Been following this record shop for a while on IG and finally made the trip up for my birthday…read more Getting there was a bit frustrating- GPS took me to the wrong side of the building, and calling for directions wasn't very helpful. For some reason the person on the phone was frustrated pretty quick. Once inside, the space was clean and spacious, but no music playing. Unfortunately, the selection felt pretty limited and not fully stocked, so there wasn't much to dig through this time. Cool shop overall, just not the vibe for me on this day.

Sibylline is a gem of a record shop in the Pasadena area filled with lots of treasures and great…read morefinds. There is no parking lot here, but a good amount of street parking all around the area. Inside, they are a smaller shop but have a good amount of records to sort through. Their selection ranges from different genres and are usually more old school. Everything is priced fairly and the staff here are welcoming. I definitely spotted some cool finds that I do not typically see at other record shops.

Commune Records is a cool and modern record shop located in the heart of Old Town Pasadena. There…read moreis no parking lot here, but plenty of street parking options around the area. They have a good amount of records to sort through, spanning all different genres and are priced fairly. All of the staff here are very friendly and welcoming. There was nothing to add to my collection today, but I will definitely be back for more crate digging next time I am around the area.

Love this place. Good selection of vintage records. The store is well curated. The records on the…read morewalls are always a treat. The owner Jeff is friendly and knowledgeable.

This review is far overdue. To cut to the chase, Ian (the owner), Jesus, and Brian are exceptional…read more A special shout out goes to Brian for spending so much time with me until we had the right system picked out. I was recently gifted a record player which had me scrambling for some new gear. It had been a very long time since I had taken a stroll down HiFi audio lane. I popped into Audio Element mainly to see what brands they carried. I initially felt a bit timid since I could tell that they carried some really high end stuff. I instantly felt like this shop was out of my league. However, Brian warmly greeted me and quickly made me feel at home with his exceptional hospitality. As he showed me around the shop and answered some of my questions, Jesus was also very helpful in contributing wherever he could. Brian demo'ed various setups for me based on the sound signature I was going for as well as on the description I had provided of my listening area. The specially curated setups he showed me sounded phenomenal. He was also extremely knowledgeable. Knowing that I was about to drop some serious dough, and also knowing how much of a methodical person I am, I thanked both of them and told them that I was going to go home to make some decisions and that they would likely see me again. When I did eventually return to the shop, I was happy to see Brian again. Having done some research at home, I went in convinced knowing what I wanted. I had made some personal tweaks to some of the equipment I had really enjoyed on my previous visit. These tweaks were mainly upgrades of the same model line of equipment. As we got to talking, Brian made me aware of some new speakers they had recently received that he thought I might like. He offered to hook them up for me and if I didn't like them, no harm no foul and I could stick with the original setup I had chosen. OH MAN! I immediately fell in love with the new speakers and integrated amp combo he setup for me. I knew I needed this to come home with me. I got a killer deal and I could not be happier. Ian (the owner) happened to be at the store that night and he made sure that everything went smooth. One thing I'll never forget is how Brian made me feel when I realized that I had accidentally kept the staff after hours; not realizing that the store had already closed. While I felt bad, I couldn't help but notice that in the excitement of helping me pick out my system, it seemed like the staff had also lost track of time just as I had lol! I apologized to Brian and he quickly told me not to worry about that and reassured me that they were there to make sure that I was truly happy with my new setup. At the end of it all, the entire staff even helped lug all the equipment to my car. Fast forward several months later, and this has become a new hobby of mine. I love my setup so much that I listen to records every night before bed. When I'm not listening to records, I'm streaming on the bluesound node icon. Ian, Jesus, and especially Brian, you guys are a very special bunch. Thanks again and I hope to see you in the not so distant future.

5 stars! Huge…read moreshoutout to Jesus and Brian. I recently went to a friend's house for a hi-fi listening session, and when I came home and turned on my own system, I realized something had to change. After a deep dive of research, I landed on the Wharfedale Lintons, and Audio Element was the only place where I could actually hear them in person. Brian was incredibly helpful and patient as my wife and I worked through some favorite tracks to make sure they were the right fit. Needless to say, we walked out with the Lintons. Once we got them home, it quickly became clear our amp wasn't up to the task. More research led us to the perfect pairing: a Rega. Jesus happened to have exactly what we needed and was kind enough to hold it while we rushed down to grab it. The result? Spine-tingling, goosebump-inducing fun listening to music again. Our system finally feels alive. The service here is top-notch. They genuinely listen, guide you without pressure, and clearly care about helping you find the right setup. Safe to say, Audio Element is now my go-to for all things hi-fi.

