Music to Your Ears - Selecting, Buying, and Repairing Audio Equipment

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Saturday, November 21, 2009

Who Rates Best (& Worst) in the San Francisco Bay Area? Now You'll Know.

Audio Equipment--Selecting, Buying, and Repairing

	Options to play music have exploded in the Digital Age. We'll summarize the different choices available, give the pros and cons of each, point you toward sources of advice, and tell you how to get a good price. From Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK Magazine
	Read our article and findings (available exclusively to CHECKBOOK subscribers)	Back to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK Table of Contents.


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	Name	Number of ratings	Checkbook's top rating ()		What percent of customers rated firm "superior" on our survey for "overall quality"	Firm's price index score
	Name	Number of ratings	for quality	for price		Firm's price index score
1.	Access To Music 901 C St San Rafael, CA 415-453-3936		Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
2.	Anderson's TV & Stereo 901 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 650-367-9400	18 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
3.	Anderson's TV & Stereo 1150 Concord Ave #100 Concord, CA 925-825-9300	16 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
4.	Anderson's TV & Stereo - Ultimate Big Screen 5241 Stevens Creek Blvd Santa Clara, CA 408-554-1617		Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
5.	Bay Area Audio 1362 S De Anza Blvd San Jose, CA 408-255-0735	24 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
6.	Best Buy All locations combined	468 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
7.	Best Buy 3090 Stevens Creek Blvd San Jose, CA 408-241-6040		Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
8.	Best Buy 760 E El Camino Real Sunnyvale, CA 408-738-8680		Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
9.	Best Buy 7011 Camino Arroyo Gilroy, CA 408-847-0325		Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
10.	Best Buy 63 Ranch Dr Milpitas, CA 408-942-0201	28 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
11.	Best Buy 5065 Almaden Expy San Jose, CA 408-979-1591	23 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
12.	Best Buy 700 Du Bois St San Rafael, CA 415-256-1398		Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
13.	Best Buy 180 Donahue St Marin City, CA 415-332-6529	26 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
14.	Best Buy 2675 Geary Blvd #300 San Francisco, CA 415-409-4960		Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
15.	Best Buy 1717 Harrison St San Francisco, CA 415-626-9682	34 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
16.	Best Buy 3700 Mandela Pkwy Emeryville, CA 510-420-0323	29 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
17.	Best Buy 31350 Courthouse Dr Union City, CA 510-441-2130	16 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
18.	Best Buy 1490 Fitzgerald Dr Pinole, CA 510-758-0112	42 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
19.	Best Buy 1751 E Bayshore Dr Palo Alto, CA 650-321-1918	16 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
20.	Best Buy 1127 Industrial Rd San Carlos, CA 650-622-0050	64 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
21.	Best Buy 200 Colma Blvd Daly City, CA 650-756-8711		Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
22.	Best Buy 2460 Charleston Rd Mountain View, CA 650-903-0591		Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
23.	Best Buy 1547 Gateway Blvd Fairfield, CA 707-432-1330	17 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
24.	Best Buy 1950 Santa Rosa Ave Santa Rosa, CA 707-545-1078	12 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
25.	Best Buy 1182 Admiral Callaghan Ln Vallejo, CA 707-648-3788		Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
26.	Best Buy 4405 Century Blvd Pittsburg, CA 925-778-1986	13 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
27.	Best Buy 4820 Dublin Blvd Dublin, CA 925-829-7041	34 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
28.	Best Buy 3260 Buskirk Ave Pleasant Hill, CA 925-988-0256	65 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
