Audio Archaeology

I don’t want to post a review because I want to keep this gem to myself!!! Groovy spot, fantastic customer service, total vintage heaven. I’ll be back even though I live pretty far away!

This place is great! I had been searching for a vintage record player console and couldn’t be happier with my purchase. John was super helpful and you can tell he loves what he does.

Yes, they sell old record players, which work well, but are overpriced. And this is a nice thing if that’s what you are looking for, don’t want to go other places, and want to feel like «you got a good deal.» However, the prices for said record players are higher than they should be. You will get a better deal, for instance, at Upscale Audio Exchange or 20^th Century TV and Stereo Center, and the guys will tell you better stories about their experiences dealing with turntables, given that they actually grew up with them when they were widely used.
And although it’s cool they offer some new LPs as well as some old stuff, the prices on many of the older selections is a bit high, as is the price on the new LPs they have decided to carry in store. Also, the selections are kind of limited – I was hoping for more given other reviews, which make the place sound «better stocked» than it was when I’ve visited. On the days I’ve visited, the selection contained many LPs that can be found at other places in Chicago (Reckless, Logan Hardware, Dusty Groove) for less and in better condition. Sorry folks, but my visits have suggested it ain’t worth the hype… (See my other 50+ reviews of Chicagoland stores for comparison/​contrast here.)

This is such a great addition to the neighborhood. It’s one of my favorite record stores in Chicago!
Everyone who works there is so helpful and friendly. John the owner is the best. He offered up advice for repairing a vintage record player I bought and always responds quickly if you’re looking for a certain item or lets you know of great deals/​finds they get into the store.
You must stop by and check it out if you’re in the neighborhood!!!

I love this place! The best record store in the area hands down. The guys that run it are very nice and have a great (albeit small) selection of records in store. When I need a record they don’t have, I will stop in and place an order with them (better to support local businesses than Amazon). They also have a great selection of vintage turntables and accessories!

I was at Audio Archaeology today for the annual Record Store Day. It was a great experience. The owner, John, and his people were very pleasant and helpful. He has a great selection of Audio equipment and vinyl recordings. Will definitely go back.

Terrific little store in a convenient location right on the 155 bus line. John is super nice and really knows his stuff – some BEAUTIFUL vintage consoles for sale, and a nice little collection of vinyl (which gets bigger all the time)! I always look forward to visiting the store, and know I’ll be back soon!

super cute shop and the owner was super nice. tons of great records to choose from. so happy to have it in the neighborhood. keep it up!

Really cool staff that is super helpful and friendly. We went in to get a new needle the record player and we’re really impressed with all the records, artwork, and DVDs they also had. Definitely recommend!

OMG! I could not have been happier with John at Audio Archeology.
Went in to start looking at upgrading from our Crosley turntable to an actual system. Really had no idea what to look for or what would be a good price. John walked us through everything. He explained the pros of certain elements and understood that we were not audiophiles. But we have a collection of vinyl that we love to listen to.
He set us up with an amazing system. And after a couple of YouTube videos on how to splice wire and hook up speakers, we bought it and had set up in about 2 hours (pretty damn proud, considering I had never done anything like it before).
Seriously, support your local shops and stop here.
Oh and he has a great mix of older and new vinyl. So go here. NOW!
Thanks again John!

Wow! Love this place! Great selection. The owner John was very nice and even ordered some records for me. They only took a week to get in. I would love to upgrade my record player with one of the nice consoles he has.

I found the perfect birthday gift for my college son at this store. A «new» vintage Zenith turntable and radio was well-​received, and greatly appreciated.
The vintage vibe at this shop resonates with coolness! The owner, I think his name is John, is quite knowledgeable about retro audio products. He also carries some vintage barwear and other great products.
Frequent this store for an ever-​changing array of vinyl and products. It is worth your while!

I’ve been by this place a couple times now and I’m really impressed.
First, the products the owner John has for sale are in great condition. Last time I was in there, he had some Zeniths, GMs, and Magnavox pieces from the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. All the pieces are expertly restored with new cloth or finish, needles, etc. Some of the uglier pieces have been updated to a more «modern» color scheme with bright blues and oranges. An old radio was updated with a Bluetooth function for people who want to use their new technology on an older piece with warmer sound. There’s something for every type of person who wants to participate in the vinyl lifestyle – no matter the age or experience of the buyer. There’s stuff for the traditionalists and for those wanting something a little different.
The record collection, though small, is great. I regularly frequent the reckless records stores in Chicago. They’re terrific, but can be a bit overwhelming. You can always find a nice gem, but it takes hours of weeding through a lot of stuff to get to. The collection at Audio Archaeology contains only 40 – 50 albums per genre – but every album carried here is gold – be it a classic (from Miles Davis to BB King) to more contemporary fare (Black Keys, Flaming Lips, Ryan Adams, movie soundtracks, etc). Last time I was in there, there were racks out in the middle of the store that had some of the best Tom Waits albums – from the early years to his new stuff.
Perhaps the best thing the store has going for it is the owner, John. Both times I was in there, John took time to walk me through what was new to the store – the history of individual pieces and his methods of restoration. There’s something refreshing about his passion and transparency that makes one want to return to the store just to see what’s new. However, with products this unique and in such great condition, I know that I won’t be here to browse – I’m already counting on being a regular at Audio Archaeology.

This place is AWESOME!!! Plenty of records and turntable selections. Highly recommended!