End of An Ear

Purchasing vinyl online can feel like a gamble at times. Often, it is very hard to distinguish stores that are selling true limited edition presses versus some that are “bootleg”. Thankfully End of an Ear is one that deals in legit copies of albums. At first, I was a little apprehensive when finding a copy of an album I thought I had missed out on and would be paying $$$$ to be able to get a copy for my personal listening enjoyment. I had not realized when I saw this at a local store that it was a limited pressing. Of course the next week when I went back all the copies were sold. To my surprise EoaE had it in stock and asked the original price. I did a quick check and read the reviews here which made me feel better about ordering. To my surprise their shipping price to get it across the US was also incredibly reasonable. The record arrived ahead of schedule, and well packed to make the trek. In short, great store to work with. They are now my top goto store when my local stores don’t have what I’m looking for.

Went to find a record player but had no idea what we really wanted and the awesome man in the special room in the back helped with what eneded up being really stellar suggestion. We walked away with nice speakers too and now are at home LOVING the set up. He even talked us through the items features, like a quick start guide, that made it so easy on us. Great service!

Cool vintage music store. Has good selection of records, cd, and some limited tapes and dvds. Some of the prices were pretty high and some were really cheep. But worth a look and a few other cool stores are in walking distance.

I'm a junkie for this place. Addicted. Found a few rarities here. Look at the old/used section. Always pristine condition. The new releases too. Easy to go in and spend too much. Love this store and try to come every weekend.

I've been looking for this Album and couldn't find it at any record stores in the Austin area for months but I came across this a few weeks ago I was thrilled.

Looked up metal records store in Austin, this was named on reddit. Walked in and found 2 on my wantlist and held myself to only getting one. Good selection and range on all genres.

Just an amazing record store. Love this place. I find all kinds of insane stuff there. Legit, found test presses, first presses, limited run stuff... great store and a great metal selection, too

I could get myself in deep stuff here. One artist alone I could spend $200, the next right next to him another $130, etc. and so on. BUT it’s Vinyls that if you go online people think they’ve got the only copy of it but not true if you look around and do your research…this is that place you go to look around. Absolutely impressive, there’s an easy 15-20,000lbs of carefully carved vinyl here

Years later End of an Ear has my vinyl record lovin' heart forever and even my friends know it. At least once a year I will get a generous gift card to EoE for my birthday and/or holiday gifts from friends. It is awesome because I would have it no other way but to continue to grow my vinyl collection by shopping at a. local music shop. What a great and long way EoE has come from being pushed out by the South 1st / Annie area that turned tall condos and wild property craze for their old spot. I very much miss that S. 1st spot but this new location is even better. Never much of an issue to park nor does it feel crowded when they have in-store shows or events. Even after all of these years they are still a spot that actively has weekly listening and in-store music events that anyone can attend. Often times I will be here browsing and shopping and don't realize they have an in-store which is always a delightful surprise to have. I have seen my idols, Sleater-Kinney to now local Austinite John Doe from the band X do some great and brief in-store gigs here. Online ordering is super easy and EoE is so generous and fast about creating and saving your order until you pick it up. I never hesitate to order online and still come in to browse their catalog. Organization and labeling is clear and appreciated for identifying genres, artists, and categories. They sell books, cassettes, rarities, singles, music equipment, and even apparel. I believe they have an equipment repair and advising service too which is worth checking out. I have never been disappointed with the quality of records I have purchased here. All very reasonably priced and often times I will out do my budget that I initially came in because I found a record I had on my list and I don't want to miss out on not getting it in the future. Indie exclusives can be found here and Record Store Day is a pleasure and never feels like a chore here. They are intentional about displaying any special editions evenly dispersed for fairness on the actual Record Store Day(s). Staff here are knowledgeable, admiringly cooler than me, and always helpful and nice. I appreciate their recommendations and always make a note of what is playing overhead as I am shopping because it will always end up being something I had never heard of but happy I did.

This little record shop has so many LPs! Vinyl is categorized by genre and filed alphabetically, and the place is usually doing a brisk business, with cool folks searching the stacks all over the store. They also resell CDs and DVDs and some posters, and have a few turntables and helpful gadgets and record care products along the back wall. The staff was friendly and helpful and the prices are reasonable. They bought some of my LPs and unfortunately I didn't get a lot of cash, but they will go to someone else for a good price, too. They have a small parking lot and there's an adjacent road where you can park too. One of my favorite record shops in Austin to find a hidden treasure.

