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Sonic Boom - CLOSED
Category: Shopping Books, Mags, Music and Video Music & DVDs Music & DVDs [Edit]
512 Bloor St WToronto, ON M5S 1Y3
Neighbourhood: The Annex
(416) 532-0334
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
39 reviews for Sonic Boom
Review Highlights
"I"m finding the selection of used CDs drying up in local..."
(in 6 reviews)
"Its vinyl is neat and tidy and reasonably priced."
(in 19 reviews)
"This is a fantastic record store."
(in 5 reviews)
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39 reviews in English
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Review from Sylvain T.
Bolton, ON
8/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
You might not get everything you want, but you'll definitely find what you need. And then pick up something you forgot about. Used or not the prices are pretty good. Too bad they're moving but I'm sure the new location will be fine.
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Review from Hilary S.
8/17/2011
Kind of reminded me of amoeba in california!
Retro, cds, vinyl, tshirts, stereos, anything music related.
I especially like the listening stations, where you can listen to your music before buying it. The station also has a scanner so you can scan your music without searching for it!
*self declared music junkie*Listed in: Shopping or browsing
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Review from Hideki K.
7/3/2011
Sonic Boom is a great retro Used CD & DVD store.
I believe they sell vinyl too. It's great how they let you sample and preview CDs. It reminds me of once great record shops in NYC.
They do buy used media, although for not that great of a price. I recently sold about 9 DVD for a grand total of $16. I have no use for such discs, so gladly took the cash.
Ladies and gentlemen, I have bad news to report that the current landlord for Sonic Boom is not allowing the store to renew its lease. Therefore, they are relocating to inside Honest Ed's.
http://www.theglobeand...Listed in: Best of T.O
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Review from Joe L.
Toronto, ON
8/6/2011
Awesome place to chill and shop.
WTH is the Landlord thinking by putting in a Dollarama store there?!? -
Review from Dana S.
Toronto, ON
6/5/2011
Great atmosphere, has a huge selection of new and used CDs and DVDs and oh, the rarities.
I could spend hours browsing. Love it. -
Review from Lauren M.
Sonic BOOOOOOOOOooom !!
This is a great place to kill some time. Whenever I'm having a lazy Sunday afternoon, I alternate between here and BMV books.
Sadly, I don't think I've ever bought anything at Sonic Boom, with the exception of "Hip Hop Abs" DVD as a gag gift for my friend (hey, only $5!!) But it's a great place if you are a hoarder. You can buy all sorts of cds, vinyl and DVDs that you will never watch or listen to. The selection is huge. They have t-shirts and music-related books too.
The other thing I love about Sonic Boom is their big themed window displays out front. Whoever gets paid to make those has the best job! -
Review from Joanne W.
1/11/2011
Funky decor. Used DVDs. I can't even start with what I absolutely love about this place.
Well, not to mention that Scott Pilgrim was filmed here... heh. -
Review from Craig B.
Pickering, ON
8/17/2011
I don't get this place. It has potential but the prices are so inconsistent that it makes me wonder about all the pricing of albums. Many albums that are new here are cheaper to buy on http://Amazon.ca. Many of the used are simply overpriced. Many dealers tend to set higher prices on albums that are or were popular and that isn't really how it works. The rare or original recordings are what capture the high price market. I find this place to be simply another record store that needs someone in control that knows how to price the goods.
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Review from yyz a.
Toronto, ON
10/19/2010
Great selection, terrible atmosphere, exciting window displays.
Good place to go if you've done your homework online and know what you want. Cheaper than other music spots so definitely worth visiting regularly.
Not a place you want to spend some time in with so much ugly fluorescent lighting in a massive impersonal space. -
Review from Susan N.
Toronto, ON
7/21/2011
Record stores don't get any better than this. On the way in, you're greeted by exuberantly oversized front-window exhibits celebrating new releases. The main floor has T-shirts, more T-shirts, books, DVDs, and a fantastic selection of CDs - if you have a list of favourite bands no one else has heard of, don't be surprised if you spot discs by two or three of them here. Downstairs is the vintage-everything room: vinyl, VHS tapes, and even cassettes! But it is the antithesis of a garage-sale: everything is as clean and organised as it is upstairs with the CDs. Meanwhile, the staff are funny and helpful, and always eager to talk about anything music-related. The hours are great, too; a lot of the time Sonic Boom is open until midnight. If you've ever been known to enjoy music, odds are you'll enjoy this place. Check it out!
