Whetstone Audio

I spoke to Brian on the phone before going to Whetstone Audio because I heard that their hours sometimes change without notice. I was a twenty minute drive away and he told me that they would be closing soon but to come in regardless. When I arrived Brian was friendly and accommodating and not the least bit put-​out that I showed up near closing. He cleaned my precious, very dusty, and Jay Farrar signed vinyl of Uncle Tupelo’s Anthology ⁸⁹⁄₉₃ to immaculate perfection. When I asked him if I could buy new sleeves as the old ones were dirty, he replied, «Well, that’s kinda part of the deal.» I also told him about a turntable I had just purchased at The Sound Gallery and he complimented their business, just as The Sound Gallery had done before I went to Whetstone Audio. No «tsk, tsk» attitude from him, just complimentary respect for another hi-​fi business. Isn’t this the way it should be?!? While he was cleaning my records, I browsed his choice selection and found a new 180-​G copy of Heatmiser’s Mic City Sons for $ 20. Total out the door for the cleaning and album was just under $ 25. Will I tell all my friends about Whetstone Audio and give them business every time I return to Austin? Hell yes, I will.

I went into Whetstone to find out more information about the Rega line of turntables after hearing many good things about them and doing my online research. Then Brian showed me the RP1 and RP3 and ran a side-​by-​side comparison. I’m not the most knowledgeable in the area of hi-​fi equipment, but Brian explained how everything worked to me very clearly without going too much above my head. I went with the RP3, which he installed the cartridge and calibrated it for me right in the store! He even sent me a follow-​up email a few days later to ask how the new turntable was sounding! Simply awesome.

If you’re into hi-​fi or curious about hi-​fi, this is the spot. Nothing else like it in Austin. If you’re a music lover you owe it to yourself to check it out.

My husband’s birthday is coming up and I thought getting a better turntable would be a great gift. Ours was RadioShack brand and didn’t work too well anymore so it was definitely time for an upgrade. Enter Whetstone Audio. We stopped by to see some turntables in person after doing some research online and Brian was very helpful. We told him our budget and he showed us the Rega RP1. After going through all the components and how to work it, he put on a record for us to hear and we were sold!
After a quick set up at home we were able to really start enjoying our record collection.

Came to look for a Rega Turntable and found this small comfortable store was the perfect place to find it. Not only did they have all the models available to listen to but they were also in stock. Brian, the owner, is a very knowledgable, fun and personable person to do business with OR just hang out. If you are looking for any HiFi audio, you MUST give him a shot!

As a newbie to hi-​fi, I’d been doing some research on equipment for a couple of months, but I really needed to find a place where I could listen to a few different systems and get some SOUND advice from someone with experience. Whetstone was a perfect place for me in this regard. The owner, Brian, was quick to answer questions and was candid in his qualifications when comparing components. There wasn’t any pressure to buy anything while I was there; just a serious appreciation for music.
That being said, perhaps the best thing I walked away with, after a couple grand worth of equipment, was a humbling reminder, particularly for an industry that’s seems to be fraught with big egos that claim to know what «sounds best»: in the end we’re interested in listening to music, and the system is just a means to that end. If it sounds good to you, it doesn’t matter whether it’s tube or solid state, a $ 20k system or something you’re soldered together from components off ebay. Enjoy the music, and as you develop the hobby/​practice you’ll ultimately refine your tastes, which will drive further changes to your system and listening experience. I know I’ll be back when I’m ready to upgrade.
Philosophy aside, the store has a great vibe, and, though I didn’t completely follow through with the suggestions made on their website, I would strongly suggest bringing a couple of records or CDs along with some good beer/​wine to really get into the music. Support a local business and rock on.

I bought my Rega turntable from Brian at Whetstone, and it is absolutely killer in every way. The shop is relaxed and fun, there is a ton of great vinyl on hand, and Brian is super helpful about anything hi-​fi related, even if he didn’t sell you your system. (He gave me good ideas about how to set up my system, and I get compliments on it constantly when people listen to my home rig.) I just wish I had a bigger budget to buy more components from Whetstone, though to be fair, the store is full of moderately priced gear as well as «dream systems», so just about anybody on just about any budget can get something there. Even if you are not in the market quite yet, but just want to pick up a great record you can shop for vinyl at the store, and listen to it on a system that will optimize the sound and inspire you to start saving up for an upgrade to bad ass British hi-​fi components.

