Ahead Stereo

Absolutely amazing experience! The customer service here was one of the best I’ve ever experienced. Brian was knowledgeable, patient, and not pushy at all! He even helped us track down a rare component for our old iPod Classic that has a ton of our favorite music on it. We went with the Devialet Phantom Golds. They are amazing. I highly recommend coming here for any of your audio needs. They truly are the best in Los Angeles!

These guys are awesome. They helped me through the whole process of designing, choosing equipment and installation of a high end home entertainment system. When you are spending significant money on a custom installation(custom cabinets, wiring, design, etc.) you need someone who can get it right. These are the guys. They are very knowledgeable, punctual, and personable. They worked with my remodel contractor as part of the team. (Everyone on my remodel job calls them the "stereo whisperers"). I would definitely recommend them to anyone who wants good quality and support.

Review is subject to change pending outcome of Amazon inquiry. I purchased an item from Ahead that did not have the functions I needed. They are not wanting to allow me to return the item even though I offered to pay shipping and a restocking fee. I will update this review regularly to be sure it stays relevant, either good or bad.

The Guys @ Ahead Stereo are all awesome shoutout to Brian. I have grew up loving home audio at the beginner hifi level. Now that I am an adult it was time for me to invest and so I did. Pix on the way 😎

Ahead Stereo is the best in the business! Top quality stereo equipment and a very knowledgeable staff. This is definitely the best stereo store in Los Angeles!

Ahead Stereo has great product lines. However, without any assemblance of a listening room, it's impossible to hear what the product's sounds like.

Really great sales people, Knowledgeable and friendly, with some of the nicest audio equipment available. If you are serious about your audio, this is the place for you.

Good service, and good advice! Not pushy, just helpful in finding you the right option.

I first purchased a stereo receiver, a record player, and two bookshelf speakers here in 2022. In 2023, I added two tower speakers, a center channel, and a bigger AVR for a 5.1 home theatre that doubled as a stereo music room. Aaron was beyond helpful for the entire 1 1/2 year journey. I came in knowing very little about hi-fi and sound in general. He was extremely patient with my questions and answered all of them. He also pointed me in the right directions whenever I was confused (which was often). Having him as a resource to clarify anything I read online was invaluable. I plan to return here first whenever I need future gear.

Brian Bloom provided courteous and diligent assistance. His guidance and excellent customer service led me to a very satisfied purchase from Ahead Stereo.

What's better, their sound systems or highly knowledgeable staff?? Bought my subwoofer & satellites there. I recently had to tweak the settings & Aaron helped me get it right. Thx!

Can I give them 6 stars ? I purchased a home stereo system at Ahead Stereo about three or four years ago. I met with Aaron just to ask a few preliminary questions. he is super knowledgeable, like everyone at Ahead Stereo, but understood my level of expertise and was able bring it up a few notches. I love the system I bought there. Every time I have a question setting it up, Aaron emails be exact drawings of what goes where. In the last few years I've purchased a few more items from Aaron and no matter what questions I ask, they are answered completely regardless whether I'm ready to purchase something or looking for advice. His diagrams are awesome. I recently learned a local big box store carries some of the same brands as Ahead, but you will NEVER get the help you will want and need there. Do yourself a favor, stop in to Ahead Stereo and listen to some of the best audio gear available.

When you get into the HiFi game, which is not made for casual listening, you need expert advice, because every component matters from power supply to speaker. Forums will give you a lot of contradictory biased opinions, but a good dealer (Aaron) gives it to you straight and is always avail for a quick chat. Added bonus, a brand dealer (Audioquest and KEF for me) will always get you a better deal than what you will find online. Ahead Stereo has been in business for 25 years for a reason! Cheers.

Great place to look for high end electronics for your home. It's definitely not your typical chain store equipment place. If you want quality products and professional installation, this is the place you'll find it all. There's plenty of knowledgeable staff on hand to help you out and explain your options to suit your needs and wants. I'm always happy and seek to support local mom and pop shops first.