29.	Bose 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd #1269 Santa Clara, CA 408-423-9576		Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
30.	Century Stereo 450 El Paseo De Saratoga San Jose, CA 408-341-1950	22 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
31.	Costco Wholesale 5301 Almaden Expy San Jose, CA 408-960-1011		Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
32.	Costco Wholesale 300 Vintage Way Novato, CA 415-899-1330		Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
33.	Costco Wholesale 5101 Business Center Dr Fairfield, CA 707-864-3816		Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
34.	Costco Wholesale 220 Sylvania Ave Santa Cruz, CA 831-469-0961		Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
35.	Fry's Electronics All locations combined	196 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
36.	Fry's Electronics 600 E Hamilton Ave Campbell, CA 408-364-3700	27 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
37.	Fry's Electronics 550 E Brokaw Rd San Jose, CA 408-487-1000	13 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
38.	Fry's Electronics 1077 E Arques Ave Sunnyvale, CA 408-617-1300	47 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
39.	Fry's Electronics 43800 Osgood Rd Fremont, CA 510-252-5300	36 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
40.	Fry's Electronics 340 Portage Ave Palo Alto, CA 650-496-6000	47 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
41.	Fry's Electronics 1695 Willow Pass Rd Concord, CA 925-852-0300	15 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
42.	Harmony Audio Video 333 W Portal Ave San Francisco, CA 415-661-2525	37 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
43.	House of Music 555 9th St #B-3 San Francisco, CA 415-255-0888	11 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
44.	Klein TV & Electronics 835 3rd St San Rafael, CA 415-454-5021		Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
45.	Lotts' 600 Pacific Ave Santa Cruz, CA 831-423-1100		Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
46.	Magnolia Audio Video All locations combined	86 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
47.	Magnolia Audio Video 52 N Winchester Blvd Santa Clara, CA 408-423-5100	43 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
48.	Magnolia Audio Video 110 Sunset Dr San Ramon, CA 925-242-3600	29 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
49.	Mateo Hi-Fi 2191 S El Camino Real San Mateo, CA 650-573-6506	16 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
50.	Music Lovers Audio 1995 El Dorado Ave Berkeley, CA 510-558-1000	22 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
51.	Novato TV Sales & Svc 1217 Grant Ave Novato, CA 415-897-6217		Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
52.	Performance Audio 2847 California St San Francisco, CA 415-441-6220	13 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
53.	Pro Home Systems 383 40th St Oakland, CA 510-653-4300		Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
54.	San Francisco Stereo & Theater Systems 2201 Market St San Francisco, CA 415-861-1044	19 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
55.	Sound Perfection 700 El Camino Real #180 Menlo Park, CA 650-323-1000		Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
56.	Sound Well 1718 University Ave Berkeley, CA 510-549-2126	12 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
57.	Telecenter Appliances-TV-Video 1830 S Delaware St San Mateo, CA 650-341-5804	14 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
58.	Town & Country Village TV World 218 Strawberry Vlg Mill Valley, CA 415-383-4343	11 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
59.	Video Only 1199 Van Ness Ave San Francisco, CA 415-563-5200	23 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
60.	Video Only 24040 Hesperian Blvd Hayward, CA 510-785-1470	17 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
61.	Video Only 1801 S Grant St San Mateo, CA 650-578-1212	28 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
62.	Video Only 7922 Dublin Blvd Dublin, CA 925-829-2900	16 ratings	Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
63.	Water St Stereo 3555 Clares St #P Capitola, CA 831-427-1604		Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 42 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.

