Gentle reader,
Being a lifelong lover of music, also having I built my first stereo equipment in 1976, I have enjoyed the pursuit of better sound. Thus, I like countless others, began an epic journey of buying and trying many different components. I made a slow-motion time-lapse of the progress of the HiFi man-cave in my last post:
I have joined a number of FaceBook groups dedicated to stereo equipment and LP record collecting . Some times, members would post photos of the local vintage stereo and HiFi store and I would warmly remember one I frequented in Falls Church, Virginia back when we lived in Fairfax County. That was 16+ years ago.
Just for curiosity's sake, I Googled: Vintage Stereo equipment, D.C. area. And to my delight this came up:
DISCLAIMER: I
do not work for HiFi Heaven nor am I affiliated with it in any way.
When we visited it for the first time, I asked if I could take pictures
and Brett said, "Please, take all you want."
To add something memorable to this blog post in addition to the link to their web site, I blatantly borrowed their logo for this post. Since this post is ABOUT the store, I don't think the owner, Brett, would mind. While Brett is an extremely talented diagnostician and repairman of all things audio, the store also has LOTS of amazing vintage equipment for sale!
The address for the current location was different than I remember as was the name. Once again, Google showed me exactly where it is. I decided to visit it with my wife and do some other things as well in our old stomping grounds. It was a very fun Saturday.
Google's Street View image of the building made it easy to spot as we approached. Once there, I realized it was very close to the previous location that I remembered. More room in this place, but as you are about to see, not enough room!
When you walk up the steps and into the building, there is a door to your left (this shelf is in that room) and a smaller room through the door on the right. There may be a third room for auditioning potential purchases because we heard music from behind a third door. As we could see and hear people in the main room, we started in the door on the right. ("Drool towel" above.)
Since no one could ever claim to have seen/heard every piece of music reproducing equipment, I immediately realized I was seeing a lot of unknown brands and equipment. See those McIntosh beauties? Some six-sided AR speakers I'd never seen are there and more traditional ARs too.
Yes, those ARE Quad speakers back there! A better picture is further below. Turntables? They have MANY at various price points. Everything for sale has been completely gone through and is ready to rock your man cave or listening room. Dream fulfillment awaits at HiFi Heaven!
Tube equipment? You betcha! Don't recognize many of the speakers they have.
Reel-to-reel deck? Just name the size you want. Not shown in these photos, but in this room is a huge 1970's receiver so big and heavy it has rack-mount type handles on it.
Yes, even some vintage electric guitar and bass guitar amps too. Look a Realistic Audio Power Meter, # APM-200, I think.
On to the main room, the back portion of which is where Brett works his electrical magic breathing life back into sometimes ancient equipment. Their website only scratches the surface of the sheer number of electronic goodies waiting for you to take home!
As you can clearly see, there is a lack of space. So, please visit and pick out what you just can't live without, or that elusive item that you always sought for your audio nirvana. They just might have it!
Stack-of-amps, anyone? Pick your preference.
How about an enormous STUDER reel-to-reel deck?
How does 500 watts-per-channel grab you? I really like that Philips amp, too.
Great products abound! Please visit and give them a new home.
Audio eye-candy! Had we not other plans that day, I could have gladly spent hours there.
I saw almost every significant preamp and power amp that I have owned, or derivatives of such as the ADCOM shown. I had the GFA-585. How about that dual-mono tube power amp?
Again, plenty of ready-to-spin turntables abound.
Check out that McIntosh 2100. And that Carver unit, too.
Been looking for classic Dynaco equipment? Feast your eyes. Many to choose from!
If you are simply looking for a real tube radio from yesteryear, yep, they have them.
Check out this phono preamplifier! Dynaco Stereo 400 with meters is behind!
Did I say Dynaco? Keep looking at the choices!
First time I've seen a 416 in the flesh. Er, metal. My wife saw a towel and said, "Look, Honey they even have drool towels for customers to use." I smiled because she knows me well. Very mouth-watering electronic goodies everywhere to be seen and heard.
I don't know what these two turntables are, but I like them!
That's it for the photos I took, yesterday. They are open Tuesday to Saturday with getting time to visit with Brett and pick his brain being easier during the week. Open Noon to 7:00 PM Tuesday to Friday and Noon to 5:00PM on Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Have a broken piece of equipment? Go to their web site (link at the top of the article) and click their link to send a repair estimate request. Brett gets back to you quickly.
In fact take a look at their ENTIRE web site. Then plan your trip to see and hear your dream equipment at HiFi Heaven!
Thanks for looking,
Scott
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