Sad Day in San Diego

couldn't agree more, posted on July 1, 2016 at 21:07:44
Green Lantern Audiophile Posts: 16952 Location: San Diego, Ca Joined: November 12, 2002 Contributor Since: June 17, 2003	#1 in my book, the best staff, never pushy, always happy to see you. Didn't matter if you walked in the door wearing jeans and a T-shirt or a tuxedo, you were given 5 star treatment.

Good Store but wasn't the same...., posted on July 2, 2016 at 08:45:56

Cougar
Audiophile

Posts: 4593
Location: SoCal
Joined: June 25, 2001

after Dan Muzquiz and his Brother Rich left. Dan and Rich were great to work with and I continued to work with after he left Stereo Design. Dan was the man for Linn LP12 setups.

He now has his own place called Black Bird Audio. I have not bought NEW gear in a long time but if I were too, Dan's place would be the first I would go to.

Now we are only left with Sound Company and Stereo Unlimited. Which are a step down in service.

RE: Good Store but wasn't the same...., posted on July 2, 2016 at 11:54:27

groovy.guru
Audiophile

Posts: 85
Location: Poway, CA
Joined: September 16, 2004

I stopped by this morning. Their landlord just raised the rent again. They are open at their current location for another week. Today is not the last day. Also, they will move everything to a warehouse and still be available by phone for sales and service. It sounds like they will be an ongoing business operation for another year or so. I will miss them. Their last location was fantastic with all of the different listening rooms and great gear.

RE: Sad Day in San Diego, posted on July 2, 2016 at 18:26:52
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15524 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Thanks! for sharing. The hope is that they will continue to exist.

RE: Good Store but wasn't the same...., posted on July 3, 2016 at 02:16:20
c1ferrari Audiophile Posts: 640 Location: Southern California Joined: March 16, 2001	I called the store, Saturday, and was left with the impression Stereo Design would have an internet presence. Perhaps, I am laboring under a misapprehension. Vbr, Sam

Weren't sad days in sunny San Diego..., posted on July 3, 2016 at 04:34:43
genungo	... outlawed many years ago? This is newsworthy stuff.

RE: Sad Day in San Diego, posted on July 3, 2016 at 17:42:41
MaxwellP Audiophile Posts: 1623 Location: New York Joined: September 19, 2007	Visited there once and bought a bunch of records and had them shipped back home to the east coast. Still enjoy them! Nice guys and a tasteful shop!

Damn, posted on July 3, 2016 at 22:48:25
Stale Audiophile Posts: 3263 Location: So. California Joined: August 3, 2001	Since recently moved to SD, I had no chance to visit. Now it seems I won't have chance at all. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite insane."

RE: Sad Day in San Diego, posted on July 4, 2016 at 04:15:42

Mercman
Audiophile

Posts: 6581
Location: So. CA
Joined: October 20, 2002

I first met Steve in 1981. At that time, he and another fellow opened a store on El Cajon Blvd. The store did well and moved to Sports Arena Blvd. Steve decided to do his own thing an opened a small store on Clairemont Mesa Blvd. I loved visiting that store and seeing the latest stuff. Steve was patient and never pushy. The store expanded as time went on. But Steve never changed.

Eventually, Stereo Design moved across the street. I remember purchasing my first Wilson Watt Puppies at this location. Things went well, and Steve moved down the street to the present location. Home theatre was the rage and Steve adapted with custom installations.

When the home theatre fad faded, Stereo Design concentrated on high end for the audio enthusiast.

I feel the Internet took its toll on the business. People wanted deals and were unwilling to shoulder the costs of demoing all this equipment.

I will miss Stereo Design.

RE: Sad Day in San Diego, posted on July 4, 2016 at 08:15:01
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15524 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Any other Audio shops, of note, in SD?

RE: Sad Day in San Diego, posted on July 4, 2016 at 08:15:51
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15524 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Other noteworthy Audio shops in the greater SD area?

Stereo Design was usually accommodating to visitors..., posted on July 4, 2016 at 09:35:09
Mr. Dick Hertz	...whether or not they purchased anything. But I learned many years ago not to bother the employees of other shops unless a purchase was to be made. I learned not to have the temerity to ask for a demonstration. It was nice when some music was already playing, but never ask to have a system cranked up for a listen. It wasn't always so.