Great local Gem. Really liked their selection of records. Prices weren't bad either. Would def come back

What an absolute gem this place is. My S/O hadn't been before and we were told by friends it was a MUST. It was busy but still manageable to get through the aisles. You get a free canvas bag if you spend $150+! Parking was limited but understandable considering how busy as it was. High Fidelity vibes *hands up emoji*

I remember way back when End of an Ear was basically down the hill, just south of South Congress. The music/vinyl selections at EOAE are, as I recall, well curated. I haven't been to the new location, but loved the old location. I had a great conversation with two guys at the store once about movies. One guy recommended Alejandro Jodorowsky's El Topo and the other guy suggested an old 1960s movie called Chappaqua. I don't think it gets much cooler than that!

Feels like you've walked into the 90s stepping in here. Used and new vinyl and movies everywhere. Everything is organized super well. You'll definitely find what you're looking for...assuming it's in stock. Their parking lot is a bit small but was able to grab a spot after wait a bit.

My favorite record store in Austin (Austin overall is one of the best places in the world for records). Well stocked store, great range of secondhand and new vinyl. Well priced

This is one of the best record stores in Austin that feature a great combination of both new and analog records. They have a large comprehensive selection of every artist you can think of. However, records aren't the only thing they sell. I was surprised to find at the rear of the store they have a room devoted to vintage stereo equipment and speakers. This stuff is not cheap and if you have any old vintage equipment in very good working order, they will make an offer. They also sell DVDs and VHS tapes along with some T-shirts. This place is definitely worth the drive across town to explore.

Doesn't look like much from the outside but when you enter, you will find whatever it is you can put to your ear to in records and CDs. Many genres can be found with a nice mix of used and new pressings. Found a lot of new artists here as well as some old favorites. Very impressed with the setup. Dvds and VHS tapes are also here in the right corner of the store for that nostalgia of media viewing. Only con is some vinyl isn't placed in the right alphabetical order but that's likely due to people being too lazy to put things back where they belong. As a former retail employee decades ago, it's quite infuriating. Do the right thing people!!!

Selection good. Service inexplicably miserable. This last visit really saddened me, as the shop is close to our daughter's apt, and I have looked forward to purchasing records for my collection. I will not return.

Great record store, wish there were more like this. Well stocked with new stuff, but plenty of used as well. I'm in town from Chicago, and am mostly looking for Blues records. They had plenty of blues, and I grabbed a couple things hard to find in Chicago by Chicago artists. Of course a couple of texas blues albums as well. Prices were generally reasonable, staff seemed friendly enough, and they have a decent sized parking lot. It's not a hard spot to get in/out of for travelers in strange rental cars. I'll definitely be back again next time I'm in Austin.

Good stock, deep cuts, and fair prices. They carry a lot of inde artists and labels. They have a great selection of experimental, goth/post punk, synth, soundtracks, and all the main rock/punk/metal you'd expect. They have one of the biggest reggae sections I've seen in the USA, and it's not just Bob Marley, UB40 and Third World. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable.

super nice store with pretty good prices and selection. also a good amount of 45s. they have a good number of employees around and they seemed genuinely nice and helpful. the store also sells used stereo equipment and had listening stations for vinyl. if I lived nearby I'd be stopping in all the time.

Awesome indie record store! They always pick up their phone and answer any questions you have and will help personally reserve something if you ask. The vibe in the store is chill, and you could spend an hour or two atleast with all their inventory. Every once in a while they will have artists come in and sign copies, so giveaways,etc If you are a fan of Texas artists Khruangbin and Leon bridges, there is a mural of the Texas sun artwork on the side of the building!

