Stereo Unlimited

Pro: A difficult to beat selection of very high end speakers, headphones, etc.
Con: I’ve been twice now. Every employee is a pretentious, pushy, commission-​seeking jerk. I will never go back. I will drive to comparable stores in LA for I’ll go back there. Very evasive when you ask about return policies.

Listen, don’t go to this place unless you want to be treated like garbage!
I implore you to message me and I will give you the entire story as it does not fit in these confines fully!
They have no concept of customer loyalty.
You write s bad review and they threaten you with attorneys and lawsuits.
Guess what, Bruce, I have attorneys as well. Send them down to my work. You know where to find me. I work for the US Dept of Justice. And when they are done taking my statement, we can discuss your threats and fraud.
Yeah. Don’t take your equipment here to be serviced. Just save yourself time. Don’t go here. Sadly you get a better experience going thru Needle Doctor or Soundstage Direct.
But if you don’t believe me, go in and count the people asleep behind the counter. Ask someone if they have something in stock to see if they give you a smart ass answer.
And what’s sad is it has the ability of being such a great store.
I LOVED spending weekend afternoons in there. Almost ritual… Until the screwed over a friend.
Bunch of old pretentious audiophiles as a previous reviewer stated who look down on everything you do or say.

Largest selection, knowledgeable staff, allow home evaluation and have a handy location. The absolute best in San Diego!

This place is fantastic, very helpful even with my lo-​fi gear and is my first stop for jazz records

I love this place. I previously purchased my turntable here a year ago. I have purchased many jazz records here and it is probably the best place in town for good jazz on vinyl.
I take my preamp in today because there are some serious extraneous noises coming from the speakers at home. I told them I think one of the tubes is defective at this point and I would like to purchase a new set of tubes. They spent the time hooking up my preamp to their stereo equipment and we figured out that my preamp is just fine. They didn’t try to sell me anything. I was amazed at how great their customer service was, and realized I had an altogether different problem on my hands in terms of stereo equipment.
Thanks to the fellas at Stereo Unlimited!

These guys are so helpful and nice that I can see why people rate them so high. Everything they sell is quality and they seem to help all these people that have not even bought from them but need help which they give freely and with out sales pressure. Their demo room are amazing and make you want your home to look and sound like thiers for sure! Don’t let the small small doors fool you, this place is huge! (I think they said like 8,000 sq ft). Don’t know what those other reviews think, maybe they were the ones giving the bad vibes out because these guys are friendly, helpful and work in your budget. Why would you go to Walmart or Best buy when you can get truely quality headphones even cheaper and better here!

I came to Stereo Unlimited late one afternoon after hearing that they have a vinyl room/​store in the back of their shop. Before I ever made it back to the vinyl room I got into a conversation with one of the employees (Bob) about a hum/​motor noise issue with my record player (Project Debut). Bob offered to take a look at my record player and troubleshoot the hum for me if I brought it in. Bear in mind that I did not even purchase my record player from their store. On the following day, I brought my record player into their store for examination; Bob found that I had a poor ground connection and was able to repair it for me on the spot. Bob also made some adjustments to the motor mounts that got rid of an audible motor hum. You will not find this level of technical support or get service anywhere near this at big box stores.
I was able to spend a lot of time browsing through the collection in their vinyl room. The room has a record player available that you can use to listen to used records prior to purchasing them. They also have a record cleaning unit that you can use for a nominal fee. One of the employees was kind enough to play a record for me (that I ended up buying) on one of their high end systems. In the end, I ended up buying two new records, a dust brush, and got my record player repaired.
I will definitely be back to shop here again in the future!

These guys are the best… Bruce and Ray. Came in with lots of dumb questions to update my ’80’s sound equipment. They spent lots of time walking me through options and helped me update with the coolest new technology. Blue Sound. When I had set up challenges. they helped me. They are now my only stereo and sound store… I trust them!

