The Stereo Shop — Local services in Hartford

The Stereo Shop is a pretty special place - it has been in business since the 50's, an at its current location--an old house converted into a series of showrooms--since 1965. They have the best stereo technician in the state, who has been working there for over 50 years! Rich's skill set is unparalleled, and he is.a wealth of knowledge and hifi history. Worth a visit just to talk to him.

In terms of gear, The Stereo Shop is absolutely packed with everything from affordable Yamaha setups to jaw dropping full McIntosh stacks. The installs they do are cutting edge and most important they aren't subcontracting like the big box stores - its the same guys you talk to in the store coming and expertly setting things up, teaching you how it works, and making sure everything is perfect.

While The Stereo Shop has been a staple in the CT Hifi scene forever, it is now under new ownership. Dave, one of their long time experts, recently purchased the business from the founding family to continue its legacy. This is an awesome move, as Dave is young and his passion for HiFi can be felt through the whole shop and how he does business. Crucially, fellow expert Rick stayed to help take The Stereo Shop into this new phase, and the pair of these two is such a refreshing change from your typical big box store experience. Dave and Rick are certified HiFi geeks, they live and breath this stuff and their excitement and knowledge come through with every interaction. I am excited to see where they take the shop moving forward, and confident that it will be the right place.

TL:DR - The Stereo Shop is where you want to buy your HiFi equipment! This is where you want to have your HiFi equipment tuned and serviced! This place is old school vibe with new school skills. Awesome ownership and staff, packed with awesome gear, and an awesome tech. This...

Both wonderfully amazed and surprised to find this jewel of a Stereo Shop in the center of Connecticut! One of my turntables broke, and the manufacturer suggested a place next to Park Avenue in Manhattan, and as I had business an hour away from Hartford, I made the pilgrimage! I’d rather give my business to a small business owner than to pay someone’s rent on Park Avenue. The whole vibe of the place is both warm and unique. Nestled in an old house in a Hartford neighborhood once you enter however it is all modern but yet welcoming. The tour de force is Dave the owner who’s a young hip guy and Rich Who’s been working on Stereo equipment since the 1960s. He’s sharp as a tack, friendly and defines the word knowledgeable. Dave is also extremely knowledgeable and you get the sense that he has a real passion for what he’s doing and is proud of his shop. He spent a lot of time with me and was happy to chat about stuff like the old tube amps I had when I was a kid and the new amazing technology used in making modern speakers, streamers, CD players and amps. Dave is the perfect salesman. Rather than using high pressure tactics or turning his back on you to check his phone; he relies on his knowledge and his personality resulting in the customer liking him. So who do you want to buy something from? Correct answer; someone you like. And finally a word about supporting the small business owner. I’m guilty of buying things Online and in some cases, it’s OK. However, with Stereo equipment you really need to listen, and you really need to learn both of which you can do at the Stereo Shop. Can’t wait to go back . I’m buying some speakers from them that simply blew me away and were surprisingly affordable for a high end speaker made in Italy! Photo of...

In many regards, this place is like stepping back in time to experience the best of what an old school, local Hi-Fi shop was. They have a ton of truly high end gear from the best in the business, in funky old house with listening rooms at every turn. This is where you go to see that new McIntosh amp that you have only read about online, or hear those B+W speakers that cost more than your car. They have it all, and they have it setup right.

As much as all the beautiful new gear is, for me the star of the show is Rich, their service technician. He is an absolute expert technician--specifically for McIntosh components. With 50+ years experience working on McIntosh gear, he is a walking encyclopedia of technical knowledge and advice. There is simply nobody else in the area that has close to his experience and expertise, and nobody else I would trust my vintage McIntosh components too. He knows this stuff inside and out, and was even instrumental in the development of some of the classic pieces. When I brought my 46 year old MC2205 power amp in for help, without even opening it up he knew which specific fuses and transistors were the likely cause of the problem. When I picked it up 2 weeks later and got it home, it looked and sounded better than it ever has! Rich is simply the best of his profession, and his prices are incredibly reasonable.

A++. It's worth the trip just to talk to Rich and learn from his vast knowledge of these classic HiFi components, but for my (purely selfish) sake please don't take up too much of time! I want to keep his repair queue moving so his turnaround stays as fast as it is. ...