Another great Austin record shop. Really great used stock. Since I was traveling I didn't buy any records but I did find this bad ass custom stamp set for the Black Angels which was very cool. And the staff gave me several pins/stickers etc. Worth seeking out of you are a vinyl person.

incredible selection, really cool space to browse and super fairly priced. great customer service too, our car battery died after our shopping trip here and the man that cashed us out was nice enough to give us a jump! will def be back

When I called, the person on the phone was very kind and encouraged me to bring some records in. When I entered the store, it took a few minutes to be helped and even fewer minutes to be laughed out the door. I spent an hour cleaning and caring my records before selling them. I would've appreciated more guidance and appreciation for music from a record store. I really hope they do better in the future. As for my records, I took them somewhere they'd be appreciated :))

I've been frequenting record stores for a little over a decade now and it's pretty safe to say that End Of An Ear is hands down the best record store I have ever been too, no joke. From the moment I walked into the store and was completely overwhelmed by the massive selection of records they had and by how well it was organized. On top of a killer record selection this store also sells a ton of CD's, T-Shirts, VHS's, DVD's, Posters, Flyers, Record players, speakers, cassettes, and I could probably go on for a few more minutes listing the things this store has. I spent about 45 minutes combing through this stores larger selection of punk, metal, and hip-hop records wishing I had a way to transport some records on a plane. On top of a killer selection the staff was super friendly and knowledgeable and was a delight to deal with. Overall, you won't find a better record store in Texas then End of an Ear, period. The selection and staff were unmatchable and I will definitely be hitting this store up in the future!

If "The Music Capitol of the World" had a heart & soul, it would be here. You can buy, sell, or trade all of your favorite albums from local artists like the Black Pumas and Annabelle Chairlegs, but also comb through rows of Classic Rock, Funk, and harder-to-find gems from the Flying Lizards and Thievery Corporation. They have a sizeable collection of cassettes and music-themed novels in the back, with organization significantly less chaotic since they moved from their original SoFi location. Selling is super easy and takes only minutes to cash out or turn into store credit - more juice for your next table or jam sesh. The staff is super cool and knowledgeable, adding atmosphere to the all-you-could-want-in-a-record-store vibe.

I had SUCH a good experience here. First: I didn't expect to have such a wide selection of vinyls to choose from. I thought I'd have to order After Hours online, but was pleasantly surprised to see a copy here. 2nd: I just got my first record player, and was having trouble finding good, concise, unbiased information online about speakers and amps. I asked for some advice, and they took me to their sound guy, Sean. This guy was incredible. So knowledgeable, friendly, and unbiased. I probably wouldn't have bought my speakers and amp there otherwise. I gave him my price range, and he gave me everything I needed, setting me up for success. So grateful for his help. I absolutely love my new records and my setup!

This is my favorite record store in the city! Great selection and great prices, plus it's in south Austin. That's a win for me! Seriously if you haven't experienced End of an Ear stop in here and just look around. They sell other things here too but I'm here for the vinyl! If you spend enough you get a cool tote bag with your purchase.

This is my favorite record store I've ever been to. It's exactly what it should be and represents the kind of place other record stores should aspire to be like. The used record selection (front and center when you walk in AS IT SHOULD BE) is consistently the best I've ever seen. It's almost like a mini record convention every time I browse through it. Gems on gems on gems and for a VERY fair price. They're happy to hold records for you for a few days if you ask and offer some truly GREAT deals on Audio equipment as well as great advice if you need it (without trying to make you feel stupid/inept for asking "101 questions" which ALOT of record/audio stores are VERY guilty of) Fantastic staff! Zach and ...Sara? (So so sorry if I got your name wrong I legitimately come in stoned too often) are always SO helpful and pleasant.

I dont even know where to begin... End of an Ear has become a happy space for me. I only started collecting records about a year ago. End of Ear always has just about everything I ever want at a more than fair price. When I travel I try to check out record shops in other towns and I've never seen anything that compares to the coolness of End of an Ear. If you want to buy some records or you are interested at all go here.

An oddly enjoyable shop. Not sure how to put that and maybe you'd need to experience it yourself. Very well organized and they have a wide range of genres and items. I was frustrated by a few patrons not following crate digging etiquette but that certainly wasn't the shops fault. They also have a decent stereo equipment section in the back. Pricing was high in that it reflects the higher range on the used items compared to different online sites and area locations. Parking can also be tight on a busy day.

My husband always gets his records here and I've never seen him disappointed! They have a complete inventory online and are doing curbside pick up therefore I feel safe

I should stay away from here. They always have something I want. Recently I was looking for a specific record. I called Waterloo and the guy didn't know what I was talking about (that's a first for Waterloo). They also didn't have it in stock, which I determined from their website. A few days later, after Amazon failed twice to mail a copy to me, I realized I hadn't called End of an Ear. The person I spoke with instantly knew what I was looking for, checked that they had a copy, and pulled it for me. If you've got the money or will power to be around this much vinyl, I dare you to check it out.

