Results 1 to 21 of 21
Thread: Going to San Fran end of August
-
August 6, 2015, 08:34 PM #1
Going to San Fran end of August
Any good, friendly audio stores I should check out while in the area? Be it gear or new/used vinyl? Interested in good eats as well!
Open to recommendations!
Allen
-
August 6, 2015, 09:34 PM #2
Re: Going to San Fran end of August
frisco has an excellent vinyl scene, maybe Larry can chime in. food? SF is one of the great food cities in the US.
Al, you'll have fun regardless.
-
August 6, 2015, 10:11 PM #3
- Join Date
- May 2013
- Posts
- 623
Re: Going to San Fran end of August
I've been to Audio Vision SF Hi Fi Home Theater San Francisco High End Electronics AV Projectors Highend Speaker Systems Loudspeaker System, pretty good store! Audio High, in Mountain View, is also a cool spot, and you might be able to listen to the big Estelons there!
As for records, both Amoeba stores are mandatory. I dare you come out of either one empty handed
Food-wise, I agree with Rob's comment! There's one place I go every single time I'm in SF: Burma Superstar. If you like asian food at all, you have to check them out. They've been growing all over the Bay Area, so you should be able to find one easily. But there still might be a wait!
-
August 6, 2015, 10:26 PM #4
- Join Date
- Apr 2013
- Posts
- 966
Going to San Fran end of August
Allen,
Not sure if it is still open and that you may have time to visit, but the analog room in san jose is a goldmine for vinyl.
http://www.metroactive.com/features/the-analog-room-vinyl-records-brian-hartsell2.html
-
August 6, 2015, 10:49 PM #5
- Join Date
- Feb 2015
- Posts
- 100
Re: Going to San Fran end of August
Hey Allen, you a carnivore? You have to eat at Epic Roast House on the Embarcadero (right beside the giant bow and arrow installation). The Ribeye is a must, to me easily rivaling the best of the best of Big Apple steakhouses. Get some truffle butter on the side if you're REALLY feeling crazy. Good selection of New World wines too. You'll also be in Dunganess crab ground zero so if you like your asian style crustaceans do check out the little family restaurants PPK or Than Lhong which are located on either side of Golden Gate Park. For west coast chilled seafood, Swan's long line is worth it. Then if you're into fine dining that's unpretentious I recommend Gary Danko's a block from Ghirardelli square. You may have to reserve way ahead of time for this but you can get lucky with late seatings.
PureSound PH
Philippine Distributor for:
Ambience Speaker Systems, CH Precision, Critical Mass Systems, EERA, KR Audio, Lamm Industries, Light Harmonic, Master-Built, TechDAS, Townshend, Valvet, Von Schweikert Audio
-
August 7, 2015, 10:12 AM #6
Re: Going to San Fran end of August
Tom
Ultimate Audio
SoundLab Dealer
Country System:
SoundLab Ultimate-1PX Electrostatic Speakers
Pass Labs XP-32 pre, Pass Labs XA60.8 Amps
Pass Lab XP-27 phono stage
SME 20/2 table with SME V arm, Stillpoints LPI
Minus-K BM-8 passive vibration control under tt
Dynavector XV-1s, Koeitsu Rosewood Signature cartridges, Klaudio RCM
Roon Nucleus+ powered by Keces P-8 LPS
Lumin X-1 Network Music Player
3 dedicated AC lines
Shunyata Omega PC to Everest for all source devices
Typhon for each amp powered by 2 dedicated circuits
Various Shunyata Alpha & Sigma PC's throughout.
Stillpoints under everything.
City System:
Ayre KX-R Twenty Preamp
Pass Labs X-260.8 Monoblocks
Esoteric K-03 SACD Player
Roon Nucleus+powered by UpTone Audio JS-2 LPS
Lumin X-1 Network Music Player
Sound Lab Ultimate-545PX Speakers
Shunyata Hydra 8, Typhon QR
Various Shunyata Alpha & Sigma PC's throughout
Stillpoints under everything. Multiple room acoustic panels.
-
August 7, 2015, 12:11 PM #7
-
August 7, 2015, 02:13 PM #8
Re: Going to San Fran end of August
Excellent suggestion!
I'd like to add Tone of Music, in SF, as another audio store to visit (I've yet to visit but will do that myself very soon). If you're a McIntosh fan, Century Stereo, in San Jose, has quite an impressive collection. Music Lovers, in SF or Berkeley, is also another place worth visiting, especially the Berkeley one, where you can listen big Wilsons and Sonus Fabers.
