Audio High

I found Audio High to be a comfortable space to learn about, explore and procure high end audio equipment from folks who are knowledgable and passionate about their music and gear.

Great customer service and environment for comparing and understanding the best hand-​picked gear. I was able to compare the latest Sennheiser and Audeze headphones with a good selection of music and a good amplifier before making my decision.

Audio High is an outstanding store. Jez (SP?) and Eugene could not have been more helpful or welcoming. They were extremely attentive and provided many options. On top of superb service, the selection is excellent. Easily the best high end audio store in the Bay Area. Highly recommended.

What a fantastic store! Rarely do you walk into a store and feel so comfortable and relaxed. It looks a lot more like a home rather than a store. Their tiered theater with the star ceiling is to die for!
Eugene and Jazz (sp?) were welcoming and gave me the grand tour and got me acquainted with their music player and headphone amps/​DACs. I wasted no time in demo’ing all their cans that interested me (HD800, LCD-​2, LCD-​X). When I was satisfied with what I heard, I thanked then for their time and left. Before I left they kindly invited me back for an event they are hosting on the 22^nd of October. Absolutely zero pressure to buy.
A quality store run by a couple quality guys that know a thing or two about audio. ¹⁰⁄₁₀ would come back again.

Very fine audio resource. Men of their word and they stand by their ideas and products.

I had a very positive experience shopping at Audio High. Jez and Eugene are very knowledgeable and patient explaining about the technology. I was very comfortable spending several hours at the expansive showroom over the course of several visits to demo equipment as they never rushed me or pressured me in any way. I am thrilled with my purchase and will definitely be going back to Audio High in the future, in large part due to my satisfaction with the service I received.

I was looking for some new stereo equipment and popped in since they were minutes from my home. Unfortunately, for me, they were very high end. While the selection was incredible it was beyond my wallet. I hope I can shop there someday!

After buying a house and having a baby this year, i’m trying to be frugal for the coming year. I just bought a nice projector setup, so upon talking with my wife, we agreed on an entry level 2.0 system under 1k, with an option to expand to 5.1 when more funds free up.
After a bunch of looking around, I narrowed it down between the B&W 685’s and the KEF Q300’s, with the possibility of an LS50. These guys are the only KEF dealership in the area, so I called ahead, and they verified they had the Q300’s available for a demo.
The guy at front didn’t smile or make me feel welcome, and told me that selling equipment was just a very tiny percent of what they do. Ok great, I may be in the market in the future for some acoustic work on my theater room.
He took me in the room, and asked me what I was going to be using them for. I explained it would probably be for movies/​music, and I was looking for something neutral like my Sennheiser HD600’s. He made a face of slight disgust at me, but I let that go. I get that they’re not the best headsets money can buy, once again, i’m entry level here.
We talked a bit more, but he left me there to demo the Q300’s. After about 20m, I liked what I heard, but when I went outside and told him that, he looked at me and shrugged. This made me wonder, so I questioned him, and he gave a half-​assed, «no, they’re good speakers.»
I then asked about the price, since I noticed it was $ 150 cheaper online, I asked if he could price match. He quickly said no, and then before I could say anything else, said «buy them.» This took me off guard, and he explained «buy them online.» I shook his hand and left.
I felt like I was being both judged and blown off throughout the process. It didn’t feel like they wanted my money from the moment I walked in. Maybe something about my appearances rubbed them the wrong way? Maybe someone was having a bad day?
Either way, a few clicks away and my speakers are on their way.

Thanks so much for making the trek to Bodega Bay. We enjoyed your company. What a great team! We were blown away by your expertise, teamwork and congeniality. And also your ingenuity at packing the truck. We look forward to many hours of enjoyment with our new Meridian system and look forward to your next visit.

