very good record store with a huge selection of records, dvds, and speakers. owners and workers are very nice and prices were good. Definitely a place that I would come to if i was into records read more

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In the interests of fairness to the guys running this place, let me say-- if I knew anything about electronics, sound systems, home theaters and the like, I'd assuredly be giving them 5 stars. Given that I've been making due with a plug-in "boom box" CD player/radio for the past 10 years or so, I'll have to confess my ignorance at the outset; I know next to nothing about such things. But if you're into electronics, sound systems, home theatres and the like, this is assuredly the place to come. Me? I'm into DVDs and CDs. That's what I'll be rating them on. According to their website, they've been in existence since 1992. I was unaware of them, although that's not surprising, as I don't come to Somerville on anything like a regular basis. I happened to be at a restaurant with a friend, we were walking back to his car, and he was the one who noticed this place, and suggested we stop in. At that point, it was getting dark, the storefront was dimly lighted and hardly inviting, and I was tired, but...ok...whatever. All of the electronics stuff is in the front of the store (I think they do repairs and such in the back, although I didn't investigate), and it was impressive looking (some of the pieces of equipment are towering black monoliths that look really, really expensive, although...again, in fairness to the owners...I wasn't pricing anything, given my relative lack of interest-- so the prices might actually be moderate and fair). As stated, my interest is in the DVD and CD selections available. When I'm not purchasing such items from Amazon or Ebay, my store of choice is invariably Princeton Record Exchange. This isn't the Princeton Record Exchange, but it's not bad at all, especially if you're more interested in watching a film with Tom Hanks or Julia Roberts than you are a film with Kurt Raab or Soledad Miranda. However, let me not damn this place with faint praise. The selection of DVDs was good, and the prices were fair. They have drama, they have comedy, they have horror, among other genres. I bought "Angel Heart," "The Others," "Wishmaster," and "Innocent Blood." These are films I've already seen, but not in a long time, and have wanted to revisit. I also bought "Kansas City Confidential," a film with Lee Van Cleef (a Somerville native, by the way) that I haven't seen, but look forward to watching (according to the blurb on the DVD case, Leonard Maltin wrote, "Quentin Tarantino must have seen this one prior to scripting 'Reservoir Dogs,'" which is enough of an endorsement for me, given that I always liked "Reservoir Dogs"...although I'm ambivalent about Tarantino's other films...but I digress, as usual...). Also bought "Cloverfield," which I've never seen, but have heard good things about. The cost of each DVD ranged from $5 to $10, so I didn't exactly break the bank. They even have a few foreign movies, although they cost appreciably more money. Still...the store comparable to this that comes to mind is "Spin Me Round" in PA. I wrote a positive review on them some years back; the only negative note I can remember is that their selection of foreign films was anemic to the point of being non-existent. They had only 1 foreign film in their bins...a movie from India...which I bought. When I took it home to play, it didn't...play, that is...and I ended up tossing it in the garbage without too much regret. After all, I didn't pay a lot for it. But money wasted is money wasted. Obviously, I wasn't going to drive back through the wilds of eastern PA to return it. The DVDs I've bought from Sound Exchange play, and if I happen to buy a foreign film DVD from them at some point (I noticed a few from France, but I already owned them), I expect the foreign film DVD will play too. And if I do end up having to return one, Somerville is a lot closer to me than the wilds of eastern PA. CD selections were pretty conventional, but I bought a few (including one entitled "Sounds of Scandinavia," which when I took it home and played it on my CD "boom box" reminded me in a pleasantly nostalgic way of the Muzak they used to play in elevators or at the dentist's office when I was a kid). One CD was a sale item; it cost about a dollar, and the title escapes me now. But the gentleman who rang me up looked at it appraisingly for a moment, and said, "Ah, I'll throw it in for free." I'm not about to stop my semi-regular excursions into Princeton, especially when I'm in the market for something by Fassbinder or Pasolini or "Night of the Bloody Apes," or the Stooges or Daniel Johnston, etc. But this is a really good place to pick up a DVD showcasing that movie you liked and haven't seen in a couple of years, or that CD from your college years that you'd like to revisit, or that film you missed at the multiplex theater in the mall some years back that you still have some interest in seeing. The selection is good, the prices are often more than fair, and the staff is helpful and accommodating. For sure, I'll be back. read more

Continues to advise, educate, consult on every level. Each time I visit Mike and Jerry teaches me something new about audiophile acoustics, but in an immersive, challenging and unassuming way. Great to see the store doing so well! read more

Spoke with someone on the phone, asking for advice on electronics repair. They were super helpful and I appreciate how willing they were to offer support! read more

Brought my turntable in for repair. It was working but had issues, They fixed issues, but created 2 NEW issues, making the turntable unusable. Charged me $200 anyway. Said for another $75 they "might" get it right. BAD BUSINESS. Also people who work there are REALLY RUDE read more