San Francisco Bay audio equipment stores by neighborhood

CA
Audio Equipment Stores in Berkeley, CA	Audio Equipment Stores in Campbell, CA	Audio Equipment Stores in Capitola, CA
Audio Equipment Stores in Concord, CA	Audio Equipment Stores in Daly City, CA	Audio Equipment Stores in Dublin, CA
Audio Equipment Stores in Emeryville, CA	Audio Equipment Stores in Fairfield, CA	Audio Equipment Stores in Fremont, CA
Audio Equipment Stores in Gilroy, CA	Audio Equipment Stores in Hayward, CA	Audio Equipment Stores in Marin City, CA
Audio Equipment Stores in Menlo Park, CA	Audio Equipment Stores in Mill Valley, CA	Audio Equipment Stores in Milpitas, CA
Audio Equipment Stores in Mountain View, CA	Audio Equipment Stores in Novato, CA	Audio Equipment Stores in Oakland, CA
Audio Equipment Stores in Palo Alto, CA	Audio Equipment Stores in Pinole, CA	Audio Equipment Stores in Pittsburg, CA
Audio Equipment Stores in Pleasant Hill, CA	Audio Equipment Stores in Redwood City, CA	Audio Equipment Stores in San Carlos, CA
Audio Equipment Stores in San Francisco, CA	Audio Equipment Stores in San Jose, CA	Audio Equipment Stores in San Mateo, CA
Audio Equipment Stores in San Rafael, CA	Audio Equipment Stores in San Ramon, CA	Audio Equipment Stores in Santa Clara, CA
Audio Equipment Stores in Santa Cruz, CA	Audio Equipment Stores in Santa Rosa, CA	Audio Equipment Stores in Sausalito, CA
Audio Equipment Stores in Sunnyvale, CA	Audio Equipment Stores in Union City, CA	Audio Equipment Stores in Vallejo, CA

Subscriber Comments/Reviews

CHECKBOOK provides subscriber comments on their experiences with the firms they use. Please remember that individual subscriber comments are informal. Subscriber comments may give you insight into the types of features and problems that exist in a service field, but are not the best basis for selecting or rejecting a specific firm. To assess the quality of a firm's performance, we recommend that you give more weight to the percentages of favorable ratings. Those percentages are generally based on much larger numbers of consumers' ratings (the number of consumer ratings is noted above).

Subscriber from MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA wrote about FRY'S ELECTRONICS, Palo Alto, CA on 11/14/09: When items are on sale at Fry's their pricing is very good. The staff is..........

Subscriber from LOS ALTOS, CA wrote about CENTURY STEREO, San Jose, CA on 10/13/09: Price side they are expense, but there service is the gold standard.......

Subscriber from FREMONT, CA wrote about FRY'S ELECTRONICS, Fremont, CA on 07/14/09: Getting accurate product information from sales associates is a gamble. Tend to push products with..........

Subscriber from SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote about HARMONY AUDIO VIDEO, San Francisco, CA on 08/14/08: Extremely overpriced. Owner "too busy" to help when I visited the store and asked me..........

Subscriber from SUNNYVALE, CA wrote about MAGNOLIA AUDIO VIDEO, Santa Clara, CA on 08/12/08: TV was back ordered, missed delivery date, was not called when promised, could not get..........

Subscriber from BERKELEY, CA wrote about MUSIC LOVERS AUDIO, Berkeley, CA on 02/04/08: For high end audio, you can't beat this store. Very helpful. No pressure environment........

Subscriber from OAKLAND, CA wrote about MUSIC LOVERS AUDIO, Berkeley, CA on 09/13/07: Music Lovers is one of the finest high-end stereo stores remaining in the business. They..........

Subscriber from BERKELEY, CA wrote about SOUND WELL, Berkeley, CA on 10/12/06: The soundwell sells quality used stereo equipment.......

Subscriber from BERKELEY, CA wrote about BEST BUY, Emeryville, CA on 10/12/06: Okay for a chain electronic store.......

Subscriber from SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote about BEST BUY, San Francisco, CA on 10/06/06: Great for quick purchases of CD, DVDs or small equipment. not a good place for..........

Subscriber from BERKELEY, CA wrote about SOUND WELL, Berkeley, CA on 10/05/06: This store is a godsend........

Subscriber from POINT RICHMOND, CA wrote about BEST BUY, Pinole, CA on 09/26/06: Though on-floor service personnel were hit and miss as far as product and technology knowledge,..........

Subscriber from SAN JOSE, CA wrote about CENTURY STEREO, San Jose, CA on 09/19/06: If you're into high end audio and video, this is THE place........

See more comments at Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK.

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