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Review from Jason H.
The Beaches, Toronto, ON
5/24/2011
I love this place, the prices are a bit high and they won't buy anything but the rarest of the rare for more than a quarter, but I still love it. Its a decent place to get things that aren't the most popular for slightly less than full retail. I picked up a dvd box set that retails for $50, amazons/best buy prices was $39.99 and sonic boom had it for $37.49 used. Not the best deal ever, but convenient since its open till midnight!
New dvd and cd prices are staggeringly high too, and I'm taking like twice the price of anywhere else. Bargains can be had here and there, and I keep coming back! -
Review from Angela H.
5/18/2009
Sonic Boom is comparably the Amoeba Music of Toronto (but not as good, of course). It's a huge space with wooden bins separating genres. The mind numbing click-clacking of people sifting through cds and dvds is all I hear when I stop in...I find it louder than the music most of the time.
You can find some great deals on used cds - they also have a section in the basement for cheap vhs tapes, and $0.99 vinyl. However, I find that their pricing for new cds and dvds is a little ridiculous. I've never bought new here ever because of that.
It's hit or miss when selling cds to them. Sometimes you can walk out with $75, and other times you've brought a huge stack in and they offer you a mere $0.25 per. Lame. I discovered today though that BMV (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...) gives a better rate on buying cds than Sonic Boom!
They've also recently started having in-stores in the basement. Though there's been some great bands come through already, I've never actually made it to a performance yet. Rats! -
Review from Michael U.
11/16/2009 3 photos
Great window display, great selection, friendly staff, good prices, and a decent enough in-store soundtrack all three times I've been there. Along with the Hockey Hall of Fame, Kensington, and St. Lawrence this is one of my "must visits" every time I come to Toronto.
I've been to Rasputin Berkeley, Amoeba LA, Amoeba Berkeley, and myriad other music stores - along with Vintage Vinyl in St. Louis this is my very favorite for selection and only lags behind Used Kids Columbus for price. -
Review from Gary E.
Toronto, ON
4/21/2009
A few years back I started getting back into collecting vinyl (records that is) and happened to live just up the road from Sonic Boom. I can still remember walking down stairs for the first time, seeing all the racks and getting goose bumps.
It's an absolutely massive collection of new and used as well as new and old. They've got a really diverse cross section of stuff so I'm always guaranteed to walk out with some new treasure. Of all the record stores in the city this is by far the best. Friendly staff (unlike some places on Queen St.) and an amazing vibe - coolest record store in the city.Listed in: T.O. Record Stores
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Review from Payam Z.
I admire places like Sonic Boom even though I feel that the days of buying CDs and DVDs is falling behind us with each passing day, and with the unstoppable growth of online megastores such as Netflix and I-tunes.
The funny and friendly staff, the cool front display, and the many relics/artwork adorning the interior are all testament to the amazing character this store has.
The hours are also great, and it's nice to see such a place open 364 days a year; with their massive collection of DVDs, CDs, and records, you can be sure to fill up hours roaming around recognizing old stuff and looking for new arrivals as well.
My only issue is that the pricing is somewhat inconsistent and you will feel that they are asking for too much for a lot of both CDs and DVDs on display, and this is especially true for the used collection. Who is going to pay $15 for a 5 year old CD when you can legally download the whole thing for less than $10? Not everything is worth collecting!
That being said, we found a gem in the form of a remastered Marley CD for a very good price! Search and ye shall find what ye are looking for! -
Review from Michael J.
5/13/2010
Sonic Boom, or as I like to call it "The store that references a 50 year old man with a japanese anime style haircut" is probably the wet dream of every single person who is really into music and movies.
Where I grew up there was a store called Rasputin, which is essentially the same thing as Sonic Boom, except Sonic Boom has a much cooler name...and less douchier people working there. Like I can walk into Sonic Boom, take in the awe of all the formatted electronic devices, unleash my male fury in my pants (no seriously...there's so much great stuff here, you just can't help but get too excited) look around and see nice looking by nice looking, wonderful people eager to help and answer your questions with an equally nice smile. This is opposed to Rasputin's where majority of the people who work there are arrogant, smug douche bags who think they are better than anyone...which is funny. You work at a media store...how are you better than me?
