So I bought a used analog receiver, amplifier, tuner, and equalizer. After getting it up and was…read moreready to crank this mother up until I heard the click and pop... dang it *%!& Doing my due diligence I looked for a reliable repair shop. Thankfully I found Audio Specialist (Howard) ! He was straight with me ,said how long and what I was to expect time wise. It took a couple weeks, not many specialists like these guys around anymore, and it was definitely worth the wait! And the money. ( very reasonable) Got my stereo home and the sound and power from the amp, is incredible. Going back to buy a turntable as well. . It's like finding a great auto mechanic, you want to let people know. Go see Audio Speciast and Howard .

Howard is a rare gem in the world of audiophiles. We not only found the record player of our dreams…read moreat an extremely reasonable price, but down the road when we had an issue with it, he immediately helped us to successfully resolve it. We can't sing his praises loud enough. Check out his selections, you won't regret it, plus his customer service is unparalleled.

This is another follow-up review on both the Legacy Focus SE speakers that I have had for about a…read morehear now, but also how outstanding James has been on being helpful on a few technical questions that have come along since my purchase in Oct, 2019. First, the speakers. They are awesome; like no other, with an amazing soundstage. I just marvel at the stage where the music I enjoy is coming from the center filling the "stage" on each side (Yello anyone?). I have had new listeners compliment me on how great my center channel is (Legacy Marquis XD), and after they have listened for awhile and complimented me again on the great center side, I love telling them that it is not playing- that is the amazing sound stage of the Focus SEs. You have to listen to the Focus towers (mine are the SEs) to get it. If you decide you love them, then make sure James sets them up for the maximum sound stage benefit. And also be sure and get the optional additional feet as they made a big difference- and the cost was so small I forgot how much. Plus, I almost forgot the CODA electronics which are amazing and well worth it- and substantially less than many "names" you see in the high end stereo mags. Then I want to say just how helpful James is with follow-up questions after the initial installation, which he did. I have reached out to him three times, twice due to Cox Cable gear that was performing poorly and he gave me an approach to improve it. Then when I had to move my gear for repositioning, I forgot to measure the locations, separation, and angle. He knew immediately and guided me through it as I wanted to restore what he did. Want to dazzle your friends? After you get a pair of Legacy tower speakers, model will not matter and only get better up the price curve, don't tell them that your center is off. Great fun to see the expression on their faces. Then sit back and just love live music.

James at Destination was a pleasure to work with. Very generous with information and his time…read more Great place to audition Legacy speakers. Altogether a great experience.

Chris was awesome! I called about an issue with my receiver. He explained over the phone that i…read moreshould first check for a blown fuse. I opened it up and he was right. Replaced the fuse for $4 and fixed it myself. I really appreciate that he helped me figure it out without him coming out. I'll definitely be calling Chris again with any more audio equipment issues. thanks!

I recently got an 80's Sanyo stereo system, knowing nothing about it but needing help getting the…read moretable to turn, sound to work, and needle replaced. Chris stayed on the phone with me for 2 hours (I am not local) and was able to guide me through set-up, care for my system, and even noticed that the red cap from the needle broke off and needed to be removed (pictured). He gave me recommendations on how to get it out, waited for me to try them, and sent me a link for the correct needle replacement. Im able to listen to the radio and my tapes now, just waiting for the needle and I can finally play my records. His ability to walk me through the set-up and minor repairs, without even touching the system, is a true testament to his knowledge and skill. Thank you!

Every time I've ever done here in the last year, they've never had what I've needed in the past…read morethis would be one of my go to places for cables microphones no longer

Lots of stuff to buy at this place like cables and connectors mic accessories and speaker stands…read moreand recorders etc. Pretty quiet place. But the guy at the cashier needs to be replaced. Never smiles, sour attitude when I am making my payment. A more cheerful lady or a welcoming personality will be more helpful for this place to keep their customers returning often.

Outstanding Service and Support at Ahead Stereo…read more I purchased my McIntosh turntable from Ahead Stereo and recently ran into an issue with my stylus. I reached out to Brian, and he immediately went above and beyond--contacting McIntosh on my behalf, walking me through the options, and ultimately helping me get back up and running. What stood out most wasn't just the solution, but the care and integrity Brian showed throughout the process. He didn't treat me like just another transaction, he treated me like a valued customer. That kind of support is rare, and it's exactly why I'll keep coming back to Ahead Stereo. If you're into high-end audio and want a dealer who stands by their customers, this is the place. Highly recommend.

It's is increasingly difficult to find retail operations that give the time to customers looking…read morefor guidance. Today during my visit to ahead stereo I was looking for an education in creating a future home stereo system, I'm not up to date on all the options, but have a general idea of what I'm trying to achieve. These folks seemed interested in selling me a consultation for a couple hundred dollars rather than trust helping me and winning my trust, it seemed they were concerned if the helped me understand what would be a good solution I would leave the store and buy online. That was not the plan and once I figure out what I'm looking for I'll probably be back to buy local, as I'm a big supporter of that concept. My suggestion in the future is customer comes first, build the trust and loyalty will follow.

