Audio Advice — Local services in Raleigh

Hate to do this, because I was extremely excited an optimistic about my home theater when I made a visit to audio advice, but unfortunately the experience ended in disappointment.

Good things: great showroom with many areas to explore different experiences, staff was very friendly, seems to have a great selection. Educational youtube videos were awesome and not only provide value but really sell on on the company!

Why 2 stars: On first visit 2 the store, I waited over 30 minutes to be helped. I was dressed in rags due to recently painting my bonus room so maybe they thought I wasn't a serious buyer, but it was a little irritating. That being said once I was helped the rep was a pleasure to speak with.

After describing what I was looking for, the rep came to my house, assessed the needs on site, then delivered a proposal by the next day. Awesome. Wife and I came in to review proposal and show her their demo rooms. Proposal was for around 16k but for some reason didn't include wiring or labor yet. Here iss where awesome became less awesome. The rep showed us a room the demo'd the in ceiling front speakers (not atmos, left center right), and I didn't really like them. Despite this he insisted this was the best solution. He also suggested a remote that was not compatible with the new google play 4k with android TV built in. And he had no idea what would be compatible. Said he would do research and get back to us with a final proposal. That was literally the last time I heard from Audio Advice, no final proposal, no follow up....

So this wouldn't be enough for me to write a review, especially since despite dropping the ball, I liked the rep and things happen... But on happenstance during a visit to best buy I decided to stroll into the Magnolia area to test some of their equipment. The rep there was knowledgeable and friendly, showed him my quote from audio advice and he immediately saw the remote issue, they were simply using an old model, the new model supports the android TV. He suggest I at least have a magnolia rep come to the house and give their recommendations. From there the experience between audio advice and magnolia was night and day. For starters they LISTENED to what I really wanted, even took the time to take me into their Cary demo room and play through the different brands at my speaker price point. I am going to end up spending almost twice as much with Magnolia (just under 30K, including wiring and installation). The experience with them really just showed how uninvolved the experience with audio advice was. The experience was night and day. This is a shame since I'd much prefer to support a local boutique brand than a huge big box brand.

**Update, a co-founder reached out to me personally to apologize and explain the situation. Things happen, and businesses are bound to come across negative interactions, but the extra effort to rectify it does not always happen. I've updated my rating to reflect the update in...

UPDATE: August 14, 2015:

Kevin Kelly is amazing! He installed a an Access Point and connected it to the ethernet system, for which my house is wired. Got my Sonos system working, and I have a super strong WiFi signal throughout the house and out onto the front porch and back deck. Amazing! He was super efficient and knowledgeable and knew just what to do. He is a spectacular talent. Audio Advice (and we in the Triangle) are lucky to have such a great technical person. Thanks.

David, Chapel Hill

I want to thank Chip Johnson for his awesome knowledge of stereo equipment and his enormous patience and help with me in selecting a new system to replace my 20-year-old system. Needless to say, replacement of an entire system is a costly venture, and Chip was gracious in helping me evaluate the various levels and types of systems that would be suitable to both my ears and my wallet.

It is embarrassing to admit, but I had not realized how much things had changed in 20 years. :) The whole music procurement and even listening experience has gone totally online--along with (gasp!) even radio. Chip was enormously helpful in bringing me from the 1990s to the early 21st century with regards to the technology. I really had to re-think how I listen to the radio and to CDs (or even if one should purchase CDs anymore). So, Chip had his work cut out with me, but gently brought me along into the new world of audio technology, and I am most grateful.

Beyond selecting an outstanding set of speakers/cables, amp, blue-ray, and universal remote, the real pleasure was the installation. Chip and his crew brought all the new equipment to my house and connected and programmed everything--no small task given the complexity of such electronics these days--all to connect to my new plasma TV. Chip did an outstanding job of getting everything communicating with everything else, and result is elegant visually and aurally. I couldn't be more pleased.

I've had my new system for only 2 days, but already I realize that I have a world-class sound system that will last another 20 years--and who knows what the technology will be like then?!

Thanks Chip et al. and Audio Advice for all your attention to detail and for guiding me to one of the most astounding audio systems imaginable--one that will give pleasure for years and years. For anyone interested in obtaining a seriously high-end sound system, I highly recommend Chip and Audio Advice. Your listening experience will be kicked up a notch--or...

Don’t buy anything from anyone who bought it from Audio Advice.

To be fair, in this particular circumstance it was not my experience as an Audio Advice direct customer, but rather a buddy of mine who had moved out of state.

My Friend Ryan were getting caught up over the phone, when he mentioned to me that he had a three month old Eversolo DMP-A6 Gen 2, that he didn’t use and wanted to sell it. I expressed my interest and a deal was made. It was by far my favorite HiFi purchase to date and I am a life long HiFi nut, 35+ career audio engineer. Great piece of gear. Until the power supply failed three weeks later.

My buddy sent me the original receipt and said Audio Advice had been great and to trust them to take care of it. I sent an email through the website to Audio Advice and another to Eversolo. Eversolo got back to me right away and said that their distributor, Audio Advice would send a new unit promptly, as it was well within warranty, no question.

Audio Advice got back to me and expressed a willingness to help, but the gentleman I spoke with told me he had to get approval from his manager, as my name wasn’t on the receipt.

The following week, I got a phone call from said manager who told me they couldn’t help me because I my name was not the one in the receipt, but that they would offer me a 10% discount on a new one to help make up for it.

When I asked Eversolo if they could facilitate a direct swap, they mentioned that they rely on their distributor network to take care of such issues and aren’t set up to send less than shipping containers over. I got an email from a C-level executive at Eversolo who told me to sit tight and that they would reach out to AA on my behalf. Three days later, they called to apologize and said that another one of their dealers, here in California had, mentioned they would be happy to facilitate the replacement.

At this point, the A6 was tainted for me. There was too much heartache and frustration attached to the device and I couldn’t stand seeing it anymore. I sent it back to Ryan and have a bitter taste in my mouth toward Audio Advice and Eversolo.

Don’t buy anything from anyone who bought it from...