joey's hifi shop

Welcome to Joey’s HiFi Shop’s blog. I am super excited to start this blog and have you all join in on the journey of listening to music on HiFi’s.

I am going to start this blog off by answering a couple questions I figure most people have:

Why buy a HiFi?

This question might seem silly, but in a day and age when we have streaming music on our phones, blue tooth speakers, wireless headphones, sound bars and all kinds of other gadgets, does hifi really matter anymore?

Of course my answer is Yes! But why? Well a HiFi isn’t something someone needs, that’s for sure, it is definitely a WANT and not a NEED! No one NEEDS a HiFi, expect for me 😛

So what is a HiFi to me? It is a turntable, amp and speakers and possibly some kinda streaming device (think sound from your TV or from your phone). It is something that has a knob for the volume, is simple to setup, has two speakers (left and right) and my hope is hand made by the same people who design them. For Joey’s HiFi Shop, a shining example of that is Rega Research, a company over 50 years old that designs and produces their products in England. Check out this vide tour from a while back to get an idea:

So again, why buy a HiFi? For me it is about wanting a system that plays back music in a way that keeps you pulling record after record, that is unique and made in a unique way that is “music centered.” My idea systems are ones that are designed by one company, or a set of companies that knowingly compliment each other. Musical playback intentionality is critical, as is good product design and customer support for said products.

So you do not NEED to buy a HiFi, but wanting one, one that keeps you listening to song after song, looking through album covers, hanging out with friends or spending some alone time to decompress… Wanting a system like that and having one is in my opinion MAGICAL!

How much should I spend?

Obviously there is no one answer on this questions. For me, it just depends on how into HiFi you are and how much disposable income you have. Personally, as a HiFi shop owner, I want people to spend what they are comfortable spending. I prefer my customers not stretch themselves out on a HiFi purchase, usually pay with money they already have, rather than put themselves into debt. Most customers who do this are then listening to their systems without the stress of worrying about how they will pay that CC. That said, everyone has their own method. This is just a recommendation after years in the business and seeing how much money can often weigh in on your enjoyment of HiFi.

At Joey’s HiFi Shop, we can typically put together a system at any price point Sometimes we will even have you buy stuff we do not sell to get you started. And sometimes that is enough for a customer and they stop there. Other times people come back and want to upgrade. In 2024 this is typically customers who want a whole system (Turntable, Amp and Speakers) for around $500-$1000. The reason it is tough for us to make that price point with what we sell is that it is all designed and made in a space where people are paid living wages. Above this price point, we can typically get you started working with a source first approach, having you get a good turntable to start and some kinda amp and speakers to get you going spending $1,000 to $2,000 dollars. Above $2,000 dollars you can get fully design and made in Europe (British to be exact) HiFi’s. So in summary (for those who like bullet points):

Where to buy?

Well it might seem I would obviously say Joey’s HiFi Shop, however I have a different take than most. Most of the equipment I sell has brick and mortar stores all over the U.S. I highly recommend purchasing from your local retailer as they are the going to be able offer you the best service.

However if you are in an area that does not have a retailer near by, you are always welcome to drop me a line at joeyshifishop@gmail.com for service and product sales.

At Joey’s HiFi Shop, I strive to provide an amazing customer experience. I do this by having appointments at my location and also by hosting pop ups in downtown Bryan, TX. For those who do not know where Bryan, TX is, it is about 1.5 to 3 hours from Houston, Austin, DFW and San Anotnio, see the map:

We are located in historic downtown Bryan, TX where there is plenty to do (Destination Bryan) and see and of course you can always go and visit the university if so inclined (I went to UT their Rivial, but have grown fond of A&M at the same time).

The bottom line is to purchase from where you feel comfortable. It is your money and your time. I personally love building relationships, I am not looking for a quick sale, I am looking for customers who want a HiFi, have thought about how much they want to spend and know why they are buying from me and feel confident about it.