Extremely knowledgeable & friendly staff that are great at explaining the equipment in the store. The staff are both patient and knowledgable with all sorts of question asking. There's a wide variety if brands & equipment for everyone, ranging from beginner audiophile to the individual looking to spend $100K on a home theater. They carry a wide range of premier brands: Focal, Paradigm, Anthem, and more. read more

Sound Exchange is an amazing place with great people. I've purchased two surround sound systems there along with a recent purchase of a system for my daughters room. Super knowledgeable. Screw the big box stores. This is where great customer service is with top of the line products. read more

While much of TSE's floorspace is dedicated to their CD sales and exchange program (they buy your used CDs), it doesn't hamper their ability to provide an unmatched demo experience. TSE has a very large selection from the brands they carry (Focal, Paradigm, Anthem, etc.) so they can actually let you hear the difference between gear. Not sure if a particular component, wire or cable will bring an improvement? Head over to TSE and let an A/B comparison; and your own ears convince you. Some may feel that TSE's decor should exclude it from earning a 5-star rating, but for the person looking to actually demo equipment, there really isn't a better selection for probably 100 miles (maybe more). Combine that with top-notch brands and a great staff and I'm clicking 5-stars! read more

Love this place. I continue to go there and the staff is very knowledgeable and very helpful. Purchased some more focal speakers. Price is also very good. I recommend anyone in the market for audio solutions to visit the sound exchange and see Jerry read more

My Technics turntable had lost the left channel, so I made a couple of calls to stereo repair centers in my area, but the responses were quick, matter of fact and had very expensive bench prices. Then I accidentally found The Sound Exchange on eBay and called them to ask about repairing my TT. This was my first introduction to meeting Mike, who took his time and patience, extensively explaining in detail what may be wrong with my TT along his process for analyzing the problem as well as the bench cost and the possible costs for a new RCA cable. etc. He spent about 15 minutes on the phone with me and I could hear his enthusiasm, insight, knowledge and dedication coming through loud and clear!!! So I was sold on making the 1 hour-plus drive from NY to Somerville, NJ to meet him with my TT. BTW, in my own prior attempt to fix the left channel, I spliced a common stereo RCA cable onto my TT's existing cable, but that didn't solve the problem. So when I arrived at TSE, Mike looked over my Technics TT and immediately recommended replacing my RCA cable splice job, with a new AudioQuest RCA Cable set that he would solder directly to the TT board and provide an immediate increase in high fidelity. I left my TT and asked to be able to pick it up in two weeks and although he was swamped with the Christmas rush, Mike made sure to have it ready for my pickup date! In the end it turned out to be a (rare) defective Shure M97xE cartridge which I recently purchased from a NYC electronics store. Mike gave me a few options, and I went with his Grado Black Cartridge recommendation! With no added cost, he also cleaned the TT and set up the tracking, tone arm and Grado cartridge. So the (reasonable) bench cost, cable and cartridge was cheaper than buying another TT that would be the equivalent of my TT, which Mike had checked out to be in great condition. Along with the new AudioQuest RCA cable and Grado cartridge my vintage Technics TT problem was not only fixed, but now sounds so much better than before! TSE is all about sound, whether it be components, CD's or repairs, and the storefront and look may be unexpected to those used to the bright mega-electronic stores, but I really enjoy the vibe as well as looking around TSE at the many CD's, speakers, amps and turntable components. To me, TSE is a welcome relief from the modern sales-hype and a throw-back to a time when store owners were dedicated to their customers needs! This is Mike and The Sound Exchange!!! read more

I had to double check the store hours to make sure the store was actually open behind the dark and uninviting store front. Once inside, I was not acknowledged or greeted by a store employee. The dim lights and lack of background music made an uncomfortable shopping experience. I looked at the used CDs and DVDs, and the prices for used products were higher than the new products on Amazon for every single item I picked up. I left the store without a purchase. read more

Mike and Sound Exchange are a gold mine! When I needed to replace my hi-end home stereo equipment, Mike came through big time. He helped me with the research process and final selection. Sound Exchange had the models I was looking at in stock such that I could see them and hear them side-by-side. Once my choice was made, Mike personally diagramed the wiring plan and integration of the new components into my existing setup. Then, when I had a question during installation, Mike stayed with me on the phone and walked me through everything until I was up and running - with no rushing or pressure! Recently, months since I made my purchase, Mike made himself available to answer questions and solve a configuration problem. Best customer service I've received in years! Overall, the service and experience from Mike and Sound Exchange can never be found in any big-box electronics store or from internet based shopping. read more

Great experience buying everything from cds to speakers. I check in every month or so. They have some tremendous deals on used speakers and equipment. The best thing is that you can actually listen to the speakers before you buy them. Highly recommend. read more

