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Audiopile
Category: Shopping Books, Mags, Music and Video Music & DVDs Music & DVDs [Edit]
2016 Commercial DrVancouver, BC V5N 4A9
Neighbourhoods: Grandview-Woodlands, The Drive
(604) 253-7453
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
14 reviews for Audiopile
14 reviews in English
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Review from Maxwell L.
Greater Vancouver Regional District, BC
5/15/2012
Fantastic selection, stellar prices, personable ownership, nice staff, good rewards...I really like these guys.
Great little place with reasonable prices that goes the extra mile for its customers. So...the polar opposite of Vinyl downtown. Chalk another one up for the East side. -
Review from Ramon V.
11/2/2011 5 Check-ins Here
Audiopile is a small store, but don`t let that fool you. Every available space is packed with music. Records, more records on the walls, CDs, new and local content on display, rare items and miscellaneous items in the counter case. They may not always have exactly what I come in for, but it`s excellent for browsing as the selection does change often. This is why I enjoy popping in. A great reason to hit this side of the Drive in tandem with a visit to Prado.
Some features:
- The 99c bargain records at the front. Great for an odd find or two.
- The $2.99 CDs at the front window. I`ve found some decent albums in these bins. They`re not the usual discounted sort.
- Discounted new records, also at the front window.
- Stamp card for frequent purchasers.
- Check the file cabinets and boxes below the records and CDs. There are many more deals to be had.
- Audiopile embraces Record Store Day. Be sure to stop in for that too.Listed in: Yelp's 30-day Challenge
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Review from B T.
Surrey, BC
9/16/2011
Excellent selection of CDs and LPs, especially considering their small size.
Staff are quite friendly and helpful. Would recommend for sure. -
Review from D S.
Vancouver, BC
12/9/2010
Really well organized, clean place but always too loud and the vinyl pricing is the highest you'll find in the city. CDs are way too much and the vinyl is often overvalued & poorly researched. I don't want to feel like the wool is being pulled over my eyes, you know. If it's not a limited edition don't say it is.... Or if a newly remastered version is out on vinyl then pricing on the last edition should reflect that.
If I could hear myself think I might stay longer, feel better about paying the asking price, or have a convo about the stock on hand to see if he's flexible. I buy a lot of vinyl and yet always leave here empty handed, knowing I can find what I'm looking for at RedCat, Neptoon, Zulu (also pricey but well cared for) etc or eBay.
I've left a list of vinyl and cds that I was searching for with Jeff and never heard a word. Other shops filled the list... -
Review from Mercedes G.
Vancouver, BC
11/7/2008 1 photo
Another great music store in Vancouver! One of my favourite past times is to rummage through music and rediscover bands I thought I had forgotten about. After losing my entire CD collection not long enough ago, I regret that I haven't had the heart to purchase Cd's for fear that I will eventually have to live through this tremendous loss again...but purchasing used Cd's helps to alleviate the pain and realize that someone else's trash might just be your treasure. Heck, they could even be MY Cd's...!
The store carries a blissfully organized selection of used, guaranteed Cd's at decent prices as well as a diverse and awesome collection of vinyl records. I don't DJ but I am tempted to go back a generation or two and buy a record player just for the sake of it! The nostalgic vibe of vinyl is heady in Audiopile and it makes a great spot to revel in your love of music. -
Review from Mathieu Y.
Vancouver, BC
4/7/2010
This is my favorite record store! Its a tiny space packed with vinyls, and good music playing (you can request they play something of yours too). The staff are generally pretty honest about the price and taste of what youre about to pick up. Ive seen some girls get ripped on for buying a used CD of Led Zeppelin's "Coda," which is hilarious because 1) They were SELLING it to her and 2) The album is actually by all means not good. For the record, buying a used CD is always a rip off, so Im not willing to venture in to that territory. Besides, this place is not great for finding any sort of CDs in stock, so remember to purchase a turntable before even bothering to step foot in here.
There are two places I check in this store, the New Arrivals, and the discount shelves. Between the two of these places Ive found enough great records to fill up an entire 2 foot shelf! Thats... a lot of vinyl! (I havent counted?) To play backwards, and forwards, and double speed and pretend DJ, even though youll break that flimsy belt drive on the damn turntable. With my $1 copy of Blonde on Blonde, no doubt, from Audiopile.Listed in: RECORD STORE DAY!
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Review from Simon R.
BC
11/27/2008 1 photo
They lack eight track cassettes, but every other type of recording is available at this locally owned music shop, with every genre from classical to classic rock. There are also a ton of rare b-side recordings that you've never heard of, and that mostly weren't originally released because they suck. But prices are very good considering the rarity of some of the finds, and the store is actually very friendly and well organized.
