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

Subscribe | Login
Sunday, November 22, 2009

Who Rates Best (& Worst) in the Seattle 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 Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK Magazine
	Read our article and findings (available exclusively to CHECKBOOK subscribers)	Back to Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK Table of Contents.


		Subscribe to Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK for ratings, articles, and more. CHECKBOOK magazine tells you the best-rated auto repair shops, plumbers, veterinarians, banks, dentists, carpet cleaners ... and much more. CHECKBOOK's special health guides provide you with critical ratings and reports on doctors and hospitals.. Click here to subscribe.		ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER? Click here to sign in.

	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.	Audio Connection 5621-A University Way NE Seattle, WA 206-524-7251		Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
2.	Best Buy All locations combined	303 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
3.	Best Buy 330 NE Northgate Way Seattle, WA 206-306-7663	72 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
4.	Best Buy 17364 Southcenter Pkwy Tukwila, WA 206-574-4617	63 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
5.	Best Buy 2214 S 48th St Tacoma, WA 253-476-4871	17 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
6.	Best Buy 4102 S Meridian #A Puyallup, WA 253-841-7008		Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
7.	Best Buy 31601 Pacific Hwy S Federal Way, WA 253-945-0073		Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
8.	Best Buy 9551 Ridgetop Blvd NW Silverdale, WA 360-698-1112	25 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
9.	Best Buy 457 120th Ave NE Bellevue, WA 425-452-8060	34 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
10.	Best Buy 19225 Alderwood Mall Pkwy Lynnwood, WA 425-670-2670	32 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
11.	Bose 600 Pine St #235 Seattle, WA 206-381-1510	17 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
12.	Car Toys All locations combined	78 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
13.	Car Toys 12815 Aurora Ave N Seattle, WA 206-364-5534	12 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
14.	Car Toys 16901 Southcenter Pkwy Tukwila, WA 206-575-2818	15 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
15.	Car Toys 12020 Meridian Ave S Puyallup, WA 253-435-0830	11 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
16.	Car Toys 5015 Tacoma Mall Blvd #A Tacoma, WA 253-472-1994		Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
17.	Car Toys 410 SW Everett Mall Way Everett, WA 425-356-2726	12 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
18.	Car Toys 13804 NE 20th St Bellevue, WA 425-643-2726	10 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
19.	Car Toys 3910 196th St SW #A Lynnwood, WA 425-778-2726		Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
20.	Costco All locations combined	58 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
21.	Costco Wholesale 2219 S 37th St Tacoma, WA 253-475-2093		Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
22.	Costco Wholesale 10000 Mickelberry Rd NW Silverdale, WA 360-692-1140		Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
23.	Costco Wholesale 8629 120th Ave NE Kirkland, WA 425-827-1693		Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
24.	Definitive Audio 6206 Roosevelt Way NE Seattle, WA 206-524-6633	31 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
25.	Definitive Audio 14405 NE 20th St Bellevue, WA 425-746-3188	31 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
26.	Fry's Electronics 800 Garden Ave N Renton, WA 425-525-0200	19 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
27.	Hawthorne Stereo 6303 Roosevelt Way NE Seattle, WA 206-522-9609	25 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
28.	Magnolia Audio Video All locations combined	897 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
29.	Magnolia Audio Video 6308 Roosevelt Way NE Seattle, WA 206-525-1961	281 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
30.	Magnolia Audio Video 16600 Southcenter Pkwy Seattle, WA 206-575-0851	81 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
31.	Magnolia Audio Video 6053 Tacoma Mall Blvd Tacoma, WA 253-475-2330	78 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
32.	Magnolia Audio Video 3126 NW Randall Way Silverdale, WA 360-698-8584	35 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
33.	Magnolia Audio Video 725 SE Everett Mall Way Everett, WA 425-513-2565	62 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
34.	Magnolia Audio Video 14404 NE 20th St Bellevue, WA 425-747-0850	236 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
35.	Magnolia Audio Video 4201 196th St SW #B Lynnwood, WA 425-775-7288	93 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
36.	Nuts About Hi-Fi 10100 Silverdale Way Silverdale, WA 360-698-1348	11 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
37.	Speakerlab 6220 Roosevelt Way NE Seattle, WA 206-523-2269	14 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
38.	Stereo Warehouse 13728 Aurora Ave N Seattle, WA 206-365-5622	10 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
39.	Video Only All locations combined	263 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
40.	Video Only 290 Andover Park E Tukwila, WA 206-444-1650	73 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
41.	Video Only 1643 S 352nd St Federal Way, WA 253-661-7700	25 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
42.	Video Only 2218 S 41st St Tacoma, WA 253-671-0737	44 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
43.	Video Only 14339 NE 20th St Fl 1 Bellevue, WA 425-644-9400	55 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.
44.	Video Only 19220 Alderwood Mall Pkwy Lynnwood, WA 425-776-5900	50 ratings	Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 36 local audio equipment stores. Subscribe now for ratings, articles and more.