Was very happy with our customer service at Ahead Stereo. My husband and I dropped a pretty penny on a Pro-Ject turntable, and we came into the store a few times. We bought the floor model of this turntable, and I was a little hesitant, but they assured us it would be great. We get it home and of course...it wouldn't turn on! Haha. I think the power source was screwed up. But the way the staff handled the situation was very professional. They ordered a brand new one for us no questions asked. They gave us the option of keeping the original with a new power source or taking the brand new one, and we did the latter. And we ended up liking the unique wood grain on the new one better, so wins all around. Side note- celebrity sighting of A$AP Rocky here! How cool!

Nice guys and ultimately sold me what I needed for a turntable. They had a large variety of audio equipment, but don't expect it to be like a Best Buy; they definitely curate their stock (which is good if you're looking for foreign brands). But boy, pretentious as fuck. I wasn't nearly as excited when someone was trying to sell me on a higher end turntable. He was just waiting for me to make a decision rather than fully help and ask what I was looking for. Just stood there looking at me like he had other things to do. TLDR: Great and versatile product selection, SUPA MEH sales reps.

While I'm not a newbie...I firmly believe that we all have plenty left to learn. And, it was with that attitude I walked into Ahead Stereo looking to get smarter, and to pick up a solid pair of speaker cables. The staff could not have been more helpful, thoughtful and generous with their time and efforts. I asked about bi-wiring, and they explained all (as well as showed me a diagram and cable availability). I asked about record weights and, instead of simply selling me one, he inquired about my system and discouraged me from spending the money as my turntable was specifically built not to need them. I asked about speaker stands and he looked up the specs of my speakers and guided me directly to the appropriate stands and height for my room - good info that I'll use later to pick up a new pair. I left not only with a pair of speaker cables on order, but a lot of new knowledge and guidance to help my system now and in the future. Very satisfied and appreciative to the Ahead Stereo team!

They sell all high end audio equipment. I bought my brother's Paradigm Atom speakers here with no trouble at all. And they gave me one of their awesome tshirts the second time I came in to make a purchase! Weeee. Very friendly, honest, and knowledgeable service. My brother came back here after I bought him the speakers and they gave him the word on sound bars (don't get them) and better recommendations. I was curious about the sound quality on their ipod speakers, so they let me hook up their ipod to test it out. Great storefront with wonderful equipment. Audiophiles - check this place out.

Unfriendly environment and the salesmen seemed like they were not eager or interested in helping find a suitable system within our budget.

Here is the truth about Ahead Stereo...it's a fantastic place to purchase high HIGH end audio components and where you feel like part of the family. Whether you are getting into basic stereo systems or a complex juggernaut of creating your ultimate setup, this little gem has been on the block since the 70's and the audio team that runs it has relentless passion for audiophiles and new music enthusiasts alike. The owner Phil is a true audio aficionado and keeps the shop stocked with the best products across the board. Tube amps and power conditioners line the walls as faint rock and roll plays fragrantly throughout. They have two listening rooms and are very accommodating. Also, Brian is super knowledgeable, helpful and VERY professional !! Hi-Fi (ly) recommended !!! Love this place!!

It is often said that the owners and employees of high-end audio and video equipment stores are pretentious, snobby and self-righteous. I can honestly say that that is most certainly NOT the case with Ahead Stereo and its staff. Yes, it is a high-end store but Phil and the other employee who assisted me (whose name I can't remember) where as helpful and as pleasant to deal with as could be. Ahead Stereo has been in business at this location since the 1970s...and it is easy to see why.

Brought my Rega P3 turntable in for service and upgrades to the belt and cartridge. Also got a new phono preamp. Aaron and Brian have been doing this for years and they set me up with precision...and courteous answers to my questions.

I bought my first pair of speakers at Ahead Stereo in 1981, and my most recent pair 38 years later. Ahead is still the best stereo store I've ever visited; a great selection of high-performance audio gear in a wide range of prices, friendly and knowledgeable staff, and very comfortable surroundings for listening. Ahead also carries a selection of high-quality used stereo equipment, which can be a real bargain. In all, a great experience for 38 years!

