Echo Audio — Local services in Portland

At the risk of gushing about Echo Audio... I'd like to add my experiences with Kurt and his co-workers. I've known Kurt since 1995 and, full disclosure, I also consider him to be a good friend. But, this review is about his store, not our friendship. Back in 1995, I wanted to upgrade my "mid-fi" stereo. Being a neopyte, Kurt helped me to dramatically improve my system. Over the years I've been fortunate to have Kurt's guidance (and Rin-Tin-Tin ears) to help me aquire better pieces to the point where I now own an extremely satisfying stereo system. And, almost everything I've purchased has been preowned, saving me huge sums of money! By the way, Echo pricing is very fair. Be advised, they price to sell, stuff moves quickly, so it's worth checking the website regularly. However, the most important aspect of dealing with Echo Audio is the honesty and integrity of Kurt and his staff. More than once I've been tempted to buy a piece only to be talked out of it by Kurt because it wasn't compatible with my existing units. He has always has steered me straight. You will never be over sold. They take the time get a feel for what you're wanting to do and work within your budget to achieve your goals. You're encouraged to take equipment home and hear it in your listening environment, which is often the true test of whether you'll like it or not. I've found that pieces usually sound far better at home than at the store. They stand behind what they sell. If there's a problem they make it right. If you assistance setting up your equipment honorable mention has to go to Kollin... he pays attention to the smallest details to ensure that everything is set up correctly. For sure, Echo Audio is a far cry from your typical stereo store. I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea.... there is no other like Echo Audio and I would NEVER buy audio gear...

How have I not written a beaming review for this shop yet? Hands down the best retail business I've ever purchased anything from. What I appreciate most is that you can walk in there ready to spend a few hundred dollars on your first Hifi setup and they'll treat you the same as someone spending 20 grand. These kinds of shops can sometimes be intimidating, but Echo is far from it. I actually drag my friends here and try to get them to buy stuff, I appreciate them so much.

99% of the time they have the best price on something. If you find something online on clearance for for a few bucks cheaper, it's still more than worth it to buy it from Echo. The service and care you'll get should you have any issue is more than worth the few dollars you saved on that open box thing you bought online (trust me - I have made that mistake!).

I can't stress enough how comfortable the vibe is there. Unfortunately, Hifi can be a bit of a dude-centric boys club. It speaks volumes that my wife (an interior designer) sends clients (men and women) there whenever the opportunity arises.

Anyway - I'll top gushing - they're the...

At Echo I've got the speakers that I enjoy a lot! What to say more? These were pre-owned, with small cosmetics, but they sound as if they costed 7x the price I paid. The store itself looks like a museum of Hi-Fi / HighEnd audio, with a fascinating mix of brand new and pre-owned gear. Their listening place was not a refined soundproof room, but that's Ok: after all if you are satisfied with the speakers there - these may sound even better when brought home. I was truly pleased by an unobtrusive attention of Kurt and the other guys working there (I wish I was better at remembering the names! Have to come back :)) When I came they had everything setup for me for the most effective listening and comparison (I called Kurt a day in advance). I even got a discount when I already said I will buy speakers I was listening to. And the guys did a bang good job on packaging those heavy beasts (120lbs each) and stayed after-hours to handle it all and load into my car. By the way I was directed to Echo Audio by their friends from...