Seattle audio equipment stores by neighborhood

WA
Audio Equipment Stores in Bellevue, WA	Audio Equipment Stores in Everett, WA	Audio Equipment Stores in Federal Way, WA
Audio Equipment Stores in Kirkland, WA	Audio Equipment Stores in Lynnwood, WA	Audio Equipment Stores in Puyallup, WA
Audio Equipment Stores in Renton, WA	Audio Equipment Stores in Seattle, WA	Audio Equipment Stores in Silverdale, WA
Audio Equipment Stores in Tacoma, WA	Audio Equipment Stores in Tukwila, WA

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 EDMONDS, WA wrote about MAGNOLIA AUDIO VIDEO, Lynnwood, WA on 08/31/09: The best of all the Magnolia Stores for knowledge of product and service, but they..........

Subscriber from EDMONDS, WA wrote about BEST BUY, Lynnwood, WA on 08/31/09: don't really know their products. check out/paying is a long process and not real friendly,..........

Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote about BEST BUY, Seattle, WA on 08/19/09: Basically you need to know what you want before you go in........

Subscriber from VASHON, WA wrote about DEFINITIVE AUDIO, Seattle, WA on 08/11/09: Very knowledgeable and helpful advice on choosing a pair of speakers........

Subscriber from KIRKLAND, WA wrote about FRY'S ELECTRONICS, Renton, WA on 08/04/09: If Fry's has it, the price will be excellent........

Subscriber from TACOMA, WA wrote about MAGNOLIA AUDIO VIDEO, Seattle, WA on 06/29/09: They are gone, and there ain't no one comparable. Tragedy for sound addicts........

Subscriber from BELLEVUE, WA wrote about MAGNOLIA AUDIO VIDEO, Bellevue, WA on 09/12/08: Excellent products, knowledge of products, and service........

Subscriber from MERCER ISLAND, WA wrote about MAGNOLIA AUDIO VIDEO, Seattle, WA on 08/18/08: Have found experience is not consistent at all Magnolia stores........

Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote about MAGNOLIA AUDIO VIDEO, Seattle, WA on 08/13/08: Our sales rep, Derrick, was awesome! He even came to our house after the TV..........

Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote about MAGNOLIA AUDIO VIDEO, Seattle, WA on 08/12/08: Internet research on headphones showed that the model I was interested in could be had..........

Subscriber from REDMOND, WA wrote about DEFINITIVE AUDIO, Bellevue, WA on 07/30/08: A touch snobby, eh, sirrah?.......

Subscriber from SHORELINE, WA wrote about BEST BUY, Seattle, WA on 07/14/08: This area of the store can be confusing, is not well laid out........

Subscriber from BELLEVUE, WA wrote about MAGNOLIA AUDIO VIDEO, Seattle, WA on 01/08/08: I purchased a new HD plasma TV and components for a surround sound system at..........

Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote about HAWTHORNE STEREO, Seattle, WA on 10/01/07: Robert Levin and his staff run a wonderful store that stands behind its products and..........

Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote about BEST BUY, Seattle, WA on 09/26/07: Sometimes there is a good variety of product, sometimes the place looks empty of product...........

Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote about DEFINITIVE AUDIO, Bellevue, WA on 08/26/07: Really high prices but excellent quality gear. Staff is pretty arrogant and doesn't spend much..........

Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote about MAGNOLIA AUDIO VIDEO, Seattle, WA on 08/21/07: Working with the design center has been a positive experience, as well as the purchasing..........

Subscriber from SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote about BEST BUY, Seattle, WA on 05/23/07: Beware of their return policy. They love to charge re-stocking fees........

Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote about CAR TOYS, Seattle, WA on 10/19/06: didn't have the product demonstrated. Works only OK. bought on recommendation of staff. 2 day..........

Subscriber from CARNATION, WA wrote about BEST BUY, Bellevue, WA on 10/13/06: Takes a long time to check out once you decide to make a major purchase........

Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote about BEST BUY, Seattle, WA on 10/12/06: Typical Big Box store. Great for generic needs.......

Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote about VIDEO ONLY, Bellevue, WA on 10/12/06: My store of choice for mainsteam electronics.......

Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote about CAR TOYS, Seattle, WA on 09/26/06: I've had mixed experience. One purchase went very smoothly. On another, the staff attitude was..........

Subscriber from SEATTLE, WA wrote about MAGNOLIA AUDIO VIDEO, Seattle, WA on 09/26/06: Excellent service and quality products over many years........

See more comments at Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK.

Boston · Chicago · Philadelphia · San Francisco · Seattle · Twin Cities · Washington, DC · Patient Central

CarBargains Home CHECKBOOK Home Privacy Security About Contact Us

Copyright 2009 Center for the Study of Services. All Rights Reserved.
CHECKBOOK is a trademark and service mark of the Center for the Study of Services and is registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office.