! WOW was shocked. This attitude is what gives high end audio a bad rap ! Why anyone would buy anything from this guy with that attitude is beyond me. I have been in this industry for over 45 years selling some of the finest in high end audio and WOULD NEVER talk to someone like that and tell them they are wasting there time and is not worth repairing. So I guess that means if its not a "Audio Research" amplifier ( which honestly I'm not a fan of anyhow) your wasting you time repairing OR for that matter listening too ! Sr if you see this post my suggestion RETIRE !! Cause you have the wrong attitude !
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January 2022 by Kevin L.
Only giving it one star because I have to. I just called this store today to see if they do repair because I need repair on a high end pair of Mono kt 88 mono block amplifiers that still to this day sound very good. The gentlemen answered ( like I woke him up or something as he mumbled ) and asked him if he does audio repair. I told him I need repair on a pair of mono block tube amplifiers. He proceeded to tell me it was a waste of time ! NO ONE repairs older amplifiers ! Then proceeded to tell me that I should by Audio Research ( which he sells ) otherwise I'm wasting my time ! WOW was shocked. I said Really ? Why anyone would buy anything from him is beyond me and with attitude like that no wonder it turns off people. I have been in this business for over 45 years selling the very finest in high end audio AND WOULD NEVER talk to someone like that and disparage other brands of equipment and tell a potential client their wasting there time, and if you dont buy what we sell your making a mistake. WOW unreal. Sir if you see this my suggestion, Retire you have lost any sense of what this industry is about. To encourage and support all those interested in listening to music and getting the best possible sound. So sad.
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December 2021 by Guohua Zheng
Now I need to upgrade the system, MD Mark is very friendly and professional, I will find what I need here, thank them
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November 2021 by Craig C.
I was remodeling my house and wanted to talk about whole house audio, control systems, etc. these folks are a control4 dealer but refused to give me any information or pricing unless I committed to buy. Keep in mind, this Was a couple years ago and maybe they've gotten better since then. I sort of get it. They sell expensive stuff and they're tired of being jerked around but that's the business they are in. I moved in as they insisted I commit to buying from them before they would help me. I'm the customer. They need to earn my business. Not the other way around. To be fair, most of the high end stores around the city are the same.