I can’t say enough good things about Bruce & crew!!! They are the COOLEST, and to say that they are extremely knowledgeable would be a gross understatement. The crew has always gone above and beyond in assisting me to get my turntable to operate and sound topnotch.
Many, many thanks you guys!!! …YOU GUYS ROCK!!!

So… I have a vintage Yamaha receiver/​amp and a Pro-​Ject Debut Carbon turntable — all played through Cerwin Vega speakers. I was looking to improve my sound. After reading lots of opinions and reviews of stereo products on-​line from other vinyl lovers such as myself, I thought I was armed and loaded with enough information to make an educated decision. After making the short drive to Stereo Unlimited, I enter and see about making the move — whatever that might be — to listening bliss. I spoke with Bob and Owen, and I told them what I was trying to achieve and do and «I think I need this and that…» After listening to me, they made a recommendation to upgrade my turntable… I was thinking I needed another amp or upgrade my cartridge or … Well, I departed with a new turntable, which Bob set-​up in a flash, as I waited and watched. I am writing this review as I listen to my «new and improved» sound system in the comfort of my home. (Listening to Tom Waits «Live From Austin — Romeo Bleeding» which I purchased at Stereo Unlimited today too). To the staff (Bob and Owen) — Thanks! I’ll be back soon. NOTE: Did I mention — they have an «upgrade» program and they sell vinyl AND clean vinyl!!! Thanks again gentlemen!

Bruce was very helpful and didn’t try to up sell me on a super high end receiver, but instead listened to what I wanted. He suggested the marantz sr5009 which perfectly suited my needs and sounds amazing with my PSB’s. Called them a few days later for some tech support and they walked me through the steps to configure the ARC connection.
I’ll be a customer of theirs as long as I’m in SD.

I was on a business trip in the area and found this place via Unilocal.I was glad I was able to stop by to check out this place. They carry products that a beginner with a limited budget can afford to ultra high-​end products for those individuals with money to burn. I was able to meet with the owner, Bruce, who spent time with me even though I wasn’t planning to purchase anything.
This store has several sound rooms that are quite impressive. The various rooms run the gamut from affordable to a 20 person home theater that they were currently building out.
This place also is a great place to visit if you are an analog person. They carry all forms of turntables, and especially their record collection that they sell you need to check out. One large room dedicated to the display and selling of records. They carry every genre you can imagine.
Just make sure you do not mistaken this place for the Walnut Creek, CA Stereo Unlimited which has been closed for a while. This Stereo Unlimited IS NOT associated with the now defunct Stereo Unlimited in Walnut Creek. It was surprising that they knew about the store in Walnut Creek. They still receive calls from former customers asking for service from the Walnut Creek store.
What I also liked was the used selection of components that they sell. If I weren’t having to fly back on a plane, I would have probably purchased a couple of used components that they had in the store. Used subwoofers, speakers, source players, amps, preamps, etc. were all available for sale.
This store reminds me of some of the stereo stores that you can find in Berkeley, CA. This store is right up there with the best of them. Friendly staff, excellent selection with all price ranges, a used equipment section and a great record collection for sale. You couldn’t ask for more under one roof. Highly recommended.

So cool! So cool. These guys are the best! They rock and roll, I mean real punk rock! Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeuuuuu!

I was concerned that I had a blown subwoofer from my home theatre system that I purchased elsewhere. The team at Stereo Unlimited happily helped me out. Not only did they determine that my subwoofer was working, they helped me with steps to reset it at my home. They said that they couldn’t sell me anything in good faith and that I had a high quality subwoofer. I was able to get the subwoofer working when I got home. Great service. Great integrity. Highly recommend them.