As for Burma Superstar, as popular as it is, I do not find it to be very authentic. Plus the wait is ridiculous. I prefer Mandalay SF as a better Burmese food destination in SF (no affiliation whatsoever).
-
August 7, 2015, 07:54 PM #9
-
August 7, 2015, 07:59 PM #10
Re: Going to San Fran end of August
Great suggestions, Alexandre! I see Audio Vision has Audio Physic, Nola, and Dynaudio, 3 brands I really like. I sold off my pair of Virgo IIs many years ago and really miss them. This will definitely be one place I will visit!
I missed going to Audio High last year. I was close to Mountain View visiting my wife's cousin. If I can get away for the day, I'd like to go down there and listen. Last year they had the big Estelons!
Allen
-
August 7, 2015, 08:02 PM #11
-
August 7, 2015, 08:09 PM #12
-
August 7, 2015, 09:07 PM #13
Re: Going to San Fran end of August
- Elite Audio Systems
www.eliteaudiosf.comCached
Elite Audio Systems, Inc, 893A Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA 94107 (415) 795-1149 info@eliteaudiosf.com
Coffee bar in front, large store behind-I suggest you make an appointment.
Tom
Ultimate Audio
SoundLab Dealer
Country System:
SoundLab Ultimate-1PX Electrostatic Speakers
Pass Labs XP-32 pre, Pass Labs XA60.8 Amps
Pass Lab XP-27 phono stage
SME 20/2 table with SME V arm, Stillpoints LPI
Minus-K BM-8 passive vibration control under tt
Dynavector XV-1s, Koeitsu Rosewood Signature cartridges, Klaudio RCM
Roon Nucleus+ powered by Keces P-8 LPS
Lumin X-1 Network Music Player
3 dedicated AC lines
Shunyata Omega PC to Everest for all source devices
Typhon for each amp powered by 2 dedicated circuits
Various Shunyata Alpha & Sigma PC's throughout.
Stillpoints under everything.
City System:
Ayre KX-R Twenty Preamp
Pass Labs X-260.8 Monoblocks
Esoteric K-03 SACD Player
Roon Nucleus+powered by UpTone Audio JS-2 LPS
Lumin X-1 Network Music Player
Sound Lab Ultimate-545PX Speakers
Shunyata Hydra 8, Typhon QR
Various Shunyata Alpha & Sigma PC's throughout
Stillpoints under everything. Multiple room acoustic panels.
- Elite Audio Systems
-
August 8, 2015, 01:33 AM #14
- Join Date
- Aug 2014
- Posts
- 685
Re: Going to San Fran end of August
In the Bay Area, I would recommend the two Amoeba stores - especially since they are relatively close to each other - although not that easy to get to without a car. For classical records they are mere shadows of what they were in their heydays. Just down the street in Berkeley is Rasputin's which is a huge store, with quite a bit of vinyl - not too much classical. We have lost a lot of fine smaller stores also.
I haven't been down to San Jose for some time to visit Brian Hartsell. But according to friends, he still has an excellent selection of relatively to very rare used rock, jazz, classical at collector prices, as well as most of the reissues. He also has some very nice analogue gear.
For equipment, Music Lovers, two stores in SF and Berkeley - the Berkeley store is within walking distance of Amoeba's and Rasputin's (1/2 mile flat walk).
My friend and consultant Tim Marutani is available by appointment. He will have only one system set up (currently it is a pair of Magico M Project with Constellation electronics, Aurender server and Pacific Microsonics Model Two.) Well worth hearing what he is doing. Need a car to get to his place in Emeryville, near Berkeley.
