Great selection just a wee bit on the pricey side. This will be a one of my spots though to scope out vinyl. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. read more

I recently went to the store to pick up the newest Machine Gun Kelly record. When I couldn't figure out how the records were organized I asked the guy that's dressed like a cast member from the haunted house at Disneyland for help. I had to take a few steps back. When he approached me his breath was so overpowering of kombucha I offered him a piece of gum. This is were the story get very awkward. The first two minutes of us looking for the record he tried to convince me to buy a 4 Non Blondes LP very aggressively, in which I declined. Then somehow we made a wrong turn and ended up in the hip hop section. I politely had to explain to this person that Machine Gun Kelly was the king of punks and that it would be in that particular section. I'm sure this person is very educated in music but I think they are better suited behind the counter just shipping discog orders and leaving the public alone. After swiping my mom's Discover card for $59.99 I was given a "punch card". That awkward wave given to me as I walked out by the coworker was was enough for me to decide that I will stick to iTunes. read more

Wanted to update this. Tried these guys again and had a much more positive experience. The employees were super friendly and helpful and I got some really cool albums at good prices. Very pleased with my visit. read more

This place has a good selection but the prices are on the high side. The problem I have with this place is the staff. They are the most unfriendly people I have encountered at a record store. It would be to their advantage to be more helpful and engaging with people. This isn't a place that I enjoy going to. I would much rather give my business to Turntable treasures or Jankuland. read more

I've been in about a half dozen times and I am probably taking this store off my list. They do get a reasonable amount of interesting used vinyl in decent condition, so that is a plus. However, the vibe of the owner is a Hi Fidelity Jack Black clone. Also their prices are really at the high end consistently. In the end more of a pain in the ass than it's worth, replaceable with many other stores that are more fun and more reasonably priced. read more

So glad there are places like this left. Looks like Tacoma has a few. Good selection (vinyl and CD), good prices and very nice kid behind the counter who was helpful (but not too helpful), friendly and fun to visit with about the latest. Need to support the independent record stores that are left. read more

This little record store is great. If you want audiophile records, they've got a good selection that it is easy to find. Also, they have one of the better hip hop sections in the area (not inundated with horrible 12" singles). Overall, a well curated inventory. Everybody seems to be hating on their prices, but they are very fair. In fact, upon seeing that I was interested in a long out-of-print CD that was a tad overpriced, the guy at the counter unilaterally offered to check current prices online and reduce it. He ended up knocking about $30 off the price. And I didn't even ask! Basically, if you're looking to find an underpriced gem record unknown to the store, maybe this isn't the place. But if you're looking for good records, this is totally the place. My favorite Tacoma record store so far. read more

My list of "must have" vinyl grows every time I can persuade my wife to give me twenty minutes inside Hi-Voltage. The sales staff and owner are very knowledgable & they're always willing to find answers, offer opinions, and engage in conversation. The selection is pretty good for standards in rock, jazz, country, and R&B. They may not have rare 1st pressings of obscure 70's punk, but it's certainly not for a lack of effort. After all those records are rare and obscure for a reason. My only real negative experience here was on Record Store Day. The small space was packed and a little disorganized for such an event. But they're learning- I'd be surprised if that happens again next year. read more

Their price for vinyls are little too high comparing to other record stores in 6th street in Tacoma and in Seattle. They do have $1 rack outside of their door which drew me in but they are also mixed with $3 or so records. Selections nice but what comes to what matters is the price. Also if you want to bring YOUR records in to trade with them "DON'T". Go take it to somewhere else for much better deal as some reviewer stated as well. I didn't have any problem with the customer service as the young guy working behind the counter was nice and very approachable. read more

This is one of my all time favorite record stores, tones of used records, well sorted and reasonably priced. Was always my go to record store in tacoma read more

I've been here a few times, always have had a nice person greeting me and helping me when I had questions, they didn't have what I was looking for an even recommended I check across the street at a competing record store. I'll be coming back here when I need more vinyl read more

This is such an awesome place to get records and LPs that if youre looking for a CD the whole room goes quiet and becomes stale with stiff nosed disappointment/disapproval. I went in looking for Waka Flocka - Flockavelli ( one of the Greatest debut albums in recent history) AND THE MIDDLE AGED WHITE GUY QUINTESSENTIALLY MOCKED ME. "FLOCKAA WKAKA HOOBADAJOO?" i was then better assisted in finding Kings of Leon by another associate who had a stale sense of customer service until i showed him that Lavar Ball and Lionel Richie are practically the same person. I left with Mariah Carey, my first album from her for only $3.99, that made the dreadful vibe in there no better but the car ride back home was chill. read more

Whenever I visit Tacoma. A visit to High Voltage is always on the itinerary. HV might be small in size, but they pack it with great music from every genre and sub-genre known to music. I've been their four or five times now and always walk out with three or four titles in tow. The staff are always helpful and super friendly. So, if you don't see what you want, just ask. read more

Always awesome selection and friendly staff. Gave me some great trade-in credit on a bag of records I brought in too!