Super cool record shop. Great selection of vinyl and cassettes too. Their country selection isn't huge though but that doesn't big me too much. Most of the country I like is alternative anyway and yo can't really find the ones I like in a typical record shop. I may go ask to see if they can get them for me though. I like Sam Outlaw and no one ever stocks his albums. I like mostly alternative, classic folk, pop-rock, neo mellow. I usually have a nice pick when I go there. And... they have competitive prices too.

On a recent trip to Austin I tried to visit all the record stores in the city. I think this one was my favorite. It's a decent sized store and it's all vinyl. There may have been a few cds but I didn't look thru them. All the titles I picked up and looked at were in fantastic shape. I found several titles that I purchased and I am super happy with them all. They have a huge Metal section, many titles I've never seen in any store.

One of my top 3 record shops in Austin. I can always find a gem in their used arrivals section and they're always willing to get in any special order / indie variant of an LP that I could want. The store is always playing good tunes and the staff is friendly. Definitely one of the best places to dig in Austin.

I so far have visited three record stores, one farther north in which the staff is great, one in the center of downtown in which the staff was ridiculously rude and horrible, and this awesome place. Your staff was kind and friendly. Most important for return business, keep up the good work! And thanks for the drinks.

This store is the bomb. I think it surpasses Waterloo easily in terms of organization, enthusiastic and available staff...and not laden with toys and crapola unneeded in a record store. Well organized, label, accurately graded on some, and used in plastic sleeves (always the sign of a seriously attentive shop).

Love this place! Everything is so organized! They had some music playing we hadn't heard of before and since we liked it we came home with a new record and new band to look up! They have a great selection of new and old vinyl so we're very happy. The prices were very reasonable.

I visited the new location of End of An Ear this weekend, and I love it. Remember the good old days in Austin? Well I do. This place takes me back to a time when a typical Saturday afternoon consisted of two Polvos margaritas, too many chips, and some artistic inspiration at the nearest record shop where you could spend an hour or so deciding on which Steely Dan album you should buy on vinyl. Nice to know this can all still be a reality. Great selections! Knowledgeable staff! If you don't have a record player you can buy a great one here, so don't shy away!

Came in a while ago to do my first post pandemic record shopping. Staff was very friendly, great selection, fair pricing on all new and used stuff, and friendly/helpful staff. I left with a bag full of records and will back for more!

A very nice stock of records to choose from; definitely worth a visit. The store is well organized and clean. The record selection playing the day we visited suggested a psyche of teenage id at the wheel. As families and children made their way through the stacks and isles, trying to decide on that thoughtful Christmas gift- Snoop-Dog serenaded, inviting everyone to take a different kind of a ride. It was awkward and also hilarious -but maybe just embarrassing if you were a parent shopping with kids. Customer service is, well, they'll answer questions if poked. The attitudes are those you probably expect if you frequent record stores - ranging between the post-teenage angst of "this is just my day job - I'm in a band" to the worsening pre-adult angst of "I'm in my early 20s and I'm not in a band," and sandwiched between hipster judgement crust.

End of An Ear is the kind of place that has employees who will have on some really off the wall metal playing and don't get snooty when your wife asks for the latest pop record. End of An Ear is a place I go to every time I visit Austin and let a staff member pick a record for me based on some loose criteria I give them about what I'm into at the moment. It always ends with a good new record and some conversation about bands to explore. There is a lot of ways to buy and consume music these days, I'm thankful there is a place where people still give an S about making it a fun journey with a ton of side quests instead of a transaction.

Tied for the best record store in Austin. Love walking in the door straight into "New Arrivals" and digging to see what's shown up. Always seem to find something I want at a good price. The shop is clean, well laid out, and always spins good music, making the browsing experience very enjoyable. Excellent selection of new and used LPs across all genres, with many used items in outstanding condition. If there's a focus, it's Rock, both classic and modern. Back room has vintage stereo equipment as well and you'll find a small selection of VHS and CDs. They also buy collections at the back window, so drop off your unused albums for the rest of us to have the chance to put them to good use.

Every single time End of an Ear comes through! Friendly staff, wide selection of music and gear and great location! Hard to find items I can more often than not find here without a doubt and if I can't, someone is always willing to help me do so. Can't say enough great things about this place! Highly recommend!