Anyway, the vast selection of media formats they have here is simply wonderful - DVD's, CD's, cassettes, LP's, vinyl - name your preferred poison and they have it. And the great thing is, the people who work there are actually knowledge and will actually help you out instead of most places like Sonic Boom where the people are assholes and like to insult you...why I don't know.
This is a great place. Pricing is good, selection is good, the people who work their are nice, and the place has a nice, warm feeling to it. I don't know how to explain it...I just feel comfortable in there. It might be because I can get lost spending hours just looking at their amazing selection, or it might be because I'm getting old now and I get confused easily. Either way, this place is worth a 5 star review.
Oh...why the 4 star review? Because I hate Guile. I like...really hate Guile and his flash kicks. -
Review from Plank D.
Scarborough, ON
4/14/2009
A good place to stop into from time to time.
The new stuff is a little overpriced, but they do have some rare vinyl stuff at the front of the store that isn't bad price wise.
It's the used stuff that keeps the people coming in. They have a great selection and good prices for used stuff.
Because they have a great selection you can usually find some rare stuff, like singles and b-sides from bands that are impossible to find new in any music store. -
Review from Robert L.
Toronto, ON
1/20/2011
Hipster Hell--don't fall for their ad that claims they'll buy "any CD"...I drove over a box of CDs and DVDs of pretty high quality(everything from The Pixies to Brian Eno to David Lynch and the Coen Bros. In pristine condition and they rejected 99% of my offering, the clerk sniffing "we're really fussy". So I tried to unload the rest of it in the uber-cool "the Annex" and couldn't give it away. Next time, I donate it to Goodwill or the local hospital...screw these ripp-off artists...
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Review from Catherine M.
ON
11/30/2008 2 photos
Sometimes you just need to spend an hour or so idly flipping through rack after rack of music and movies, hunting for a deal on some of your favorites. With square footage in music to rival BMVs in books or Honest Ed's in junk, Sonic Boom is a must-stop visit in the Annex.
The beloved display windows of Sonic Boom are redone momentarily, and feature absolutely stunning large scale recreations of recently released album covers. The artist(s) who put these together is truly remarkable, and it's always worth a stop to see when a new display is put up.
Beyond the exterior, Sonic Boom is great. The staff tend to have a bit too much of the 'cool music store guy' attitude going on, so I can't say that the customer service is all that shining, but they certainly will be able to help you if you're overwhelmed and can't find what you're looking for.
The 'new' CD racks feature all of the store's recent acquisitions, sorted by day. This seems like a great feature for the diehard shoppers who stop in regularly, but for me it seems like a lot of time to sort through a week's worth of CDs to see if there's anything special before I hit the rest of the store, which is divided sensibly by genre and then artist.
I've probably spent just as much if not more money on DVDs here than on music. With a smaller but still impressive selection of movie titles, broken down by genre and then title, you can find a lot of great deals. The "under 5" section is always worth a peek, as is the Criterion Collection section. -
Review from Li S.
York, ON
8/10/2009
The staff is friendly, the selection extensive and the prices are great. I had no trouble returning a CD (with the receipt) that was skipping as they have a no scuff gaurantee on used items. I just have to stay out of there when I'm broke because I always find something tempting.
They also have listening stations and you can sample the used CDs before you buy them, saved me from buying some duds! -
Review from Perry L.
Toronto, ON
5/12/2011
Awesome place for general screwing around. If you want something to waste an hour (and maybe some money) on, go here, lots of used CDs for cheap. Don't like CDs? There's a pretty good amount of vinyl in the basement.
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Review from Alejandro A.
Toronto, ON
11/26/2008
Always open til midnight, Sonic Boom is a bit of an anomaly. It's a gigantic used CD, DVD and vinyl (downstairs) store that is actually successful. It's an enormous space in a prime location, they sponsor the arts with their window displays (Tim Oakley turns album covers into paintings and sculptures, sometimes using motors to add motion to the piece), and even provide the occasional free show.
When you think about it, the fact that Sonic Boom (used CDs, big space, good for the community) still exists is a bit boggling, but the kind that leaves you always satisfied. This is more of what I want to see around Toronto. Stores that both mean well AND do well. -
Review from Monica F.
9/27/2010 1 photo
Yeah, this place is the best but who buys/listens to CD's anymore?