Building a community of musicians and listeners through great curating and cool shows. Thank you…read moreHealing Force!

Ok - well worth the trip to Pasadena. Fantastic music and ambiance. Also discovered a lot of new…read moreartists who are now in my Spotify playlists. Returning asap.

I noticed this bookstore on one of my walkabouts, and decided to finally stop in…read more Generally, kinda cluttery. Lots of shelves and books everywhere, but each shelf is home to specific categories of books, and there's LOTS of categories! Looking deeper at each collection, I was really impressed with the range of what I saw. I noticed these two super nice quality cookbooks and snagged them! I didn't realize at first, but the prices of the books seem to be marked in pencil on the first inside page or so, and I got a really good deal (imo!). I was in there for just a few minutes before the clerk/owner noticed me (he was busy in the back I think?) and turned on the AC and some cool music. :) That was appreciated, thank you!! I'll stop by again sometime. This feels like the place you should go to when you're not sure what you want, but you want a great price and rare find!!

Must post just to do my part to keep small used bookstores in existence. This is a dusty little…read moreplace, but not too dusty....still amazed that anybody can keep the lights on or these establishments. RIP cliffs

Vroman's is the place we come to browse before a movie at the Landmark theater next door. Today I…read morehad fun taking pictures of a comical kitchen towel, a wooden plaque, and a clever bookend. It was packed with happy shoppers. They must change the window displays every month or two because they're always different: folktales, everything to do with cooking, and a best dressed section. Worth checking out! Highly recommend!

I visited Vroman's Bookstore during a girls trip to Pasadena, and it turned out to be such a fun…read moresurprise. We initially expected a typical bookstore, but it's so much more than that. As one of the oldest independent bookstores in California, it has a really special charm. Inside, there's a wine bar, a coffee shop, and even a cute gift shop upstairs, which makes it easy to spend a lot of time browsing and relaxing. While I was there, I got to listen to an author present her book and answer questions, which added such a unique and memorable touch to the visit. The store was busy, and you could really feel how much people enjoyed being there. The layout is well organized, making it easy to find books by genre. Upstairs, there's a spacious children's section, which is great for families. I also loved the section featuring Orson Welles books and posters. It was a really cool and unexpected addition. Overall, Vroman's is more than just a bookstore as it's an experience. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area!

My go to bookstore for specific finds I need, and when I don't wanna support big box stores. These…read moreguys are informed, kind, and well inventoried! They carry new and old books with VERY large selections. Their manga and comic section is really great, and I love to pop in to see what's new. I think they understand there's lots of art students nearby that love these books! :) Thank you, book alley. They helped me snag a specific book I really wanted to avoid buying from amazon, and couldn't find anywhere else! Make sure, if you're in the same boat, give them a call and ask if they can do the same for you! It might incur a fee, but they got my book to me within a week and I didn't have to pay extra! :) Wahoo!

Book Alley is a cool place to browse if you love books and records. They have a great mix of new…read moreand used books, and it's the kind of bookstore where you can easily lose track of time wandering the shelves. The staff on the floor are engaging and genuinely helpful when you're searching for a particular find. That said, my experience selling books was disappointing. The process felt impersonal, and the seller/owner was not particularly engaging. One example: I brought in a brand-new book that originally cost $40 and was offered only a $1 store credit. I understand used bookstores have to make a profit, but the experience left me feeling like my books would have been better off in a friend's library. Great place to browse and buy, but I would lower expectations if you're planning to sell.

Pasadena Antique Mall has so many great items to offer! The staff is friendly and helpful, and the…read moreowner clearly takes pride in running a great business. One of the best parts is that there are over 70 different vendors, so you're really supporting a community of small businesses all in one place. I especially appreciate their collection of true vintage clothing from the 1940s and 1950s in the (#123 I'm Your Vintage Gal booth.) It's not something you find everywhere. The store is always clean, well-organized, and easy to browse. There's a wide variety of antiques and home décor, so there's something for everyone. Definitely worth a visit if you love unique finds and vintage treasures!

Located right next to the parking garage. It can be a bit tricky to find the right staircase to get…read moreto the area next to the entrance. The entrance is up some stairs in a courtyard type area in between the buildings. Inside was quite packed full of things and dust. We didn't find what we were looking for but there seemed to be plenty else in there. Staff were loudly having what seemed like unnecessary convo at the front of the store.