One of my favorite vinyl stores in Tacoma - large selection of used and new, some good bargain bin stuff, you can browse all day without being bothered. Prices definitely range, from good deals to high cost for collectible and rare items. I enjoy going in and poking around. read more

I really like this store. The staff was knowledgeable and quick to help me find what I was looking for. I didn't get to spend a lot of time looking, but the new and used records were priced very fair. I plan on going back soon. I definitely recommend this place. read more

I only got as far as the vinyl bargain bin. I was like a kid in a candy store. Great variety at great prices. I'll have to go back with more money. There was so much that I wanted to buy! read more

Hi-Voltage Records - Music & DVDs Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Went into the store today to sell a collection of about 500 records. The owner was an arrogant little asshole. He asked where got it and we told him they were our friend's who passed away. First thing he says is "oh so your collection is a bunch of junk then?" So before he even seen our collection the guy makes a disparaging comment and was totally rude. Plus the albums we looked through in his store were crappy and all way overpriced. It was ridiculous. read more

While they have a large selection , the prices for their lps were way to much money. I understand that some lps can command decent money, but why on earth would you have 20+ copies of one title and ask 9-10.00 or more? Silver Platters in Seattle have most of your 9-10.00 lps in their 1.00 dollar bin. read more

I come here for cassette tapes. Great selection! The atmosphere is cool and the music playing is awesome!

I went in today to possibly sell some of my collection, the jerk that I dealt with was rude, rough with my collection and had little knowledge of what he was looking at. I just don't understand why being an asshole gets you anywhere. I don't care that we weren't able to strike a deal that didn't surprise me but I wasn't planning on have to deal with a rude ass. Fuck him and fuck his store it's a bunch of overpriced shit for the true hipster. Really pissed me off. read more

The selection here is okay, pretty standard fare for vintage and modern pressings of LP's but DO NOT SELL here. They will severely undervalue your items and then upsell at significant markup. I tested the waters with 5 LPs I inherited from a huge collection I have no space for and the guy was rude and rough with the records. He literally said to my face the items were bargain bin junk and he'd only offer a few bucks despite there being zero damage as the LP's haven't been removed from the sleeve in over 30 years. There was zero explanation given for his reasoning. From others seller's experience I worried this might be the case, but again I have no space so I sold them. That said, the rest of this collection is going elsewhere. Honestly, it was wasn't the price that rubbed me wrong, I expected to be lowballed, it was how rude and dismissive the attendant was that led to this review. They've got to treat seller's better. read more

My husband went in to sell some records, and the owner disrespect his records and his person. This not the way handle business and the public. The owner can kick rocks. I hope he fails. read more

Nicely manicured store, easy to find what i was shopping for. Beware, New Vinyl is priced above list price.

Extremely cool record store with a massive selection. It is rather pricey compared to other record stores I have been to though.

I love coming to this store. Glad to see them expand. Great selection of new and used records and a respectable jazz section. Friendly and mellow staff. I bought the hoody. read more

The staff is easy-going and willing to talk to you about music. By far the best selection of newer albums in Tacoma. What holds me back 2 stars is their huge markups on new stuff. I've been buying stuff here for a few years, but recently going to some shops in Seattle showed me how expensive Hi-Voltage is. I will still go here occasionally to browse for used stuff. read more

High Voltage.. More like High Prices! Go to Rocket Records and House of Records. Pete at House of Records is the best make sure you visit his shop. read more

Hi-Voltage Records should be re-named OVERLY HI PRICED RECORDS. This is a store that features a fairly decent selection of records, but man this place is over priced. I've been to the store several times and had bad experiences each time. One time I was going through their "over-stock" items that are underneath the record shelves. I pulled out a nice stack of records. Some were priced, some weren't. I asked the kid behind the counter how much the ones without tags were and he said "Where'd you get those? " I told him the stock from under some of the shelves. He said "You can't look through those, those are only overstock items." I asked him why some were priced and some weren't and if he could just price the ones really quick. He proceeded to get mad that I was browsing through a section that I wasn't supposed to. I then let him know that this was stock in his store, under record shelves, and the other shelves with records under them were for sale. It was odd that these weren't. He said it didn't matter and I can't buy those. A record store with records that aren't for sale..... read more

Great blend of well picked new and old LPs. Sometimes a tad pricey, BUT they do have a great selection which does outweigh that more often than not. Nice, friendly staff too. read more

Easily the best in Tacoma, probably the best in Seattle area. Great selection and rewards system.