Bought a record from their online shop. It was significantly not as described. I left a neutral review for them on Discogs, then they sent me an email calling me part of a "generation nursed on Amazon and Yelp," a child, and passive aggressive. It was funny and super professional! After reading some of the other negative reviews, I am not surprised. Good luck!

Neat store for a Vinyl junkie. There is a CD line if shelves, but the variety of artists and releases seems to only be about 1/4 the LP shelves.

End of An Ear is the new Austin frontiersman in indie, punk, jazz, and other sorts of more obscure music, and they do a superior job at supporting local, independent musicians. Any Thursday through Sunday evening at 6 PM, you will find a free instore performance - it's a great, great way to discover new bands. They started out with a thin inventory at first, but they've really built up their collection, and they have a neat selection of CDs and LPs. In addition, they always have a photography or art exhibit on display. This is truly your neighborhood record shop. Give them an ear. Or two.

I went in looking for a gift. I gave Tim a pretty specific criteria of what I was looking for. 10 minutes & over $100 later I was set. When I gave the records to my husband he was beyond stoked. Tim totally nailed it. Y'all are awesome. Thank you!

Given the recent news of their moving, I was inspired to finally write a review for my favorite record shop. I have been coming here (sort of) since the early 2000's - when it was still 33 degrees... When I moved back to Austin after a decade away, I did not feel truly at home until I walked through those beat-up wooden doors. I also wanted to say that no matter where they end up moving, this place will always feel like home. In my mind, there is only one record store in this city if you appreciate electronic music, psych, jazz or experimental music. They also have a ton of great metal and cassette culture stuff, and are consistently getting new, great stuff in at very fair prices. I have lived all over the world and there are places like Space Hall or Amoeba that are amazing places, but I dont think I've ever been to a place warmer and more curated than this one. Out of towners and new Austinites better get here before they move to their new location so they can claim that street cred :) Update - they moved and it's still awesome. I'm just too lazy to update this.

Excellent selection and great staff. What "Waterloo records" use to be (before they got an elite attitude). Support this outstanding place of business.

End of An Ear is an Austin cultural institution and like all cultural institutions it's been pushed south. Do you know what they did when they got pushed out of their space? Gracefully moved and got their own space in a place that needed a lot of fixing up (the city still needs to do something about the flooding this area is still experiencing regularly) and re-opened without a gap in hours. They didn't blame anybody, they didn't complain, and they just made the store even better without any fuss. I don't know if you understand what it means to run a record store and employ people who are happy there and well respected in 2019? Do you know that the owner(s) have been running stores in Austin for decades without the the kind of support businesses that come from out of state get? Do we need to make a bid for Amazon, Google, or Apple? No, we need to invest in businesses that make Austin the reason all the Californians came here and bought all of our property. Am I from Austin? Heck no! I came here from Houston and you know I deserve to be here. Have you been to Houston? No? Good. Don't agree with me? Enjoy driving down South First and South Congress devoid of everything that makes this city great.

I Heart You, Ear. This is my favorite record shop and I'm a dedicated shopper. Don't get me wrong, I do like Waterloo but you know what? They're doing just fine and the parking kinda stinks so I think the love is appreciated more at E of an E. Perhaps it's not for everyone but for me, it's a magical music consumption experience-- somehow, every single album I happen to want to buy at the moment (which I've always prided myself on being on the obscure side) is up on their wall, and they have a relatively limited (and by that I mean 'elite', or 'skillfully selected') inventory compared to the bigger stores so that's saying ALOT. It's a joy and a privilege to shop there, I go every time I'm in town.

I absolutely love this little shop. The selection of jazz records is not quite as big as Waterloo, but it is excellently curated. The vinyl is good quality, and the prices are very fair. They boast a large selection of rock, indie, psych, and soul records, and they have a cool section in the back where they sell stereo equipment and accessories. They don't have a glass storefront, so you have to be keeping a close eye out, or you will pass this place and not even know it. I love that little record stores like this still exist, where the staff and the owners are truly passionate about good records, and it shows.

The great End of an Ear lives on! Lot's of parking too. 4304 Clawson Rd, Austin TX 78704

A magical place on planet earth. Fantastic for the esoteric. I have been going to this shop since it was 33 Degrees. The only shop in Texas where you could find experimental music back then.