Acoustic Sounds— Salina / Kansas / USA //

Quick Take : Gold standard for expertly crafted audio media of the highest quality from start to finish.

“Headquartered in Salina, Kansas, Acoustic Sounds, Inc. is the world leader in audiophile music. Owned by CEO Chad Kassem, who founded the company in 1986, Acoustic Sounds is a global retailer of the largest selection of highest-quality music in a variety of formats. Along with LPs, SACDs, reel-to-reel tape and other forms of high-quality audio recordings, we also sell turntables, cartridges, amplifiers, speakers and accessories - all designed to exceed the expectations of audiophiles. The company owns its own record pressing plant, Quality Record Pressings, and its own vinyl reissue label (Analogue Productions), an original production label (APO Records), its own print shop (Acoustic Sounds Printing), its own recording studio (Blue Heaven Studios), and its own LP mastering business (The Mastering Lab at Blue Heaven Studios).”

Juno Records— London / UK //

Quick Take : Best record store for ordering from Europe with delivery to United States. Fairly priced records with quick affordable international shipping.

“Juno is the world’s largest dance music and equipment store. Based in London, UK, our web site was launched in March 1996, and since then we have built a reputation as the most comprehensive source for new and back catalogue dance music, DJ and studio equipment. We now offer over 500 new releases each week, and have more than 45,000 titles in stock.”

Newbury Comics— New England / USA //

Quick Take : East coast United States record store chain with cool exclusive colored vinyl and deep discount sales.

“Newbury Comics is an independently owned retail company with stores throughout New England and New York. We offer tons of music and exclusive color vinyl.”

Numero Group— Los Angeles / Chicago / USA // London / UK //

Quick Take : Unique, exclusive beautifully pressed and packaged vinyl for obscure bands with detailed background and historical context.

“The Numero Group is an internationally recognized archival record label and rights management firm with offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, and London. Founded in 2003 by Rob Sevier and Ken Shipley, for over two decades Numero has been mining the 20th century for sonic curios, packaging and contextualizing their discoveries for a new generation of listeners. With over 20,000 songs in the catalog, Numero distills forgotten music and iconography from around the globe into LPs, CDs, 45s, tapes, board games, playlists, books, plush toys, and everything between. There is no Numero sound, rather, Numero is an aesthetic. An art project disguised as a business, a powerful collection, distribution, and marketing firm masquerading as an old fashioned record label.”

Plaid Room Records/Colemine Records— Loveland / Ohio / USA //

Quick Take : Fantastic customer service with amazing selection and beautifully produced small artist records on their own label.

“Plaid Room Records is a Cincinnati-based new and used record store in downtown Loveland, OH! Home to the Colemine Records label, we have been operating our record label since 2007 and we opened up Plaid Room Records in February of 2015. We have 50,000+ LPs in our store with a large amount of it being available online as well.”

Polyvinyl— Champaign / Illinois / USA //

Quick Take : Awesome, independent record label with curated collection of innovative, interesting and intense artists.

“Polyvinyl is an independent record label founded in the Midwest in 1996. Today, we are proud that Polyvinyl is still a 100% independently owned and operated company. We’ve grown steadily and organically: our catalog consists of over 400 releases from more than 100 artists. We’re proud of our Midwest roots. Polyvinyl HQ is located in Champaign, Illinois with additional staff in San Francisco, New York, Austin and elsewhere across the country. We still work hard every day to tell the world about bands we love.” – Matt Lunsford, Co-Founder, Polyvinyl

Saddle Creek— Omaha / Nebraska / USA //

Quick Take : Awesome, independent record label with curated collection of innovative, interesting and intense artists.

“Saddle Creek is an independent record label founded in Omaha in 1993 with staff in Omaha, Los Angeles, Asheville, and NYC. We are a 50/50 split profit sharing label with our artists. Saddle Creek would like to acknowledge that our offices rest on the occupied territory of the Omaha, Očeti Šakówiŋ (Sioux), Duwamish and Tongva people who have stewarded this land for generations and continue to. Visit native-land.ca to learn more about the land you’re on.”

Third Man Records— Detroit / Michigan // Nashville / Tennessee / USA // London / UK //

Quick Take : Record label, record pressing & recording, record stores with merch + exclusive vinyl and all things music from the heart + mind of Jack White.

“Third Man is an innovator in the world of vinyl records and a boundary pusher in the world of recorded music, aiming to bringtangibility and spontaneity back into the record business and issue releases that leave no doubt in the minds of listeners that music is indeed sacred.”

Turntable Lab— Brooklyn / New York / USA //

Quick Take :  Nicely curated collection of curated exclusive vinyl, equipment and Turntable Lab branded accessories.

