Good stores in LA

Ten years in L.A. and I haven't yet walked into an audio store that I would go back to. Your best bet is with the appointment-only guys. Elliot at Acoustic Image is great, but of course only if you're looking to hear something specific. Jay at Audio Revelation is also super to deal with, but he's a 2 1/2 hour drive south of downtown L.A.

There are a few new Vinyl stores in the area, Vacation in the Los Feliz neighborhood and Origami in Echo Park, both close to downtown (I haven't made it to either yet). Poo-Bah in Pasadena is long-established and fun to visit. It's a few miles away from downtown.

Here is a place you can have some fun with...L.A. AUDIO in Koreatown at 101 S. Western,near 1st st. South of Hollywood and West of downtown L.A. 213-252-0066 LAAUDIOVIDEO.COM
Downstairs it is mostly video-upstairs is all the audio gear and chances are they are not quite sure what they have or what it does or how it does it.That is what makes this place fun! You can see the list of companies represented on the website,but that does not mean that the gear is there.They seem very open to demos and despite the poor English skills of most who work there they are anxious to please and are far from snooty or high pressure,you just have to be persistent in your request to move some speakers around or hook up an amp.Also,i have the feeling these guys are ready to sell --so negotiate! If you want to hang and chat visit Brooks Berdan,one of the last watering holes for audiophiles in the area.A great place to go if you ever wanted to hear Wilson speakers.If you do go to Hollywood,go to Pink's on La Brea and get the best chili dog you ever stood in line for.Then you can jump over to L.A. Audio and look at some equipment,you might be there for a half hour before they notice you.Don't miss Amoeba Records on Sunset,it is the Home Depot of record stores.Also-when you see the distance between locations in the L.A. area please note that 5 miles might be a half hour in traffic,or worse!

Fourfour, are you looking to hear something specific? If so, mentioning the brand might help (and save you some time).

If you're looking to kill some time, traveling to any of the above mentioned stores in LA traffic will kill a good amount of it. Visiting any two stores will pretty much kill an entire day, with two to four hours of it spent on the road.

Having been at many of LA's high end audio shops, I find it about as much fun as a colonoscopy.

I've heard tremendous things about Brooks Berdan in Monrovia. At this point, it's the only shop that I have any interest in visiting.

LA Audio/Video does have a large selection of gear, and the atmosphere is pretty relaxed and low pressure.

LA Audio is the place on Western south of Beverly. Billy Kim is a great guy. They've been there for years on same location. I bough some NAD amps from them in 1989 than upgraded to Acurus couple of years later.

One of the most memorable event for me was when I helped the Kim family guard LA Audio during April 1992 riot with my only weapon at the time - set of Samurai swords. Billy's mom got shot thru her thigh... Their warehouse in south LA got wiped out. Richard (Billy's brother) had stock issue M-14 and we along with the sales guys huddled together on the rooftop ready to defend LA Audio. Police told us to evacuate later that night.

Please note that it is closed on Sunday as the owners are devoted Christians.

Ah the memories...

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Bummer, I live in LA, and after reading this thread I got depressed.

GNP Audio in Pasadena is pretty cool.., they gave me a good deal on my Audio Research PH5. Laid back and no pressure with very knowledgeable staff.
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