what can I say about his wonderful hi-fi store? Simply one of the best in the country! When it comes to buying anything of quality, I don't dare going anywhere else, even if I find it cheaper online or at Best Buy. The reason is their customer service and knowledge of, not just the product, but of what is most appropriate for you based on your existing equipment or budget. For example, when I set out to finally splurge on a high end turntable, Aaron (who's been there since I've bee shopping there) could have easily sold me one twice the price, but based on my existing equipment, he helped me choose the best one for my purpose, and for that I'm grateful and I believe it says a lot about their integrity. I also upgraded my receiver and decided to purchase a universal remote, which requires a tech to visit your home and program it. Unfortunately we had some issues with some of my equipment not responding and the owner Phil, assured me that he would send the tech back as long as it took to get it right, which after three trips they finally figured out the glitch that made it all work. I seriously can't believe the level of customer service that they provided. I can see how another store could have been annoyed and probably tried to charge additional money for the "inconvenience". I love ahead stereo because the reality is that unless you're a stereophile nerd, that keeps up with the ever-changing trends in hi-fi, you can get stuck buying something online or from one of the big box stores that simply won't live up to what it could for you. I've been shopping at AS for over 20 years, which for me, says a lot about AS consistency. Everyone there from Brian, Aaron and the owner Phil deserve a first visit before you decide to purchase something of quality in stereo equipment. I highly recommend Ahead Stereo for anyone looking to discover how the right equipment can enhance your musical experience.

Just picked up my Planar 3 yesterday and can't say my ears have ever heard anything better! Aaron provided great advice and answered all of my questions via email. Brian took great care of me in-store- mounted the new 2m blue cartridge for me and everything. Set-up was as simple as plug and play- a couple of adjustments, but very easy! I'll be back at Ahead for any of my future hi-fi needs. Thanks guys!

Great products but absolutely horrible customer service. I asked to see if they had any DACs in stock, especially a Dragonfly 2.0. The sales associate who brought it out was extremely rude and rather than ask if I had any questions just straight up asked if I was gonna buy it. He didn't smile and was glaring at me the whole time. If you hate your job some much stay away from a customer service role.

I have gone into Ahead Stereo several times over the years. Every time I go in there I'm immediately met with either indifference or attitude. The sales people I have interacted with there border on arrogant. It is exactly the kind of experience that turns people off when trying to explore high end audio equipment. There's a reason why high end stores are a dying breed. You would think with the recession, stores like this would grasp the concept of customer service as a way to differentiate themselves but apparently this idea is lost on the owner and sales staff of Ahead Stereo. In addition, their product lines are OK but the selection they carry within those lines is somewhat sparse. Yet another questionable decision by management. I will no longer even bother to visit this store. There are too many other options, even if they are a bit of a drive, where my business is appreciated and I'm treated like a valued customer.

Well, i have to say that until now, I have always given people or company the benefit of the doubt. But now that I have worked with Ahead Stereo three times in the past. I should have known better. They have never been that helpful, and now, after buying another (over 3grand) receiver. They are even more indignant in helping me out. I bought a Rotel receiver after my Denon burnt it's self out. So this time, I thought I would go back to Ahead stereo. They have great product, and I thought I could ignore how they make you feel stupid in what you know about stereos. But now, I have complained for a year that my Rotel wasn't working properly. Ahead stereo told me it must be the old wiring in my house. (it was brand new wiring less than four years ago) That it was NOT the receiver. I recently moved and plugged the Receiver directly into the tv. And guess what. It wasn't the wiring in my old house.. The receiver still not working!! On calling the store, and letting them know, that it wasn't working correctly. Ahead stereo told me to now take it to a repair shop across town. I asked if Ahead Stereo could take it for me. They said they would but would charge me for it!!?? Even though I have been complaining about this for a year!? This is the last time I will ever purchase from them, and now will make it my mission to let people know, if you need a place that has great customer service and helpful staff. This is not the place to go. And you can always find expensive stereos, without attitude.

If you are looking for b&w 685 speakers, they usually have them in stock. I would highly recommend them for apartment applications. On ebay the 602 series still sells for around 400 used, but this newer model has a better bass, and a smaller footprint. I was concerned about listening to them a lower volume levels, and am finding them to be very accurate across the board. They are being used for my hifi listening, not in a surround sound project and are paired with a awesome vintage Rotel 100 watt amp. I did not biwire them initially, so out of the box and not even through the burn phase, I am impressed. I called Ahead Stereo to see if they had them in stock, they did, their service was very good, so this man has no issues with the transaction.