From beginning to end, my experience with Pro Audio L.A. has been incredible. Jason provided…read moreexceptional and knowledgeable information in our consultation - he heard my needs and made suggestions that fit who *I* am as an artist and producer. I never felt upsold or oversold anything - I always felt supported. On installation day, Jussef and Richard were kind, patient, knowledgeable and wonderful. They helped me get everything set up, did beautiful custom cable work and answered every question I had with helpfulness and a real enthusiasm for their work. I will 1000% be returning to work with Pro Audio L.A. and would highly recommend their wonderful work.

Pro Audio LA was once a highly reputable, trustworthy, consistently reliable company with an…read moreexemplary business model. But over the course of the past year or so (beginning around roughly mid-2025 and onward), the company inexplicably took a nosedive with its prior reputation and is quickly sending it to the dumpster, given that it mysteriously no longer responds to communications and is increasingly failing to fulfill and/or ship its existing orders. I am not certain what suddenly changed - perhaps the ownership was transfered and/or bought out, or maybe their next-of-kin inherited the business - but regardless of the reasons, I CAN tell you with certainty by this point in time is that this is no longer the Pro Audio LA which we audio professionals so fondly remember, most sadly to say. Because all of its communications and ordering processes have just about broken down within the past months, even as it continues to accept your online orders and take your money! For the record: I have $300-worth of audio interconnect cables ordered from this past springtime of 2026, and it is now mid-July as of the time of my writing of this review, yet STILL I have heard nothing further of my order. Even after multiple communication attempts. Nothing but dead silence on the other end, even though ... again ... the online order form remains open, functional, and happily charges your credit card without batting an eyelash. Clearly, something has gone terribly, heinously amiss while SOMEONE on the other end continues to take your money. And that's just about where the paper trail ends, because your online order stays in perpetual "processing" with nothing further done. That's where it sits, even as of today. So, please, heed my warning and do NOT give Pro Audio LA a single cent of your business from this point, onward. At least not until some kind of definitive light is shed on whatever has transpired within the establishment, regarding its suddenly-tanking business model. Because this doesn't smell right at all, and I am not the only recent buyer who has been raising awareness about the recent 180° turn for the worse by this company.

6 out of 5. I just found this review by Nick M - and I could not have said it better myself:…read more Nearly impossible to say enough good things about Jen, Oscar, and Rewind Audio! Not only do they consistently have an amazing inventory of diverse, unique, high-quality vintage hifi components (speakers, amps, turntables, cassette decks, etc), but they are also extremely knowledgable, kind, and earnest people who value their customers deeply, and strive to deliver the best possible gear and customer service. Their energy and passion is infectious! Aside from being great people - they offer very fair and competitive pricing on all of their equipment and you can be certain that everything in stock has been inspected, tested, and held to the highest standard - which makes the value nearly priceless. A rare gem in LA! A 'must visit' for vintage audio nerds.

Came here for a birthday party. We had access to the cool interior of the store with all kinds of…read moreretro audio equipment and then access to the large back patio space. The party host had a bartender, set up a food and appetizer station near a retro camper. Add some party decorations and it was such a cool place to rent space from! Definitely considering a rental for a future party here and also, to go back and buy some records which were reasonably priced.

We had a gig at Van Nuys High School last week and due to an emergency situation we had to move the…read morevenue and rent some special microphones. Chris and the rest of the staff at Hollywood Sound Systems came to the rescue. They patiently worked with us to find the right microphones and sound board for the job. And the event was a success. Thank you!!!

Everyone at Hollywood Sound Systems was amazingly kind and helpful. As soon as I walked in, they…read morestarted helping me track down the piece I needed for my mic stand. It's a very specific piece I've not been able to find at any of the other businesses I visited. First off, they quickly understood what I was looking for since I didn't have the specific piece on hand, and three different people quickly jumped in and brought me several options to choose from. After that, I had a question about my setup and they gave me several tips which I went home and used right away. I've never left a gear/rental shop feeling so well taken care of as I did at Hollywood Sound Systems. Top notch service and a great team all around. Also, they have an amazing collection of vintage microphones used by some of the biggest stars and announcers. Seriously, you have to see it to believe it. These people are legit and I highly recommend them and look forward to returning to them to rent gear and know that if I have any question about sound and mics, they'll have all the answers.

After purchasing a set of vintage Bose 901 Series IV from Craigslist I realized they needed some…read morehelp. They had been re foamed, but not correctly. some drivers were out of alignment and the voice coils scratched in the magnet. Frank said he could repair them but the cost of labor would be much higher than buying and installing exact replacements. we did that with 5 drivers and re cemented the cones on a few others. What an excellent result. They sound perfect and was given a fair price and the work sas done quickly. I would recommend him for any vintage speaker repairs

Frank and his team did an excellent job reinstalling a sound system in our gazebo and backyard, the…read moreprevious system destroyed in the Palisades' fire. Frank is affable, professional and honest. His recommended components were excellent choices. I highly recommend him.