LarryAnalog-VPIClassic3-3DArm,Lyra Skala+MiyajimaZeroMono,2xAmpex ATR-102,Otari MX5050B2, Merrill Trident Tape Preamp, Herron VTPH-2A&BottleheadPhonoPre,
Dig Rip-Pyramix,IzotopeRX3Adv,MykerinosCard,PacificMicroso nicsModel2 AD
Dig Play-Lampi Horizon, mch NADAC Roon/HQPlayer,Oppo105
Electronics-DoshiPre,CJ MET1mchPre,Cary2A3monoamps
Speakers-AvantgardeDuosLR,3SolosC,LR,RR
Other-512 Engineering Tim Marutani Symmetrical Power IsoTrans and cables,AudioDiskVinylCleaner,
Music-2.3KR2Rtapes,1.5KCD's,500SACDs,60TBripped files
-
August 8, 2015, 04:55 AM #15
-
August 8, 2015, 05:11 AM #16
-
August 8, 2015, 11:40 PM #17
Going to San Fran end of August
I have been to many of the HiFi and music stores in the Bay area recently and have opinions on them all. First and foremost, these are my opinions from a consumer and have no connection professionally to any of these places. I did not live in the Bay area, but rather travelled two-three hours from Central Cali to visit the shops. Ok, here it goes:
HiFi stores i have visited in the past 4 years include Elite Audio Systems (SF), Audio Vision (SF), Analog Room (SJ) and only seen Audio High (MV) from the road, thus no opinion. In ranking the first three for overall worthiness and desire to visit i would rank them as Analog Room (1), Elite Audio (2) and Audio Vision (3). Now, i am bias because i own Sim Audio gear. Both Audio Vision and the Analog Room sell Sim Audio and Elite do not. Why i still rank Elite above Audio Vision is the customer service aspect. Ill get into into that in a second. Why the Analog Room is number 1. I met Brian H in 2011 while visiting my daughter in Santa Cruz while I lived in Italy. During my visit i visited multiple stores in Seattle and the Bay area. During this visit i purchased Transparent cables from Definitive Audio in Seattle and the Sim Audio 300d Dac from Brian along with vinyl. Brian H is a talker and great to listen to. He knows audio since it is his life. Yes, he will talk up his gear since he is a salesman, but in his roots he is a audiophile in heart and will tell you his true opinion. He has a small store on the corner of Fruitdale which may be easy to miss if not truly looking for it. A house gutted and transformed into a store. In his store he sells primary SimAudio, Pass Labs, Air Tight, Nottingham, SME, Quad, Harbeth, Quadraspire and a few other brands. Check his website out for the complete list. His vinyl collection is impressive with quality and quantity. No its not Amoeba or Rasputin, but he does have a reputable selection. Although, do not expect it to be cheap. I ended buying a majority of my system from the Analog Room. Secondary, i chose Elite Audio even though i only went there once. The owner took the time to display his Burmester audio setup and introduced me to the Devialet for the first time. He has taken much time setting up his showroom in combination to the coffee shop. If i ever chose to open a audio hifi store, it would mimic Elite Audio. Third and definitely last is Audio Vision. I have been to the old and new store in San Francisco. First time, i entered the small cramp store i quickly realized these people knew nothing in setting up a store. Completely disorganized and very cluttered. The owner (forgot his name) takes pride in owning ever piece of Sim Audio gear currently produced. In addition he has Dynaudio, Naim, HRS and other equipment in the shop. I entered the main room and was quickly sent out since they were giving a presentation to a client. Ok, i respect that, but did not need to be rude. By the way, why not have a dedicated room for scheduled presentations and not the main room? I stood a hour waiting to get questions answered and would not give me the time of day. The following visit to the new store, i received a similar service, but they were kind enough to have me listen to the Sim gear with Dynaudio. At the time of the visit he even stated his frustration with people coming to the store to listen and purchasing elsewhere. He seemed to have a chip on his shoulder. I told him i traveled three hours to visit his shop and spent much money on my current system. In conclusion, the store is cramped, overly priced and service is horrible. Would not give the store or arrogant owner another dime. Since i traveled three hours i did purchase 6 HRS sound isolation hockey pucks were a waste of money.
Again, these are my experiences and my opinions of the three hifi stores in the bay area. Other than the Analog room, i spent money buying music at Amoeba both in SF and Berkley along with Rasputin. A quick mention, i did like 1,2,3, Go in Oakland for selective inventory of heavy metal and independent artists on vinyl. Hope this helps.
-
August 10, 2015, 12:59 PM #18
Re: Going to San Fran end of August
From today's SF Gate:
Phrases you'll never hear an S.F. resident say
Tom
Ultimate Audio
SoundLab Dealer
Country System:
SoundLab Ultimate-1PX Electrostatic Speakers
Pass Labs XP-32 pre, Pass Labs XA60.8 Amps
Pass Lab XP-27 phono stage
SME 20/2 table with SME V arm, Stillpoints LPI
Minus-K BM-8 passive vibration control under tt
Dynavector XV-1s, Koeitsu Rosewood Signature cartridges, Klaudio RCM
Roon Nucleus+ powered by Keces P-8 LPS
Lumin X-1 Network Music Player
3 dedicated AC lines
Shunyata Omega PC to Everest for all source devices
Typhon for each amp powered by 2 dedicated circuits
Various Shunyata Alpha & Sigma PC's throughout.
Stillpoints under everything.