Ahead Stereo helped me with my complete home remodel. They installed all the prewiring and worked with my contractor to make my home theatre system and surround sound throughout the house a pleasent experiance. Since I'm a novice with electronics,Stereos and TV's their help with a lot of great advice made the install and recommendations of what equipment to get within my budget pleasant. I'm now enjoying many hours of great Music and TV with my new home system. Thanks Ahead Stereo, Robert R.

I had been searching for Bower & Wilkins speakers online and the local area. Most of my searches led to custom home installation or Best Buy. Not only did Ahead Stereo have everything I was looking for in stock, but they also cut me a deal! The staff was very helpful, informative, and told me to let them know if I had any troubles. They were honest and didn't try and push product or services on me that I did not need. I will definitely go back to them for future needs!

This place is a lifesaver! Two times I have broken my needle right before a party and I come down and they put a brand new one in for me right on the spot while I wait! Great service and great people what more could you want? Thank you guys!!!!

The store has nice high end gear but I have only felt the cold, snobby sales attitude on rodeo drive. This place is a definite NO!

The guys here at Ahead Stereo are absolutely amazing. I brought in a 1968-1970 Denon DP-L 60 and wasn't even sure it worked. Brian helped me in picking out a new cartridge, installing it, making sure everything worked as it should. He did a lot of work to get the turntable in working condition, only charging me for the cartridge. I am so grateful that the crew here is not only knowledgeable, but extremely nice and well intentioned when it comes to helping out their customers. Can't say enough good things about them!

Love this place.. I went in to get a replacement cartridge and my system never sounded better. These guys definitely know their stuff. I highly recommend this place if you're looking to up your stereo game.

I've used Ahead Stereo over the last twenty years for home installations. They consistently have done fine work and I have never been disappointed. I recently upgraded my TV room with a new 60" Samsung flat screen. I considered having it mounted by the Geek Squad at Best Buy since I bought it there. But I knew the install was going to be a bit involved (the Geek Squad quoted low pricing doesn't include a lot of add-ons that I knew I would require,) and since I would be connecting it to the surround system I had installed by Ahead back in the nineties, I thought it might be safer to do the installation through Ahead in case there were any problems with the existing system. Everything went great. I consulted with John on the job and he provided me with excellent advice based on my budget and needs. He even researched various components for me and found the perfect adjustable mount for the job that came in at lower price than he estimated. Nothing against Best Buy but I felt like Ahead gave the job the kind of personal, expert attention to the job that they just never would. The Ahead installers, Jordan and Gilbert knew exactly what they were doing and worked quickly to get the system up and running. The TV was going up on paneled walls and Best Buy was hesitant in even taking on the job stating that the paneling was problematic and they might not be able to make the installation without ripping up the walls. No such problems with Ahead. Jordan and Gilbert did a seamless job. It looks great and there's no need for me to do any post-install cosmetic work. Best of all, the existing high-quality Paradigm and NHT installed almost twenty years ago still work great and have never sounded better with the new Marantz receiver. Couldn't be happier with Ahead! Good guys who do great work!

I went here looking to buy a turntable. The sales associate who helped me took plenty of time to explain things to me and when I was looking at something for $1600 he explained that it was made by another company and could be had for less. Then I was looking at some tricked out turntable (expensive) with a magnetically suspended arm and he gave me his opinion on its shortcomings. In short, these folks did not over-sell me even though they probably could have. I will be back there real soon to buy a home theater system.

I moved to Los Angeles from Chicago in 1999 and have visited Ahead Stereo three times over the years. Each time I have entered the store with the full intention of buying something, only to be completely turned off by snooty salespeople who make it crystal clear that if you aren't spending $5000 or so, you are not worthy of their attention. Each time, I found myself calling the stereo store I used to frequent in Chicago where the salespeople cheerfully answer my questions and ship excellent gear to me tax free. If you have a lot of money to spend and want to be taken for a ride by a bunch of fake audiophiles, this place is for you. Likewise, if care about audio, only go to Ahead Stereo if you like being treated like a gawky single college kid trying to get past the velvet rope on Sunset Boulevard. Believe me, that club isn't worth your time, and neither is Ahead Stereo.