I love this record store. Seriously great selection in a small space. The prices are fair and the staff has always been really friendly - never seen any snotty attitude here. I seem to always find gems in the discount bins. My only problem is that I find too much stuff here that I want. read more

I recently found out about this record store and decided to check it out. I probably should not have waited until Record Store Day to visit this shop for the first time, though. I usually spend Record Store Day in Seattle, but decided to go with somewhere a little closer to avoid making a lengthy drive so early in the morning. I was surprised they didn't open until 10am on Record Store Day, seeing as how Silver Platters opened at 9am and Easy Street was the early bird with a store opening of 7am. Hi-Voltage usually opens at 11am, so 10am was a little earlier than normal. I would like to have been able to shop at 9am, though. As expected, there was a line of people waiting for them to open their doors and once the doors were open it was total chaos. The store is not that big to begin with, so it quickly filled up with dozens of anxious customers looking for Record Store Day releases which were placed in various bins throughout the store. It was shoulder to shoulder the whole time I was there. The 12" releases were in various bins on two different aisles and the 7" vinyl releases were in two bins near the cash register, which created a problem. Everyone flocked toward the register to peruse the selection of 7" offerings, and it became difficult to get to the register to pay. There was no sort of line, and it reminded me of the merchandise table at a rock concert. Everyone makes their way to the front and there's no way to determine what order to help people. I waited a long time while other people jumped in front of me and made their purchases. It seemed as if I could never catch the eye of the person who was deciding what order to ring people up, so I had to keep trying to get their attention. There were only two people working, and one cash register. To add to the delay, every single Record Store Day item had to be manually marked off on some sort of checklist as it was being rung up on the register. This increased the wait and seemed somewhat inefficient. I'm not sure how many Record Store Days this shop has experienced, but hopefully they can come up with a better method for next year. At the very minimum they should consider adding a second register. I didn't have a chance to look around and see what the regular merchandise selection consists of and how their prices compare to other record stores. I'll have to go back on a less hectic day to get the full experience. I did inquire about the return policy, though. They don't give cash back, but you can exchange an unopened item for something else. This excludes Record Store Day releases, though. They are non-returnable. read more

New location, same great selection of vinyl (and plastic, if compact discs are your thing). Lots of good high-end stuff for collectors, but bargain hunters shouldn't shy away from the quick sale bin. The covers may be ripped, scuffed, or scribbled in, but I've never picked a disc out of there that wasn't playable. The staff is also superb - this is Tacoma's number one retail store of any kind. read more

Great place and good inventory. The condition of their stock if often better than most, and they know their stuff. It's good to have such a cool place in T Town. My son and I are re experiencing LPs all over again. Hi-Voltage Records make it possible. read more

Went in looking for a very specific, rather obscure album and they had it! Large stock with plenty of options, well organized, and friendly staff. I will certainly be going back! read more

Such a cool gem in Tacoma. Among all the record stores on 6th, this place is easily the best. Their collection tailors to the collector, while also having a wide range of bargain LPs to start a collection. Great soul/r'n'b, new vinyl, indie/alt, punk and of course classic rock sections. The "new arrivals" will always have something you're looking for. And unlike some other record stores, the employees here are super friendly and always willing to help. Check it out! read more

A nice addition to the 6th Avenue area. Good selection but the prices are a little too steep. The employees are not the most customer service oriented people. read more

Such a great local store in T-Town with a wide variety of LP's. Staff are very helpful and friendly. Found the 4 classic LP's I was in search for from the 80's to add to my vinyl collection...The Go-Go's - Beauty and the Beat, Duran Duran - Rio, Depeche Mode - People Are People, and The Icicle Works - The Icicle Works. I appreciate that they have a punch card for purchases. I will definitely be back! read more

In town from Los Angeles. Wow, this place is Top Drawer. Superb feel when you walk in, incredible selection of music (especially vinyl) all sorted by category, genre and artist. Could have easily spent a fortune. If in the area, don't think twice and drop by this great Record Store. read more