City System:
Ayre KX-R Twenty Preamp
Pass Labs X-260.8 Monoblocks
Esoteric K-03 SACD Player
Roon Nucleus+powered by UpTone Audio JS-2 LPS
Lumin X-1 Network Music Player
Sound Lab Ultimate-545PX Speakers
Shunyata Hydra 8, Typhon QR
Various Shunyata Alpha & Sigma PC's throughout
Stillpoints under everything. Multiple room acoustic panels.
-
August 10, 2015, 01:31 PM #19
- Join Date
- Aug 2014
- Posts
- 685
Re: Going to San Fran end of August
Analog-VPIClassic3-3DArm,Lyra Skala+MiyajimaZeroMono,2xAmpex ATR-102,Otari MX5050B2, Merrill Trident Tape Preamp, Herron VTPH-2A&BottleheadPhonoPre,
Dig Rip-Pyramix,IzotopeRX3Adv,MykerinosCard,PacificMicroso nicsModel2 AD
Dig Play-Lampi Horizon, mch NADAC Roon/HQPlayer,Oppo105
Electronics-DoshiPre,CJ MET1mchPre,Cary2A3monoamps
Speakers-AvantgardeDuosLR,3SolosC,LR,RR
Other-512 Engineering Tim Marutani Symmetrical Power IsoTrans and cables,AudioDiskVinylCleaner,
Music-2.3KR2Rtapes,1.5KCD's,500SACDs,60TBripped files
-
August 22, 2015, 12:42 PM #20
Re: Going to San Fran end of August
Harris, thank you for the detailed response. Apologies I missed your post originally. I just came back to this thread looking for the suggestions. Google reviews seem to reflect what you are saying. Want to got to Elite, but your writeup makes the Analig Room very appealing, too. Thank you again for your post, ranking, and suggestions!
Allen
-
August 22, 2015, 12:45 PM #21
AudioShark - The Best High End Audio Discussion forum.
AudioShark forum is a leading forum site for High End Audio Discussion, Stereo System Discussion, Home Theater System Discussion, Best Home Stereo System Discussion, Home Theater Installation Discussion etc.
The AudioShark forum was created for sharing the passion of high-end Audio. We have Audiophiles from all over the world participating and sharing their knowledge. From novice to experts, you will find a friendly environment for discussing about High End Audio, Stereo System, Home Theater System, Home Stereo System, Home Theater Installation, Amplifiers, Speakers, Subwoofers, Integrated System, Acoustic treatments & Digital Room Corrections and many more.
At AudioShark, we also have incorporated an exciting Marketplace where members can peruse terrific buys on used gear, as well as meet dealers and discuss the purchase of new gear.
We are as crazy about this hobby as you are! So come on in and join us! Audioshark.org the Friendliest Audio Forum!
Industry Participation Disclosure : The owner and administrator of Audioshark is the owner of Suncoast Audio LLC in Sarasota Florida. Suncoast Audio has a full brick and mortar presence in Sarasota with several great show rooms with many world class brands. More information can be found at http://www.suncoastaudio.com
Audioshark is a community of like minded individuals. Audioshark welcomes participation from all manufacturers and owners of all brands and products. It is our belief that online forums provide a community of like minded audiophiles and music lovers to encourage the growth of this wonderful hobby.
Sincerely,
The Audioshark.org Team
AudioShark forum is a leading forum site for High End Audio Discussion, Stereo System Discussion, Home Theater System Discussion, Best Home Stereo System Discussion, Home Theater Installation Discussion etc.
The AudioShark forum was created for sharing the passion of high-end Audio. We have Audiophiles from all over the world participating and sharing their knowledge. From novice to experts, you will find a friendly environment for discussing about High End Audio, Stereo System, Home Theater System, Home Stereo System, Home Theater Installation, Amplifiers, Speakers, Subwoofers, Integrated System, Acoustic treatments & Digital Room Corrections and many more.
At AudioShark, we also have incorporated an exciting Marketplace where members can peruse terrific buys on used gear, as well as meet dealers and discuss the purchase of new gear.
We are as crazy about this hobby as you are! So come on in and join us! Audioshark.org the Friendliest Audio Forum!
Industry Participation Disclosure : The owner and administrator of Audioshark is the owner of Suncoast Audio LLC in Sarasota Florida. Suncoast Audio has a full brick and mortar presence in Sarasota with several great show rooms with many world class brands. More information can be found at http://www.suncoastaudio.com
Audioshark is a community of like minded individuals. Audioshark welcomes participation from all manufacturers and owners of all brands and products. It is our belief that online forums provide a community of like minded audiophiles and music lovers to encourage the growth of this wonderful hobby.
Sincerely,
The Audioshark.org Team
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Clarisys Arrives at Puur...