The large man behind the counter is remnicent of the stereotypical comic book shop owner, but his vast and extensive knowledge of music will often find him chatting up hot middle aged women about the epilogue of one hit wonders like Sweet.
If you still have a working needle, or are just looking to decorate your walls with that Rolling Stones album cover by Andy Warhol with the shot of Mick Jagger's crotch and the zipper that actually comes undone, this is your best bet. Especially since the only vinyl left at garage sales are Barry Manilow, Barbara Streisand, and several copies of "Crime of the Century" by Supertramp. -
Review from Kristin H.
Vancouver, BC
4/18/2010
My favourite record store in the city. The staff is unpretentious and friendly (!!!), and they have a surprisingly awesome selection of black metal.
They also have a loyalty stamp card. From my experience, they usually hand them out without you having to ask about them, but in case they don't, be sure to ask. -
Review from Glenn H.
Oakville, ON
4/20/2011
This place is awesome.
Question: Where do you get the following:
-new releases between $12-$20.
-older releases/re-presses from $10
-dollar bin vinyl
-a stamp card for free vinyl (essentially 10% off) for each purchase
Answer: this place. Audiopile. Big man IS the man, and he's cool on so many levels. Other shops do hold candles to this place, but the wax melts down the arm and right into the bargain bin. This place is ruthless! I was so happy to see it in full swing when I returned to the city. How can any human being go to Scratch or Zulu? Well, for tickets most likely, but not for records.
Geoff, or Jeff, keep it up man. -
Review from Gerald F.
Vancouver, BC
8/30/2010
Totally decent record store.
This is a solid shop run by a friendly and easy-going staff. The prices tend to be very reasonable and once in awhile something really nice can be had for cheap.
They have a punch card system, so every 10th purchase you get a 10 dollar credit. I like this concept.
Anyhow, the only knock against this place I can think of is that there isn't a tonne of new stock coming in all the time so its not the sort of place one wants to be going to on a weekly or even bi-weekly basis unless you want to look at the same records.
oh i forgot to mention that twice a year they have a giant sale. -
Review from Isabelle G.
Vancouver, BC
1/27/2011
It's at a convenient location on commercial drive, however, being 4'11" it's frustrating to browse in the Vinyl section, therefore, I stick to the CD drawers that are just my height and cheaper than other used places which is a plus, if you don't mind music older than 10 years than you can score some childhood favorites for $1-$3 in CD's. They're records are over-priced and I would recommend either going to Neptoon and or ebay. Even their $1 Vinyl's are sometimes too trashed whereas the bargain bin at Neptoon still has awesome records. The space is small and sometimes I question the music that is played in the store, however, due to size, you won't be there for more than an hour. The staff are friendly and love talking about music which is a plus. I also like the fact that they have a punch card system which will get filled by yours truly with CD purchases.
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Review from Matthew T.
Vancouver, BC
3/8/2011
In my humble opinion, Audiopile is the ideal shop in the city for new or used vinyl. They have an excellent selection of music favoring rock, punk, new-wave, indie, jazz, classic among others. The staff is knowledgable, cool, very helpful and also friendly. They also offer an excellent stamp program for return customers. Prices are very reasonable when you consider the quality of the vinyl they offer. Efforts are made to ensure that their used prices reflect the condition of the vinyl and one can easily tell from their stickers what that record might be worth in New / Mint condition and what they are asking based on current condition. It is a fair and straightforward system and you will most likely never be surprised by the condition post-purchase. That said, I have returned LPs with no questions and certainly with no attitude. The staff are open to offers on prices and will give discounts on large purchases but they are also aware of the value of their inventory. Overall, Audiopile is one of my favorite places to hit on a rainy Sunday. Plus, they offer the best vinyl outer-sleeves in the city!
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Review from brian h.
North Vancouver, BC
4/26/2011
I eat vinyl, deliciousvinyl and this place is a buffet. Although it was tough for me to dig (as I'm in a wheelchair), I found the selection wonderful and the staff knowledgable and somewhat reserved (as most record shop heads should be). Quite frankly it was the pricing that kept me as I kept finding gems priced way below what you would find at pretentious zulu(esque) shops. The vinyl, sleeves and shop are all very neat and well organized with a ton of bargain priced 45's. A great place to shop on a rainy day. We'll see if me pulling stacks onto my lap to dig pisses them off enough to give me bonus stamps.
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Review from J G.
Vancouver, BC
8/26/2008 1 photo
Audiophile has an excellent selection of new and used records and CDs. It is well organized and easy to find what you're looking for, and pretty often they'll have that rare gem that you were only hoping you might come across. The people who work there are also really helpful and knowledgeable. If you're looking for something in particular, they'll keep their eye out for it and let you know if they manage to get it in the store. Really great place for music lovers.