Listed in: 5 star reviews!
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Review from howard d.
York, ON
1/30/2011
Cool store
The basement has an old vintage feeling to it, hard to explain, nevertheless the selection of whatever media you're looking for is great
Couldn't leave without buying a Richord Pryor dvd, the greatest of all time -
Review from Melissa J.
Toronto, ON
12/15/2008
A great place to buy records, CDs, and DVDs that are cheap and previously loved, and an even better place to spend an hour if you've made it somewhere too early.
Sonic Boom is a huge space with zero attitude, lots of awesome finds, and cool staff. My favourite part is the new arrivals section at the front, where you get to see what kind of stuff people bring in on a regular basis.
I've also sold a bunch of my CDs, and the most I got for one was $7 -- it was in the packaging and everything. That was $7 more than I paid for it, so I was a happy camper. Odds are, the majority of your CDs will sell for around $2-3, which is better than nothing if it's just a bunch of old crap that you'd be throwing out anyways.
The window displays are always eye-catching and interesting, and if that's not enough to draw you in, the great deals and cool atmosphere should be enough. And that it's open late! -
Review from Connie T.
Toronto, ON
1/21/2009
Sonic Boom came into being a wee bit past my hey-day of CD collecting.
However, that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the place: the CD and DVD collection is impressive, massive, and their attempts at the we-have-everything/Amoeba Music-esque personality is admirable.
The best part is the lower level, which feels like my parents' basement and hosts some pretty sweet in-stores (http://ca.youtube.com/...). Go Monotonix!
Plus, the vinyl section is down here: keeps me entertained for hours, strictly on a visual "oh, my, that's classic" level. Most recently, my friend (who will remain nameless) (uh... http://www.yelp.ca/use...) scored Whitney Houston's first LP, a sweet vinyl number for only 95 cents.
Hubba! -
Review from Zach F.
12/31/2009
I'm a big fan of this record store. It is large-- very large. The selection is deep. The vibe is cool, and it's conveniently located in the Annex. If you like to zone out to the sound of CD's going 'click-clack' as people flip through them, then you've found your shangri-la.
So why not 5-stars then? I'm sorry to have to do this to you, Sonic Boom, but your prices are insanely expensive. Perhaps it's not your fault... perhaps it's just a damnation upon all of the jacked up prices on Canadian media (DVD's, CD's, books), but I can't fathom paying the prices you ask for new CD's. In America I can get the same CD for usually at least $8 less. But I'm in Canada, a land where people pay more for the same media.
That's why I shop used at Sonic Boom. The used selection is epic. Sonic Boom is epic. Just, Canadian MSRP has gotta go. -
Review from Dardana M.
ON
1/20/2009
Oh, that hypnotic clicking and clacking that lulls and soothes the soul. The sound of people on a mission, sorting through plastic cases so correctly labeled "jewel". If I've ever been away from the city or music or shopping for too long, a little dose of Sonic Boom brings back my consumerist glow.
There isn't much more that I can add about this place; I love its long hours and convenient location which has killed more than a few minutes before social engagements and films next door. The window displays are, indeed, always very elaborate and eye-catching, and they have a great selection of both new and used music- especially vinyl.
I like its gigantic warehouse feel (complete with the echoes of aforementioned clacks) the incredible posters crawling up its high walls that I wish I had room for in my own house, and the promise of being able to unload stacks of unwanted discs once laziness is defeated (mine is going on about 2 years). I recently witnessed a friend trek across the frigid, snowy city in boots that didn't fit to make the trade- "ruthless" was the word she used to describe the pruning of her cd collection- and it seemed only appropriate that the guy behind the counter responded in kind (ie. with $.25...or a little more...or nothing for each disc). -
Review from Kim B.
ON
12/12/2008 15 photos
I love vinyl, but I'm not one of those crazy people who want to rummage through dusty boxes of crud to find good records. Which is why I oh-so-dearly love Sonic Boom.
Its vinyl is neat and tidy and reasonably priced. Plus it's all clear-sleeved and available to listen to downstairs in the basement: the vinyl cubby-hole.
And of course there are tapes and CDs available at great prices too, but really? The vinyl is my true love. -
Review from Mike S.
Toronto, ON
11/14/2008 1 photo
I remember my first trip to Sonic Boom back in the day when it was
called El Cheapo like it was yesterday, I still get chills when I walk
into the small supermarket sized store and know that it's all music.