Today I went to Ahead Stereo and auditioned two Audeze headphones. I just walked in, had a specific headphone in mind (the LDC-3), brought my computer with music. They were helpful, had the LCD-3 in their shelves, and unpacked an Audeze Deckard DAC and amplifier to demo the headphone for me. When I mentioned that the LCD-3 has a very warm color, they pointed me to the LCD-X as a more neutral headphone, which was spot on and exactly what I was looking for. They gave me all the time I needed to get a good impression of the headphones, answered my questions competently, and when I walked out without buying anything (I really need to make a finance plan for such an expensive purchase) they were fine, not pushy at all, only mentioned that they would appreciate if I would buy it through them. I liked their service, and I will do exactly that as soon as I can afford it.

I just recently bought a turntable here. The staff had excellent knowledge of what they were selling as well as what I was looking for. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who takes the audio experience seriously.

Top of the line Audio equipment. Very helpful and knowledgeable, pleasant to work with. Certainly a better experience than the big box stores (which won't even carry most of what Ahead does), and many higher end brands (like B&W) don't have online retailers either. I came in with a list of needs and a budget. I was shown some gear, and we discussed things. I went home to conduct some research and make up my mind. Came back in a few days later and purchased my new Amp and Speakers for a good deal. Couldn't be happier with how everything went.

WARNING*** These guys are not who you want to do business with. Ive been lied to, mislead, manipulated and just plain blown off after spending tens of thousands of dollars with them. THIS IS NOT THE PLACE YOU WANT SERVICE FROM. The job as been completed and all is up and running. But after much struggle.

I love this place!!! The service was excellent!!! couldn't ask for anything more. Friendly, patient and asked all the right questions. The quality of the work and organization is AAA. I went it to have my home theater updated and they hooked me upppp and explained everything to me 3 times over. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for any stereo or theater needs.

We wanted to mount our TV in front of our fireplace and purchase and install a new home audio system. We took our requirements to Best Buy and even bought speakers and paid for installation only to have Best Buy completely blow it. After a Best Buy refund, we checked out Ahead. The owner was extremely knowledgeable. We got exactly what we wanted installed quickly with no hassle. I'll never go anywhere else for home audio. Our install looks great and sounds great. Exactly what we wanted. I'd give them 6 stars, if I could. Thanks, Ahead.

Decent little audiophile store. One of the only games in central LA outside Magnolia. Friendly staff. Good to see a little shop still operating despite Best Buy and the internet. Prices are reasonable, their collection of speakers and amps is well-curated, they only deal in quality stuff. I'd like to see them carry more of the little stuff, accessories-wise... Since Radioshack has decided to stop selling nicer banana plugs and the like, the only option off-line is the Monster or Rocketfish stuff at Best Buy. Would be cool to have another option for that kind of grab-bag stuff. They can order anything, mind you... But it would be cool to have a source for a last-minute grab when you're in the middle of a speaker project.

I recently purchased a Rega rp6 turntable, amplifier, and speakers from here and I am undoubtedly a happy customer. They carry high-end products and if you're a serious customer, they are extremely helpful, patient, and attentive. I wasn't able to pay the price in full right away and they were accommodating enough to take a deposit and place the order anyway. They even kept the store open twice after their closing time just to accommodate me. Overall, I am very satisfied with the service I received and I am absolutely in love with my new turntable!

Fantastic, consistent customer service over decades of experiences with Ahead Stereo. It has always been my experience that the best interest of the customer is Ahead's first priority, which is very refreshing and rare these days. Ahead Stereo has figured out the secret sauce to great customer service and without any pressure is particularly appealing. You need to visit Ahead, to get ahead with smart equipment choices.

I'm an audiophile with two 2-channel systems and two home theaters. I love music and great equipment. LA is definitely lacking relative to other cities when it comes to great AV retailers. Ahead is decent. For LA they are amongst the best. They have a good selection of electronics (primarily McIntosh) and speakers (primarily B&W). They also sell Clearaudio turntables, which I love. The staff are relatively nice and knowledgeable. Worth the trip.