I've bought Focal, Anthem, Monitor Audio, Paradigm, Arcam and many other misc items for a home theater/stereo speaker system. The guys were very knowledgeable and answered many question I had to prevent a unhappy purchase. The time I spent auditioning different speaker and receiver combination at the sound exchange took a good amount of time but I got exactly what I wanted for a reasonable price. Before the sound exchange.... I had purchased a B&W and Rotel home theater components from another audiophile shop and was very disappointed in the equipment and customer service. They tried using high pressure sales techniques. They wouldnt give me a straight price for the components but rather bundle them and " throw in a free subwoofer with purchase today." If they did give me a price it was the MSRP rather then their pricing. I ditched that system and bought a new setup through The Sound Exchange. I'm extremely happy with the system components and sound it reproduces. I won't shop else where for my audiophile needs. I return a year later and tbought the floor model paradigm servo 15 v2 for a rock bottom price. It was a little overkill but it's still working properly since the day I got it. I'll soon be upgrading my Anthem MRX-700 to the MRX-1120..unless I discover a receiver that can rival Anthems MRX 1120's quality reproduction of sound and the cost. It made my higher priced Rotel receiver sound like junk. Cheers Patrick read more

This place is worth noticing, behind a cheap storefront, for its audio component selection. They told me that they specialize in Focal speakers, Monitor Audio speakers, and Paradigm. All three are high end. They have several mainstream brands as well. I was tempted to go four stars, but the place needs to look a bit better. The guy I spoke with seemed knowledgeable. I didn't make a purchase today but some new speakers may go on my Christmas list. read more

great place. bought a used velodyne subwoofer. the price was right and it's been working great for over 6 months. this place has a lot of hi-end audio equipment and the guy mike is very knowledgable. don't let all the CD's throw you. it's like throw back thursdays in there. you gotta admire the fact that you can still buy CD's somewhere - they actually still sound better than those crappy MP3's we are listening to. if you want to buy an old school receiver and some speakers and maybe a turntable this place is great. read more

If you're within 25 miles of Somerville and looking for audio equipment, I'd highly recommend making the trip. I came in to check out some headphones and ended up talking with Mike for quite a while. He hooked me up to a few sets and played a couple of songs, really gave me a good idea what I should be listening for. He has a great knowledge of the hardware he's carrying and really cares about what you're using it for. I'll definitely be back when I have money to spend setting up a sound system. read more

I had a Samsung 64 tv installed by Bill and his team. These guys are the most knowledgable that you can hope to hire. They gave me a great price to move the original tv to a new location and install the new tv. The new tv was a little complicated to install, i wanted to connect to my home theater and have it connected to a signal relay. It was no problem for them. Originally I had purchased a bracket and Bill suggested using a different one that was less than 1/2 inch from the wall. They only charged $60 for the bracket. Very reasonable on all parts and the tv looks great on the wall. One thing that Bill mentioned was that we give him a chance to match the price on any equipment. I purchased my TV from onecall.com and it was delivered fine and all. But if I had a problem, then I would have to deal with onecall team. Bill mentioned that he would be able to sell the same item for $50 more and he would take care of everything. I plan on purchasing from Bill going forward. read more

I bought second hand Focal Electra 1028be and a Simaudio Moon amplifier / cd set from TSE two years ago, and the equipment works without fail! That's always the first thing I worry about when buying pricey second hand gear, and I was not disappointed! I also compared the prices I paid to info on Audiogon.com and have nothing to complain about. More importantly, Gerry's advice in selecting the components was extremely valuable and greatly appreciated. Went back to the store a couple of times to seek advice on speaker placement and room acoustics, and got great advice from Mike. Most recently, went back to the store to have an expensive speaker cable and connector on the Focal speaker repaired which I broke by negligence. Mike and Gerry found a very cost-effective solution to fix both with original parts. Everything's as new! read more

These are good guys. I have made a number of purchases here, prices are always within budget, they are very knowledgeable, and they are always so helpful no matter what I buy there. Very helpful! They also sell used and new CDs and will place orders for music that they do not have in the store. Great place. read more

Yes, you can shop for speakers in hi-end furnished sound rooms, replica home theater rooms with popcorn machines and fat leather chairs, just not here. Go here when you want to listen with your ears. Close your eyes, breathe, hear. These guys are great. I purchased a Paradigm sub woofer. Gerry let me audition four different subs for over an hour. Great guy and very knowledgeable. I was able to trade in some used speakers towards my purchase. This was my second time purchasing speakers here. Will definitely keep coming back. read more

Mike and Jerry are incredibly knowledgeable and answers all your questions with a lot of patience. They have serious collection of reputed audiophile grade equipment's. If I have to get anything, its my first choice. read more

Dropped off my (operating fine) turntable just for a tune-up. Maybe it just needed a belt adjustment , tone arm adjustment or new belt but instead ended up with non-functioning piece of equipment! Was told fuse kept blowing and there were dated capacitors that needed replacement. Replacement fuse given to me does nothing. Now I have nothing, turntable worked fine when it was left there. BS!! read more

Visited these guys for some CDs and wound up purchasing a 12 year old demo CD changer for a great price. They even gave me a 30 day money back warranty, the player works great for what I need it for, and couldn't be happier. Probably will go back when I am ready to buy a sound system for a home theater setup. Cool place, good guys. read more