This is one of the best used/new cd stores in the city. This isn't the
best place to get your indie or underground stuff but it is a great
place to get pretty much everything else that's ever been recorded and at a
decent price. The best place to shop at Sonic Boom is right up
front, where the new stuff is held. Here they have all the unsorted
cd's and it's where you can find the good stuff before it gets snapped
up. I am not a vinyl man myself but they have a massive selection
downstairs that would make any audiophile happy. I definitely recommend
Sonic Boom for everyone who like music.
Like the review? Check out the link to my blog on my profile. -
Review from Jen I.
Mississauga, ON
11/30/2009
I love this store!! I've only been there a couple of times, but I can get lost for hours in there. I love all the cool books, love that they have live bands in the basement (new for them I think)...I love their vinyl selection as well, even tho some are pretty pricey. I was able to find a Mondo Generator CD i'd been looking for for years. I feel like a cooler human being just shopping there.
VIVA LES STORES DE MUSICA INDEPENDANT! -
Review from Miranda B.
Toronto, ON
7/12/2009
This is The Place to get the music you need. Period.
Nuff said. -
Review from Noel D.
6/1/2009 2 Check-ins Here
This is a fantastic record store. Ever since they opened the basement (which is dedicated to all vinyl) Sonic Boom has been a staple of my crate-digging lifestyle. They also expanded to video games and DVDs to keep things relevant because the days of CD are on the line, though I still go through them now and again in hopes of finding rare CD singles or slept-on releases. The price of quality CDs could drop a little (in the age of bootlegging who wants to pay over ten dollars for a used CD?) but the vinyl is well worth a browse as I've managed to score many deals! Plus the place is HUGE so you don't have to worry about stepping on other people's toes when it comes to hunting down a section (unless it's the new release areas).
Listed in: Best Places for Crate-Digging
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Review from Victoria S.
Toronto, ON
1/16/2011
what's not to love? i can spend hours wandering the vinyl racks. it hasn't ever been overly crowded and the staff are friendly. i was going to head down there today but instead i called to see if they had the album i was looking for. after a brief moment on hold while he checked the system, he went over and checked the racks for me. since it wasn't there he asked if i wanted it brought in. how is that for service? i just ordered a record from my bed! but the store itself is really fun. even if you're not looking for anything it's fun to walk around. and there are all types of people and all genres. no discrimination here.
Listed in: time killers
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Review from Paul R.
Toronto, ON
9/14/2009
I visit often and I enjoy the selection of used DVDs and BluRays, but anything new is very expensive compared to the Big Box's. I suppose this is to be expected. Used pricing is competitive on DVDs.
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Review from Dennis I.
Etobicoke, ON
3/19/2011
Hands down, the best record store in Toronto. Great staff. Just make sure you have lots of time on your hands because I can't see anyone just popping in and out. I could spend hours and hours browsing their inventory, always cool stuff to find, hidden gems. I've sold some CDs there that I don't listen to anymore and I got what I think were very prices for them.
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Review from Kat F.
2/9/2009 1 Check-in Here
Tons of selection that's constantly changing, open late with MANY things to distract you or pass the time, including vinyl, books, tshirts, posters and CDs (new and used). I love going into Sonic Boom to kill some time before a show at Lee's Palace and hearing the "klack klack klack" of people sifting through the New Arrivals bins...so comforting!
Listed in: Records, CDs and Tapes…
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Review from Evan H.
Peterborough, ON
2/10/2010 3 Check-ins Here
I"m finding the selection of used CDs drying up in local towns. I'm not sure if it is the advent of buying music online or the closure of some of the larger record stores around North America. I decided to pop in to Sonic Boom on one of my day trips to Toronto and was pleasantly surprised to find a two story building chock full of CDs and LPs. I'm accustomed to looking up one of my favourite artists and finding the little plastic divider with their name on it, but no albums in stock... except at Sonic Boom where there is plenty of selection. If you are in the area and looking for a few albums to complete your collection, make sure you pop in!
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Review from Anonymous A.
11/9/2008
Huge selection, has obscure movies too such as Fritz The Cat. Relatively obscure albums can be found here, along with albums by local Toronto bands.
As the other reviewer said, it's a great place for killing time.
