Today I’d like to briefly plug Alternative Audio/Diamond Groove, one of my favourite hi-fi/record shops in southern Ontario.
Alternative Audio is the two channel stereo/equipment part of the operation and Diamond Groove is the record store and mail order part. Both are housed under the same roof in lovely Dundas, Ontario (just outside Hamilton), about an hour south of Toronto.
Chad Hess, the owner/operator, is one of the nicest and most helpful people in the audio business. He is always willing to make time for customers and is resolute in his commitment to making his customers happy, irrespective of their own impatience, foibles and (at times) frustrating behaviour. The rest of the staff are similarly amiable and always enthusiastic when it comes to chatting about records and audio.
(Recently, when I was having ground loop issues in my system after purchasing an Ortofon 2M Black cartridge, Chad patiently worked with me to resolve the situation, communicating with me regularly and offering much needed advice.)
I regularly order record cleaning supplies and the occasional record from Diamond Groove via mail order and I try to visit the shop as often as I can. My first visit was to buy my VPI 16.5 record cleaning machine.
Chad doesn’t do a lot of British audio, unfortunately, but he carries a lot of other great gear, including: VPI; Clearaudio; Dynavector; Ortofon; Dynaudio; ELAC; Simaudio/Moon; Pro-Ject; and Walker Audio.
If you’re ever in the neighbourhood or in need of any of the product lines Chad carries, I strongly encourage a visit to Dundas.
I agree. I was just in there today. They are always helpful and have a great selection of vinyl accessories and audio equipment that I could never afford.
don’t you need to change your banner pic now?
Indeed I do!