Nuts About Hi-Fi — Local services in Silverdale

I little late, but finally posting. My audio journey started about a year ago when I upgraded my TV. Ever since my brief time working in the industry, I've always gotten my TVs ISF calibrated, so when I searched businesses that offer it, Nuts About Hi-Fi came up. When I stopped in. I was greeted by Matt, who was pretty surprised by the request, as it's been a dying service for years. He asked what kind of TV I had, and when I told him, he was intimately familiar with the model. He mentioned that my model was one of a few where the manufacturer hand picks the panels and calibrates the image out of the box, and that with a few tweaks I could do on my own, I could accomplish 95% of what a calibration would and save myself $400. Nice!

Since I was there, Matt asked if I wanted to check out the store. I had a little time, so I agreed, and he took me back in to their listening room. I immediately recognized Focal and JL Audio. I run both of those brands in my car and know their excellence. This was my wheelhouse. Matt had me sit and listen to a pair of the Focal Scala Utopia speakers, and they were epic. There was also no way I was going to afford them! He asked what I had for equipment currently, and I shared my system, that they probably wouldn't even use as a door stop at this place, but Matt did not belittle my equipment. He simply asked if I was happy with it or would have any interest in upgrading.

A few months later, I had some time, so I stopped in again. Matt showed me the Focal Aria Evo X line of speakers, explaining that they were a redesigned line that represented one of the best value points in the Focal lineup. Listening to them, they sounded great. Night and day difference from what I was used to at home. These both looked and sounded like they should for the price.

When I was ready to start my room project, I figured I'd check in and see if Nuts sold TV wall mounts. Sure enough, they carried the same one I was looking at and matched the sale price from a reputable online dealer. Matt then mentioned the Aria speakers were on sale. The sale was technically over, but he said if I was ready, he could get Focal to honor it for a couple more days. I liked that I had the opportunity to go home and discuss with my wife, and that ended up being the difference maker. I knew Focal rarely does sales, so I decided to pull the trigger.

Now, it was a race to get my room finished. I decided that I wanted to replace my existing bookshelf surrounds with in-wall. I was tearing out a fireplace and replacing carpet and baseboards, so it was an optimal time to take on the project. They gave me a good deal on some Focal 300 IW6 in-wall speakers that use the same cone and tweeter material as Aria lineup, so they pair perfectly with the front stage.

For subs, to fit my budget and space constraints, they recommended a pair of the JL Audio Dominion 10" subs. I wanted a symmetrical setup for aesthetic reasons, and I was stepping down from a bulky 15" sub. Even though I was a big JL fan already, they still let me demo the Dominions as much as I needed to feel good about the purchase.

Going on 12 weeks, my room was finished, but no Focal speakers. At this point, I'll admit I was a little frustrated, but I understood that we were all at the mercy of the manufacturer. Then this happened: Jim asked if I'd like to borrow some equipment until my order arrived. WHAT?! Who just lets a random customer borrow equipment?

Of course, my Aria towers showed up just a few days later. Eric's follow up on everything was on-point. After another couple weeks, I had my center channel, and all was right in the world.

Yes, some components took a lot longer than expected, but the savings, communication, and loaner equipment made me feel like family, even though I was a first-time customer. Don't be afraid to stop in here. Don't let the $100k speakers in the showroom scare you off. They've got something for...

I purchased some high-end audio from Nuts about Hi-Fi back in the mid 90's. (amp, preamp and speakers) and while it was a long time ago and I don't remember all the details, I will always remember that the long drive was worth my time, and I was treated very well.

Fast forward to 2022 and after some great phone conversations with Jim (the owner) about what I was looking for, I finally made the long drive to Silverdale and met with Jim and his staff there. Jim's passion and enthusiasm for high-end audio is contagious, I found his knowledge and willingness to share that experience with me to be of great value   I spent over 3 hours listening to a great two-channel stereo and talking with Jim about what I was hearing and what I could do to maximize the sound and listening experience within my own home.

I'm writing this before the purchase but wanted to share with you my own positive experience at Nut's about Hi-Fi. It's a beautiful store, with lots of really great Hi-Fi. Thank you, Jim,...

A gem for audio enthusiasts, I really can’t say enough positive things about this place. Not sure what the negative reviews are about. This place is for high end audio, it’s not Best Buy. You don’t go to a Porsche dealership looking for toyota prices, and you don’t go to a Hifi shop looking for a Vizio sound bar.

With that being said they carry a great range of amazing sounding equipment ranging from affordable to extravagant. Jim and Matt both worked with me over quite a few days helping me find the right speakers for a tough listening room. After hours in the showroom and a few trips back and forth I finally was able to find the perfect set, and the price was incredibly competitive. They even take trade ins on gear, which is awesome if you plan to slowly upgrade.

If you’ve read this far you owe it to yourself to stop by. This place is a real gem and even though they carry some very high end stuff they will treat you well no matter the budget. They’ve made a customer for...