I am upgrading from late 70’s-early 80’s midrange equipment. I remember going in there a while back and seeing a turntable that weighed about 600 lbs and sold for around $ 50k. So there is definitely high end equipment if you want it. But I’m just still in the market for stuff costing hundreds not thousands, let alone 10’s of thousands. What could they do for me? A lot it turns out.
I spoke to Owen I believe and he could not have been more jazzed to show me what I needed, didn’t even care I was on the low end of his stuff. He really knows his business and the biggest plus is his love of what he does. You can see it in his eyes.
The second time in, Bruce helped me choose a subwoofer, again hundreds not thousands and he genuinely guided me to the right match for my speakers. He left me to sample my music and test out the sound. I was looking for something more so he brought in the next model up but honestly said to just get the T5 and if I want to upgrade later I could. I love being respected and not sold.
In other shops I’ve been ignored a bit or talked down to somewhat but not here. These are really cool people who know and love what they do. They have a good vinyl selection and I can see where I would have plenty of room to upgrade over the years with them so I’m really happy they work the way they do. 5 stars yes.

I needed a new needle for my record player so I could listen to sweet vinyl. I stumbled upon Stereo Unlimited (to my complete luck) and was totally taken care of and had a great afternoon.
My set up is a hodge podge of thrift store gear, mixed with stuff from my friends parents, sprinkled with Craigslist finds. Anywhoo I have this cartridge with no brand from the 90s that I was having trouble finding a stylus for.
Bruce, the owner, helped my right away. I decided to get a new cartridge as I am ready for some better sound. We got me all set up with an Ortofon cartridge which was the only thing really in my price range ($ 40 or so).
He also taught us how to balance the arm so that you get an optimal connection with the stylus and the vinyl grooves. This was a great tutorial as no one has ever showed me that!
Then we explored the store, which is AMAZING. They are ready to cater to all your musical/​stereo/​equipment needs! We listened to a record on a $ 25,000 table with a sound set up that brought tears to my eyes.
After this lovely gift, we were directed to the record shop within the store. JACKPOT. So many sweet titles, competitive prices, and a lot of virgin records I uncommonly see. I could have spent all day there. He has a system set up so you can listen to used vinyls you are interested in buying. He also has a record cleaning machine that ROCKS! It is free to clean any record you buy from him and $ 0.50 to clean your own vinyls. I came out with Clifford Jordan, Thelonious Monk, and Django Reinhardt. I would have bought the whole collection, but remember, I am on a budget.
Thanks Bruce and Stereo Unlimited!

You should probably be a rich snob before going in – as in, ready to drop a lot of money for a nice piece of audio equipment. They don’t deal with cheap used gear. On the other side of the coin, everything you’re going to buy there is high quality. Everyone who works there (including the «groupies» who don’t get paid) is passionate about their products and they’ve memorized the minute details of every last thing they sell.
They «take care of you», too. The first time I went in, Bruce (owner) took me into their temple-​esque «blue room» and played some records for me for about 45 minutes. When I traded some equipment this year (full refund!), Orrin gave me all the speaker wires and showed me exactly how I would plug them in when I got home. Orrin is the nicest salesperson ever. Oh, and I didn’t have enough money for speakers, so they gave me some big old ‘70s ones for free. But I wouldn’t count on duplicating that experience.
Their «record room» is nice, but it’s mostly music from before 1980. It has better atmosphere than all the local record joints, though; it’s usually empty and it feels like snooping through some old guy’s living room.

A good full service retailer, one of three remaining traditional high-​end audio salons left in greater San Diego, specializing in analog (vacuum-​tubes and turntable based) systems. They’re helpful and willing to loan a piece for evaluation for potential purchase.
A pleasure to do business with.

Called to see if they carried the type of needle I need for my record player and the guy acted like he was put out by my questions. Didn’t give me any answers, just treated me like I was stupid.

Wow, just about the worst retail experience I’ve had in forever. I just wanted to buy a nice old record player and this place had glowing reviews. I walked in to an empty store with two pretentious old «audiophiles» who wouldn’t answer any of my questions and seemed completely disinterested in selling anything to me.
Make their lives easier and ignore them and their store, they seem to want it that way.