I’ve been a casual aficionado of audio equipment for years and have visited many specialty audio shops in first in Chicago, then in Los Angeles and now the Bay Area. Bar none, Audio High was the best customer experience I’ve ever received. The staff was incredibly knowledgable and willing to spend time with me to find a pair of speakers which would fit my music tastes as well as the particularities of my home (Eichler = open spaces & lots of glass).
As I gradually worked my way through 5 pairs of speakers over two visits Jez, the sales representative, patiently talked with about the differences I was noticing and explained why I might be hearing them. He then did the same with with a few amplifiers and a DAC. All this without a single comment, glance or even gesture rushing me into a sale which I really appreciated. I left happy with my purchase and felt my choice was well informed and the pricing fair.
From the pictures on the wall and the equipment they carry these guys definitely do extremely high end installations. Even though my budget may not have matched their best customers, I felt like one. Would recommend this shop to anyone interested in excellent audio equipment.

Just got off of lunch when I decided to check this place out. I had seen this place online and was piqued by their high-​end headphone setup, particularly, the Audeze LCD3’s and X’s.
I was a bit worried having a random one-​off visit, coming totally unprepared without any of my own music, source or amplification. I was dreading the mockery and bile so prevalent in snooty high end audio, that I would run off frightened and ashamed that I hadn’t dared bring my $ 5k worth of equipment to show my worth.
Of course, that was no such case. I walked into a gorgeous open lobby area. I met with Jez, whose eyes lit up when I mentioned I was there for the Audeze’s. The setup wasn’t ready, but that didn’t stop him! He quickly drummed up a quick solution, and without any pretense, encouraged me to try out as many of the models that I wanted with any of their CDs.
He pulled out a Grails album, pulled me up a badass listening chair, and left me to their devices. I felt at home. Absolutely zero pressure, great service, and a great conversation. The guys here know their stuff. It’s worth noting that they specialize in home theater systems, but they love all their equipment equally. It was very endearing.
I didn’t end up buying anything, and he was none perturbed. He seemed to be happy to be talking to another audio enthusiast and Grails fan. Will definitely come here again and give them my business when my funds allow. Stellar little shop. Highly recommended.

I really like this place.
I went in to get a pair of headphones for the new digital audio player I’d ordered, and was helped to compare a range of headphones in my price range, and allowed as much time as I wanted to listen to them both on my phone and on the audio system set up there for demos.
I eventually got a deal on the demo Shure 1840 headphones that I ended up loving :-). Really, really good place, very knowledgeable staff, and a great place to try out and listen to high-​end audio equipment.

I am a real estate agent and have toured an average of 20 – 25 homes a week for the last 25 years.
I sold a home that was renovated by Audio High and the work was amazing — some of the best work I have ever seen.
I will always recommend Audio High without reservation.

The 2 guys at the front, Eugene & Jez are both kick-​ass!
I have been in the store 3 times over the last couple of months.
Each time I have been treated very well.
No pressure sales tactics. The 3^rd time blew me away. He spent hours with me to audition equipment. Absolutely no hesitation in having me listen to various setups. I told Eugene that I was not sure if I need to upgrade speakers or amplifier first and he gave me some great advice. Basically, patience.
And then he offered me an audition on a pair of $ 100,000 speakers fully knowing that I was not interested in spending even a tenth of it. He then offered an audition on a couple of other setups, to the point of moving equipment around. I have already recommended Audio High to a number of my friends & family.
I was surprised with the service at Audio High.
Compared to a store in the city that sells a ton of high end brands said to me «if we go down the tube route then we are not going back to the solid state route» when I asked for an audition of another setup and that’s after they have over $ 10,000 of my money & my family’s money (referrals) from previous purchases. I thought I was in Nazi Germany, when he said that to me.
Audio High was great!