“Turntable Lab was founded in 1999. Fresh out of NYU, Anthony, Pete, and Jasper opened up in a college apartment with a static HTML site + a 56K modem. As the first online store to cater to DJs, the Lab made its name by selling Technics 1200s and Shure M447s at fair prices. Fast-forward over 20 years, Anthony and Pete are still running the company with the help of a great staff of DJs, Producers, and Musicians. With an expanded scope that includes HiFi stereo equipment and all genres of vinyl records,  TTL maintains the discerning approach of a DJ.  We proudly operate out of the Brooklyn Navy Yard.”

Udiscovermusic— on-line //

Quick Take : Free shipping with 30% off sales often and up to a possible 50% off site wide sale around New Year’s.

“Discover EPs, LPs, Box Sets and more from your favorite artists. Albums from across the decades to fill your collection.”

Affordable Hi-Fi— Indianapolis / Indiana / USA //

Quick Take : Focused on vintage turntable sales and service with knowledgeable, friendly, outstanding customer service.

“Affordable Hi-Fi established 2013.”

Audio Solutions— Indianapolis / Indiana / USA //

Quick Take : Knowledgeable, friendly, service featuring new and used high-end hi-fi equipment in an intimate setting.

“Since 1999 , Audio Solutions has been providing customers with a huge selection of HiFi components. Over 20 years of experience , Knowledge and Know how are at your service when you call Audio Solutions. We are experts that are also Audiophile’s looking to deliver the most knowledge and info so you can make the best choice for your Audio or Video purchase. We are a family owned business and we treat all our customers as family! We have the largest selection of HIFI gear in stock for audition in the Mid-West. Audio Solutions has systems that will accommodate any budget and application.”

Magnetic Tape Recorder Inc.— Louisville / Kentucky / USA //

Quick Take : Historic establishment featuring vintage stereo sales and service.

“Magnetic Tape Recorder Inc. was founded in 1956 and has been serving Louisville as the foremost destination for stereo repair for almost 70 years. We have grown to become the largest vintage stereo sale and repair hub in the tri-state area and also offer a wide range of new equipment for sale.”

Retrospekt— Millwaukee / Wisconsin / USA //

Quick Take : Specializing in NOS and refurbished vintage electronics and media.

“Retrospekt is a highly specialized workshop and product design studio in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, committed to exploring, restoring and curating retro technology. 

Since 2008, Retrospekt has pursued vintage electronics and the delight of not-to-be-forgotten technology, breathing new life into cameras, portable cassette players, classic gaming consoles and other retro tech oddities.”

Reverb— online //

Quick Take : all kinds of used music gear and vintage stereo equipment.

“Reverb is the largest online marketplace dedicated to buying and selling new, used, and vintage musical instruments. Since launching in 2013, Reverb has grown into a vibrant community of buyers and sellers all over the world. By focusing on inspiring content, price transparency, musician-focused eCommerce tools, a music-savvy customer service team, and more, Reverb has created an online destination where the global music community can connect over the perfect piece of music gear.”

Stereo Lab— Columbus / Ohio / USA //

Quick Take : Historic establishment featuring vintage stereo sales and service. Amazing selection and friendly, knowledgeable service.

“Today, Stereo Lab is a repair shop and retail outlet for quality, used vintage audio gear. In 1970 Stereo Lab began selling higher end audio gear in central Ohio. In 1996 the Stereo Lab retail stores closed went into business as Stereo Lab Service. 23 year years later in 2019, Stereo Lab service was purchased by Scott Freshour of Columbus Vintage Audio and once again became simply Stereo Lab. Our technicians have over 150 years of experience working on these older pieces. Our senior tech has been working on gear for almost 50 years. You can trust us to get it right.”

Discogs— on-line //

Quick Take : Catalog your music collection and buy/sell albums on-line and in their app.

“Vinyl, CDs, Cassettes and More — The home of your Collection. An expansive record market and extensive music Database. Check music prices. Verify authenticity of albums. View full credits. Discover new music. Worldwide Shipping. Rare & Collectible Albums. Delivered To Your Door.“

Hi-Fi Engine— on-line //

Quick Take : Extensive resource for vintage audio equipment specs, history and documentation.

“The HiFi Engine library has images, specifications and reviews for thousands of audio components, along with owners manuals, service manuals, schematics and product catalogues.”

Vinyl Engine— on-line //

Quick Take : Extensive resource for vintage record player specs, history and documentation.

“The Vinyl Engine has all the information you need to get the best sound from your records. As well as, images, articles and reviews for most modern and vintage record players, we have a friendly forum where visitors can share their knowledge, and a huge archive of owners manuals, service manuals, schematics and brochures.”