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Austin Stereo Service
Vintage audio restoration and sales—keeping Austin's sound alive since 1978.
4.2(5 reviews)
electronics-store
$$$
Vintage audio restoration and sales—keeping Austin's sound alive since 1978.
Austin Stereo Service is a trusted local electronics store specializing in vintage audio equipment restoration, sales, and expert repairs. Located on Burnet Road, we serve audiophiles and music lovers with high-quality components like turntables, amplifiers, and speakers. Our experienced team, led by Mike, provides personalized service, warranties on used gear, and a commitment to preserving classic sound. Whether you're restoring a family heirloom or upgrading your hi-fi system, we offer a genuine, hands-on experience in a nostalgic shop setting.
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Expert repair and refurbishment of classic turntables, amplifiers, and other audio components to restore original performance.
Curated selection of high-quality, pre-owned speakers, receivers, and turntables with warranties and setup assistance.
Personalized advice and recommendations for building or upgrading hi-fi systems, including component pairing and installation.
Professional diagnostics and fixes for a wide range of audio and stereo equipment, from vintage to modern models.
Offering cables, stands, and other accessories to complement and enhance your audio setup.
I’ve never written a Google review before and I am not the confrontational type, but I continue to feel so bothered by how I was treated by Austin Stereo Service that I have to get this off my chest. After my dad passed away in 2024 I wanted to fix up his Thorens TD 125 to give to my mom as a gift. He had always wanted to fix it up for them to play, but never found the time. I brought the turntable in for a restoration. After bringing it home, some problems developed a couple months later so we brought it back to the store under warranty. My mom picked it up the second time and brought it home because I was out of town. I came back in town for my Dad’s memorial where we planned to have the turntable out along with other possessions that were special to him. That’s when I discovered the turntable didn’t spin at all and the cartridge was turned to the side. On further inspection I discovered the turntable didn’t spin because the belt was missing. Additionally another component, an Ortofon STM-72 transformer, that I had brought in with the turntable was gone. I called up Austin Stereo and told them the belt was gone, the cartridge was turned, and the Ortofon transformer that was in the box with it was missing. They claimed the turntable must have been tampered with and proceeded to blame my mom for transporting it incorrectly and losing the belt. They claimed it must have been shipped in the mail for this to happen. No, it was placed in its original styrofoam box, put in the back of a car, and driven 20 minutes. They said they needed to confirm the belt was missing and not just hidden under the platter, when it was very obvious to me that it was missing. I brought the turntable in for a third time and showed them there was in fact no belt. They continued to blame me and my mom saying we must have lost it, telling me to go back home and search again and that surely if we looked harder we would find it (I had already looked extensively for it). One of the employees then went to the back and just so happened to find the exact belt in the shop…He reinstalled it but said we needed to come back and return it once we found the belt at home, still claiming that it was our fault and we had lost the belt. This was all after I had spent over $500 on the restoration. He found my dad’s Ortofon transformer in the back of the shop and returned it, saying they kept it because they didn’t think I would want it and it wasn’t necessary for this turntable. How could you assume a customer didn’t want a valuable part that they owned and brought in? This component is not just monetarily valuable but also special, belonging to my dad, so of course I would want it. And this was all happening the day before my dad’s memorial. In the end I came home with a working Thorens which we were able to play at his memorial, but the stress and pain cannot be described. This was hands down the worst and most distressing customer experience I’ve ever been through. Please do not blame your customers, do not assume they are stupid, and do not keep their possessions without asking. That is just insane. You never know the story behind the audio equipment you are working on and what it means to them. If you make a mistake, work to make things right and treat your customers with kindness and respect. Their immaturity and reluctance to take ownership and responsibility for multiple mistakes and poor service was astonishing for a business. I’ve never experienced anything like it, especially after paying so much money. I’m confused by all the high reviews. Maybe I don’t fit the stereotypical clientele, but my experience was a nightmare. I received poor service, was blamed, and was treated incredibly rudely by the employees.
Just had Mike redo my Gas Thalia Preamp, sounds fantastic having been restored. The guys at that shop treated me like a king. The thalia is a 70's vintage piece, and Mike puts himself into his work and generates an awesome customer experience. I also obtained a piece of used gear in the form of a GAS(Great American Sound, Jim Borgiono, google) Son of Ampzilla power amp which was restored. This store harkens back to the old days of vintage Austin, you should check it out for a genuine blessing! Repair/Vintage sales, here's your store go check it out. Thanks Mike.
Not the sexiest showroom, but, Mike was very helpful with the selection of speakers replacing my current set. He recommended a system that I'd never heard of. Researching the system, I found they were highly rated for construction, performance and found him cheaper vs new. He included new cables to run to my receiver. He also warrantied the system in case of failure. The system he had in shop was smaller, and sounded way better than my ELAC floor standing system. I really appreciate 're-homing' existing equipment vs. buying something new, and supporting a local shop that also does servicing (which is probably more important). I will be going back as my first stop for future purchases. They are less convenient than just ordering off Amazon, but I found it really helped to talk with someone in person, who has a lot of experience.
Mike and the gang were great. Shop is as vintage as the wonderful stereo equipment they sell and service. They gave my Dual 1219 a once-over and paired it up with a sweet Altec 714. Might need to redecorate the casa to make room for some old school floor speakers!
This place rocks! Picked up some great new gear to overhaul my analog setup - the guys who work here were all hands on deck with helping me walk out of there with everything well set up and making sure I knew exactly what I was doing with these vintage components once I got them home. On top of the vintage gear they also had the REGA Planar 2 turntable in stock which was the perfect table upgrade to go with this setup. This place is definitely my new go-to for additions to my hi-fi system. Will be back soon to upgrade my cartridge! Equipment: BOSE 901 series V speakers & stands BOSE EQ for speakers MARANTZ model sixteen power amp H/K Citation Eleven pre amp REGA Planar 2 turntable
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