I’m on the hunt for some audiophile headphones and noticed Audio High carried a few cans in my price range; however, my price range isn’t fully set in stone. If the cans I’ve been researching don’t have the sound I need, I’m fully willing to save up more for the right product.
Upon entrance, I quickly went from a highly excited audiophile ready to explore new sound to… feeling like a peon. One of the cans I’ve been reading up on was hooked up in the display room (HD650), the rest, were just under the quality threshold (AKG K702, BD DT880). This is fine and dandy, but I felt as soon as I mentioned a few cheaper options in my lineup, I was marked as a write-​off.
The salesman brought me over to the headphone section, quickly hooked me up with the 650’s, and disappeared. I had a friend with me to talk sound, but was somewhat hoping I could geek out with the Audio High folks as well. The cans were nice, definitely an improved soundstage and tighter sound… but not quite what I’m looking for. I then got kicked in the foot. My friend was getting uncomfortable and felt the staff was staring him down like we didn’t belong in the store. I wasn’t nearly done auditioning and had further questions, but, I’m not going to stay in a place where it is perceived I am not wanted. Maybe this store isn’t used to young professionals in their 30’s? Thankfully the other salesman asked what I thought of the speakers as I was exiting the store. He opened up a bit after I gave my opinion (proof that I knew what i was talking about) and offered that I come back after checking out some of the lower end headphones on my list. If/​when I do come back, I will definitely be talking to him.
Overall, this showroom has a lot of nice equipment, I just wish I didn’t feel judged in the process.

Once again, we’re only giving Michael and Audio High a 5-​star rating because we can’t give it anything higher!
We’ve used Audio High several times now –we’re not ‘high end’ budget at all — and each time our experience is the same… most recently, what a nice experience it was to have their service tech guy David S here for two days to install our Sonos and replace our center speaker… at least that’s what he was scheduled to do but of course as you know, the moment you start replacing and installing things… unexpected complications and additional problems pop-​up. David not only took care of the scheduled items, but professionally and pleasantly took care of the other 90% of the job=the Unscheduled items. And the communication with Michael to arrange the install and replacement was equally professional and pleasant.
Thanks for a job well done!

Bought a pair of Paradigms here some months and I love them. As a big music geek, but new to hi-​fi Jez was absolutely stellar at explaining everything to me, showing me stuff in my range and providing great answers to further question about equipment in e-​mail follow ups.
Super friendly, super nice, not intimidating at all, even if you’re new to high end sound.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Cheers :)

Man — the two fellas at the front are awesome! I have to thank them publicly in allowing me to spend numerous hours in bringing in my equipment to test with theirs as well as for letting me spend hours with their equipment in the listening room!
I was kind of intimidated by the website because of all the celebs and what not that they have pieced together equipment for. I’m definitely not a big baller and you’d never see me my PORTABLE rig on their website, but I DO find value in spending my well earned money for audio equipment (from time to time) in my endeavors to find the ultimate sound signatures and components that mesh best with my ears.
The gentleman helping me out were VERY thorough in explaining how things work, what different components do, and even followed up on emails with things I didn’t quite understand during our conversations at the shop.
I’m normally an avid internet shopper but I definitely reward GREAT customer service as I see appropriate and the folks at Audio High offer first class customer service alongside their insane collection of AMPs/​DACs/​Speakers, & Headphones.
I can’t recommend this shop enough for the up and coming audiophile or just lovers of music and sound. Thanks again!

WOW!
What a great place to buy audio equipment. I needed to purchase some audio equipment for a business and they were very accomodating. Even though I did not need the highest quality equipment they listened to all my needs, let me listen to some of their speakers.
To get a better idea of what was needed, Jez even came into my store. Hm… would someone at fry’s do that for me? I don’t think so.
Trust me, this place is the real deal. They listen, consistantly follow up, and are honest.
Thanks Jez and thank you Audio High for helping me put everything together!

Eugene rocks!
We are trying to get ourselves a really great home theater system, and stumbled across this place.
We had already visited multiple hi-​fi audio stores, and this one is by far the best.
Eugene helped us out through our entire process. We probably went there about 3 to 4 times, spending more than an hour each time.
He explained all the different types of speaker options, hooked them up in whatever configuration we needed, and let us audition them at leisure.
He took a lot of time to demo everything, and in almost all cases, we ran over their official closing time. But there was no pressure whatsoever. He also gave us a demo of the super expensive Meridian speakers, to set reference points. (YES, those were amazing!)
We have decided on buying the Dali speakers, and will buy them from Audio High. Now I am waiting for the economy to get better, so that I can afford these ;)