If you live in LA I don't know why you'd go anywhere but Ahead Stereo for your audio needs. Came in a few years ago and bought a Music Hall Turntable. They were extremely informative and helped me to get it going that day by subbing out another needle. Had a small issue with it later and they gave me an entirely new turntable in exchange no problem. Needed a new needle this week and Brian special ordered it for me. Told me to bring in my turntable when it got in and he would install it (I break things with large fingers if I do it) no problem. Needle came in, he installed it and showed me how to do it. Could not have been cooler. Brian knows his shit and went the extra mile for me. Now it sounds like Tom Jones is singing in my living room.

I picked Ahead Stereo to design and install a dedicated media room (for movies and music) and a wired distributed audio system throughout my home. I met with numerous other home theater installers but Ahead was the only one that combined a deep knowledge of the audio side of things without losing sight of providing value for money. Phil, Ahead's owner, sets the tone and leads a team that works seamlessly to provide a top-quality overall customer experience. I worked closely with Brian who helped me spec out my system and thankfully put up with my numerous questions. Unlike other integrated home system providers Ahead is able to offer serious audiophile brands like McIntosh and B&W. Brian quoted a system to fit my budget but I followed his advice to upgrade particular components and given the results I have absolutely not regretted it. Patrick and Jordan installed the system, including numerous in-wall and in-ceiling B&W speakers, and they worked tirelessly and methodically. After the initial installation the whole team including Phil and Brian made sure everything functioned as intended. Patrick and Jordan came back a few times at no extra charge for some final tweaks. As I write this I am listening to lossless music streaming from Tidal throughout my place that sounds fantastic (Sonos was fun for a while, but now I can hear what I was missing). Watching movies on a UHD TV with truly superior surround sound reproduction is a revelation. I would recommend Ahead Stereo without hesitation to anyone who is serious about the quality of their home entertainment system.

I wish I could give them 2.5 stars because they were not particularly bad to deal with, nor were they particularly stellar. I would say average across the board with a decent knowledge of HiFi in general.

I brought in my Rega RP-1 turntable to have the cartridge upgraded, and Brian steered me in the perfect direction - an Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge - at a very fair price. He expertly installed the cartridge for me on the spot (included with the purchase), complete with some very sophisticated measuring and finessing. I went home, plugged it in, and was blown away. Sounds sensational. Very happy indeed.

I walked into Ahead Stereo resigned to spending quite a lot of money for new speakers. See, I have the Paradigm Reference speakers (the old, rear-ported ones). They call these "bookshelf" speakers but nobody uses them in a bookshelf (you put them on fussy stands that weigh a ton.) But for the first time, we had moved them into an actual bookshelf because there's now a toddler in the house. These speakers I loved when they were a foot out from the wall had started to sound really bad. You know, boomy. But the new model of the same speaker are front-ported, and so I thought that might fix my problem. I talked to the sales guy there, and he said, you know this is sort of a funny thing to say, but did you try socks? Hmm? Well, I don't want to sell you new $1500 speakers if you could just stick socks in the ports and make the bass sound fine again. Socks weren't previously on my list of hifi equipment, but this tip worked incredibly well, and I'm thrilled with the result. He could have sold me expensive new speakers, and instead I walked out thrilled with my old ones.

Ahead Stereo is an outstanding choice for home entertainment installation and design. We hired a different installer to wire our home for new audio and video systems. After he did the wiring, we discovered a lot of problems with his practices, so we let him go and the hunt was on for someone who could jump in and finish the installation. I was so delighted to find Phil. He completely respected our budget and didn't try to up-sell us more expensive items than we really needed. He made stellar recommendations designed to allow us to work around the work that had been previously done by the other business. It was such a relief to talk to an expert who didn't talk down to us or act condescending. Phil listened, patiently answered our questions, and made sure we understood exactly what our options were. Highly, highly recommend.

I hired Ahead toi install three televisions and a Sonos sound system . They NEVER had anything working correctly. Their ineptness in installing and not correcting the malfunctions....need I say more!!!!! Michael N

Went into buy a turntable and ended up getting a whole system for my house. The sales people were VERY friendly and helpful. They knew their stuff. I would recommend Ahead Stereo for anyone who is looking for a good deal and knowledgeable sales people.

Great experience with the team at Ahead Stereo. They setup a multi-room system and everything worked perfectly. The techs were very professional and answered all of my questions. Highly recommend Ahead for everything from a simple purchase to a complicated custom home system.