Audio Sound Solutions — Local services in Charleston

I was a customer of this place for about 6 years. I purchased a Thorens TD 160 record player and a Fisher 400 stereo receiver. I had issues with both purchases but ultimately, I am happy with those purchases. This all changed today. First, let me say, I know a lot about vintage audio gear and own some mid range stereo equipment, like Pro-Ject, Polk, Yamaha, vintage Fisher, and Thorens. I am also a DJ and I have experience. I also have some tech experience with electronics and taking old BSR record players apart and putting them back together again to make them work better or work after many years. Now, on to the review. This owner is the most patronizing business person I have ever met. I am so patient with people, so I just put up with his comments. But I agree with other posters that he makes comments that are unheard of especially when doing business. I purchased an Garrard AT 60 record player changer (probably 1970s) to play some 78s. The player worked in the store when he tested it but when I got home I noticed the press board on the plinth was warped. I could not level the turntable. When I told him about this he just stated, "put something under the turntable" and "you are a very picky person" and "you read too much on the internet" etc. The idler wheel also failed and I tested this. The turn table stopped turning. He told me on the phone he does not deal with idler wheels, but when i went back with the turntable he then told me he would fix the idler wheel. He also went down in his basement and found another plinth that was also warped. When I pointed out the warping boards he just said I was too picky and he denied that it was a problem for a turntable. "Just put something under it". Why would I put something under a vintage turntable? I explained that as a customer I need to be happy. He is an all cash business so you cannot fight this with your credit card company. He will not return your money Listen, I bought this on Saturday, he is closed on Sunday and I went back for a return on Monday first thing at 11am. He opens at 10am. I had legitimate complaints about the product and this was not just a, "I changed my mind" kind of thing. Fortunately, he did give me store credit. I purchased records with my store credit. I don't think he liked this as he was trying to have me look around the store for another record player. I just lost all trust and am no longer a patron of this business. It's unfortunate because I am the type of person that likes to support small businesses in my area, especially a place that deals in unique audio equipment.

On a side note, I told him I was more interested in belt driven turntables as the low to mid priced direct drive tables are more likely to create resonances in the stylus during recording of the signal. He tells me that the signal is not recorded and is only heard in the speakers during playback. Not true at all. Any vibrations, noise floor, etc will be recorded when using a turntable. Garbage in = garbage out. If the problem was the speaker, I would agree. But a buzzing speaker is not the same thing as a motor resonance from...

The first time I went into the shop to see about repairing my receiver the owner was on the phone and I sat there without a word and finally left. I later made the mistake of returning and brought my receiver for repair. He said he could look at for $35 and that I would be charged for additional parts. I agreed and got my ticket from him and left him my phone and e-mail. After no word for over a month a dropped in the store and asked him the status of my receiver. The owner said he was waiting on parts to come in so he could repair it. Given the amount of time I had waited I found it odd that he he did't have the parts yet and also unprofessional that he never contacted after the alleged "analysis" of the receiver. After two months or more and no word from Audio Sound Solutions I dropped in again. I asked about the receiver and was told by the owner it was too expensive to repair. He said nothing about the parts he had ordered, he said nothing about what was wrong with the receiver, or what too expensive to repair was, nor did he say why he never made any attempt to contact me at any point to let my know the status of my receiver. I did not wish to deal with him anymore so I simply asked for my receiver back. He seemed a bot surprised I wanted it back but agreed and then proceeded to retrieve it, He looked around his shop in various areas which led me to believe he was either very disorganized or making a show because he had done something with it or used my receiver for parts. In any case I was very upset to not even be able to get my equipment back and take it to a more professional...

Hands down one of the best shopping experiences I’ve ever had. I have been in the market for and researching vintage audio equipment for months and was recommended Audio Sound Solutions by a friend.

Upon arriving I was warmly greeted by the owner, Michael, and his two pups. The store itself is filled floor to ceiling with high-end audio equipment; speakers, amplifiers, everything you could imagine.

I told Michael I was a beginner and he could clearly tell I was overwhelmed by the selection. He kindly spent well over an hour walking me through each and every piece, testing different speakers, explaining the different features of machines, all while never pressuring me to buy anything, he simply seemed excited to be sharing his passion with someone. Once he had helped point me in the right direction, he left me to browse on my own, and answered every question I had.

After being there for over two hours I left without buying anything, wanted to do a bit more research at home. There was no sense that he was bothered I didn’t buy anything that day, just a friendly, “see you soon,” as I walked out. I went back a couple days later to make my purchase and he was equally as patient and enthusiastic then.

This shopping experience turned me into a lifetime customer of Audio Sound Solutions, I look forward to going back to peruse the extensive and diverse collection of records, and just continuing to learn from Michael’s encyclopedic knowledge of audio and musical history.

Couldn’t have asked for a...