13 replies to this topic

[LHC]

Given the recent store closures it may be useful to do a stocktake of Hi Fi and/or AV stores still operating in Adelaide. By that I mean stores/outlets that are at least above JB and HN. (No order implied)

• VAF Research: North Terrace, Kent Town [SNA sponsor] http://www.vaf.com.au/
  
• Challenge hi fi: 88 Prospect Road, Prospect. http://www.challengehifi.com.au/
  
• Pro AV Solutions: 41 Magill Road, Stepney. [formerly AV Central] http://www.proavsolutions.com.au/
  
• Blackwood Sound: 4 Coromandel Parade, Blackwood. http://www.blackwoodsound.com.au/
  
• Denis White A2V: 277 Unley Road, Malvern. http://www.deniswhitea2v.com.au/
  
• Vision Living: 237 Greenhill Road, Dulwich. [formerly Sound and Vision Studio] http://www.visionliving.com.au/
  
• BSS Light Audio Visual: 334 Port Road Hindmarsh. http://www.bsslightandsound.com.au/
  
• Premier AV: http://www.premierav.com.au/index.html
  
• Jim Tate Stereo: 323 Goodwood Road Kings Park. http://www.jimtatestereo.com.au/
  
• Magenta Audio: Marianna Street Echunga [Distributor; SNA sponsor] http://www.magentaaudio.com.au/
  
• Adelaide Speakers - Ascension: 61 Wilton Avenue Somerton Park. [aka Edward] http://www.adelaidespeakers.com/

Some other partial outlets (?)

• Spartan Electrical: 631 Lower North East Road Campbelltown. http://www.spartanel...isual/audio.php (they sell Focal speakers!?)
  
• Bach's Electronics: 410 Grand Junction Road Mansfield Park (I haven't been there for many years, but I recalled they may have some NAD, B&W and others?)
  
• AV Studio 88 in Chinatown ?? (not sure about the name or their status)

Others like Sony Central, Bose shop and Bang & Olufsen may be a far stretch for this list.

Extent of my knowledge and I'm sure the list is not complete. Please help to fill it or update. If the Mods think this is a useful resource for members and visitors, how about a sticky?

Edited by LHC, 09 August 2012 - 08:58 PM.

[DRC]

A couple of years back I was killing time in Victor Harbour, There was a reasonably good shop there, but can't remember the name. They had Jamo R907 or R909's on the floor, which surprised me. Are they still around?

[Tony M]

The AV88 store in Chinatown is still there - it's a room at the back of a Chinese grocery in Field Street. They are the local Audiospace dealer.

One of the best sounds I've ever heard was a pair of Sonus Faber Grand Pianos with an Audiospace valve amp at their previous store in Gouger street about 15 to 20 years ago. That lead to a briefish sojourn with a pair of Electa Amator 2's from Challenge Hifi. But I was running them with ME amplification and I suspect it was an amp/speaker mismatch that resulted in eventual disenchantment and sale of the SF's.

I popped in there a few weeks ago to check out the Audiospace pre-amps and was quite impressed with the sound of their amps with their version of the Ls3/5a's. The pre seemed rather exxy though and has been put on the back-burner for now.

The store is obviously a less than ideal retail hifi outlet, but I recall they were very obliging re a home trial of an Alchemist CD player back in the day. Certainly worth investigating if any of the Audiospace range looks like meeting a need.

Edited by Tony M, 09 August 2012 - 08:46 PM.

[RockandorRoll]

should also add that Magenta are a SNA sponsor

I went there when they had the storefront in the Hills. Fantastic service, and a great lineup of products. Not sure what they do with demos now, but they had a really good room setup

Will buy from them again


on a side note, how the hell does Jim Tate stay in business, or are there a shitload of people in Adelaide with nothing but Linn setups

[Tony M]

Yeah, I've only spoken to Magenta over the phone - the Stirling store closed before I got there. But the bloke I spoke to sounded very helpful and I expect they would be good to deal with.

Jim Tate does sell other stuff than Linn - I bought my Rega TT there.

[rantan]

should also add that Magenta are a SNA sponsor

I went there when they had the storefront in the Hills. Fantastic service, and a great lineup of products. Not sure what they do with demos now, but they had a really good room setup

Will buy from them again


on a side note, how the hell does Jim Tate stay in business, or are there a shitload of people in Adelaide with nothing but Linn setups

Jim makes a living preaching [ and selling ] to the converted. Once he has the captive audience he just re-sells them the newest gear after a few years. He has been preaching the same sermon for about 25 years or more to the same compliant fools.

If you want to have some fun, go into jim's little kingdom and mention that you have just bought something from Brand A and something else from Brand B and you want some Linn speakers to go with it all.

You will then observe the Zeitgeist of dis-approval and incredulity.

Funniest thing you will ever see.

[frankn]

I found Jim Tate to be helpful fixing a non-Linn tt for me. Never purchased anything from there.
I found Mike(Magenta) to be very fixed in viewpoint and lots of waffle. Probably should give him a 2nd go if I need something in the future

[rantan]

Mike used to work for Jim for about 15 years.

The difference is that Mike has figured out that people have different needs and that one brand is not the only solution in every case.

[ryzaa]

Last time I had a lunch break while working in Victor [2 months ago?], I popped down to see the store that was there, shop front was closed, saw signs about them clearing out gear from a shop around the corner, but the place was closed.

Not sure whats happened there as 6 months ago they were still open for business

[hammerharry]

I believe a new store opening soon in Adelaide, not sure of location, selling Naim Audio in their line up of brands.

[Rhythm Willie]

Rantan, that's hilarious.

I had some friends who joined the movement. I think they really regretted following the edict that converted them from Naim amps to the "Holy Grails" new amps back in the 80's? - all ended up back with Naim's eventually, but cost them quite a bit.

Did any one read Rod Crawford's article in Aus HiFi many years ago about his experiences as the speaker designer in Scotland and all the compromises he had to make there from having to use cheapish drivers etc? I still have a copy somewhere.

My memories of Jim are of the same entertaining sermons once he started his own business, but I reckon I bought a Dunlop Systemdek TT off him when he worked at Blackwood Sound and that kept me going (with a Garrot Bros modified Supex) quite happily for many years without donating too much collection plate money. I actually quite liked talking to him.

[gray]

There is a new store that has opened around 2 weeks ago - Atmosphere Audio - on the corner of Greenhill and Portrush Roads. I dropped in there today to check it out.
A guy named Steve runs it. He was very friendly and helpful.
Just two good sized rooms and a surprising selection of gear, From portable radios to HT systems with quite a few stereo items as well.
Spendor, Klippisch, Energy and Monitor Audio speakers.
Naim, Cyrus, Rotel, Yamaha, Cambridge Audio, Rega components, amongst others.
I wish him all the best what with the current state of bricks and mortar hifi retail.

gray

[rantan]

Thanks for that one Gray.

I will definitely put it on my visiting list. it's high time there was a MA dealer in Adelaide too

[3G_]

Magenta gear is available at Wolfies in Stirling. Nice little store but terrible location being so close to me $$$$