Important update -, posted on July 4, 2016 at 11:36:58

M3 lover
Audiophile

Posts: 6604
Location: SW Mich
Joined: May 29, 2005
Contributor
Since: July 4, 2007

Per Stereo Design's web site:

"After 33 and 1/3 years, Stereo Design will be CLOSING our retail store location.
That means that from now until Saturday, July 9th, all of our remaining demonstration
stereo equipment will be available for purchase. Be sure to visit our store next week
to take advantage of this opportunity! We will be here Wed-Fri 11am-7pm and Sat 10am-5pm.
Thank you for all of your business during the last three decades!!!"

So they remain in business though this Saturday. And if the retail store location is closing does that suggest continued business as a consulting service, E-business, home audition service? I don't know.

Regarding their history, I believe Steve Nielsen was one of five original owners of Stereo Unlimited. He then partnered with Ed Wong to open Stereo Design on El Cajon Blvd in 1983. Following a successful beginning, Steve continued on his own, moving to a succession of locations on Clairemont Mesa Blvd. An unreasonable rent increase forced the move from the last location with multiple demo rooms to the adjacent building, a much smaller facility where they currently reside. At least until the end of this week.

For those asking about other San Diego area specialty audio stores, here is at least a partial list:
Stereo Unlimited - With the apparent demise of Brier's, now the oldest high end store in town. Multiple brands plus a full room with LPs, new and used, located on Sports Arena.
Alma Audio - Smaller store with select high end brands, located in La Jolla.
Blackbird Audio - Residential store operated by Dan, well-known former staff at Stereo Design, located in Santee.
Audio Revelation - High end store operated by Jay, specializing in vinyl systems, located in Carlsbad.
DSS - High end store located in Carlsbad.
Apologies to all I missed.

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho

RE: Important update -, posted on July 4, 2016 at 13:17:59
DrChaos Audiophile Posts: 2063 Location: San Diego Joined: July 13, 2009	ugh that's terrible. They were my dealer, (ahem), and I was thinking of eventually trying maggie 3.7i's...

Important, posted on July 4, 2016 at 19:32:35
hifitommy Audiophile Posts: 15388 Location: canyon country califiornia, orig from buffalo ny Joined: June 9, 2000	hi Tim, it's ALWAYS bad news when an audio dealer closes down. i hope they somehow spring up again. ...regards...tr

RE: Stereo Design was usually accommodating to visitors..., posted on July 4, 2016 at 19:40:26

Green Lantern
Audiophile

Posts: 16952
Location: San Diego, Ca
Joined: November 12, 2002
Contributor
Since: June 17, 2003

I bought my Magnepan 1.6s there back in '01. I made an appointment with Steve in 2006 to audition the Magnepan 20.1. I ended up listening to the $200K Wilson Alexandrias, B&W 802s, and lastly at the end of the hall the 20.1s. Each room had at a minimum of $300K of components, cables, etc., pushing them. And this wasn't a 'slow day' either, folks were in and out of the rooms all day. Each time I was escorted into a room, not only was I left alone, I was told to take all the time I needed, just don't 'crank em up too loud' and most importantly: don't play Kenny G (lol!). My time in the rooms were uninterrupted (well there were cameras in the room but so what).

My point is- other than purchasing the 1.6s they didn't know me from Adam, it didn't matter if I was a Surgeon or street cleaner, I always received 5 star treatment.

They were also very honest and upfront regarding the plus or minuses of any particular product as well.

Hate to see them go but I knew it was just a matter of time, a sign OF the times...

acc to their fb page, they're throwing in the towel after '33 1/3 yrs' ; ) nt, posted on July 8, 2016 at 05:30:58
Green Lantern Audiophile Posts: 16952 Location: San Diego, Ca Joined: November 12, 2002 Contributor Since: June 17, 2003

RE: Important update -, posted on July 8, 2016 at 08:02:49
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15524 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	This fact always amazes me- after 33 and 1/3 years why didn't these guys own their retail space? What a waste of time and money (paying rent?)....

RE: Sad Day in San Diego, posted on July 10, 2016 at 14:26:03
pictureguy Audiophile Posts: 22597 Location: SoCal Joined: October 19, 2008	Since Stereo Design has a good following, ANY chance of the EMPLOYEES buying the 'name' and any remaining inventory? They (the employees) should have been looking for a NEW location starting a couple months ago or when they found out their JOBS were going away. Too much is never enough

RE: Sad Day in San Diego, posted on July 20, 2016 at 14:20:39
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15524 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Absolutely!

General Asylum

Sad Day in San Diego

174.65.146.13