Whetstone Audio is like a temple. Vinyl is always spinning with staff and patrons staring in deep meditation at the blissful sounds pumping forth. Completely no pressure sales. I can understand how some can see the staff as aloof or «too busy» to help but this is just not true. If you have any questions you will always receive a kind patient answer even if it is a very basic question just don’t be too shy to ask. Last time I was in the owner put on some Mingus from his private stash because I asked without a hint of annoyance; they always seem a little excited that you ask to hear music in the store. The selection of LPs is not vast but what is in store is always top notch but not overpriced. I haven’t seen anything over 20 $ in there. I usually dig for 2 – 6 dollar albums and always come out with Treasure weather it be jazz, classic rock, punk; it’s all there.
If you are an audiophile get your @$$ down there!

I’ve been shopping for some decent stereo equipment over the past few weeks. Figuring out what I’d like to buy is difficult. I quickly learned that trying to research audio equipment on the internet is a mess and started looking for a retailer.
Whetstone had good reviews so I stopped in and talked with the owner, Brian, for an hour today. The store is fun, comfortable and laid back. No sales pressure or high-​end retail pretension. Brian didn’t seem to care that I have no budget worked out and I can’t buy anything in the near future. I’m just learning about this stuff and he seemed happy to show me what’s good. He also had a vinyl copy of «Tonight’s the Night» by Neil Young on hand for listening.
We listened to different systems and I got a great sense of what the different manufacturers’ quality and price points are, tubes vs solid-​state etc. It was great to just talk with a guy who knows his stuff and listening to different super-​duper audio equipment is a blast. Within an hour I figured out what kind of money I should expect to spend and what types of components I’m looking to buy.
Whetstone’s prices seemed good — as good as you can find on the internet. This is where I will spend my money when I’m ready to buy.

Brian at Whetstone Audio runs a first class high fidelity salon where great equipment, great music and the most practical knowledge is available in a relaxed, cool vibe hangout.
Solid state /​tube equipment, separates, integrateds, accessories, pre-​owned gear, LP’s, US and European manufacturers… some of the best that Hi Fi has to offer is here.
Brian, thanks for the insightful advice during my electronics and speaker search. You were very patient and helpful during that 3 month period. The Natural and Open Sound of each component has me listening all over again.

As a loyal Rega owner, I was attracted to Whetstone by it’s «British Hi-​Fi» title on google maps. What I expected was another blasé home theater store trying too hard to appeal to the audiophile community. What I got was an excellent sound shop with very helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable service.
The stocked equipment, vinyl, and accessories make Whetstone an ideal destination for sound quality needs.

I first went into Brian’s shop a little over a year ago to check out some records and to gawk over some new HIFI equipment. When I asked to hear the Rega P2 turntable outfitted with the Ortofon Red cartridge thru the Rega Brio3 amplifier, Brian was more than happy to change up his rig and oblige to my request. What happened next was something that I never expected. Brian dropped Jimmy Smith & Wes Montgomery’s «Dynamic Duo» on the spinner and everything I had heard in life seemed insignificant to the clarity of Jimmy Smith’s organ and Wes Montgomery’s tasteful counter melodies on guitar on the opening track «Down On The Riverside». I immediately went to Antone’s Records and purchased a VG+ used copy for $ 10.
Since that day I’ve been back to Whetstone on a few occasions where I’ve picked up some Rega speaker cable, a few LPs and had some wax cleaned for dirt cheap via his inhouse mack-​daddy record cleaner. Each time I visit Brian’s store we end up having wonderful conversations about the state of the HIFI industry and music in general.
I knew I liked the guy once he played me that «Dynamic Duo» record and I discovered our mutual interest in the band Wilco, but the fact is Brian is a stand up guy who runs his shop the way it should be. He’s very informative, a music lover first, values customer service and wants to share his passion for HIFI with anyone who is interested.
Whetstone Audio is the only place I would ever consider purchasing any HIFI equipment and the only place I recommend my friends to visit when they’re ready to join our hobby. Do your buying research online, buy a 6 pack, go to his store, share a beer, ask for Brian’s opinion, listen to his products and buy from his shop. You’ll be better off for it and you will have a flipping ball at the same time.

A friendly shop with high-​end hi fi without the high-​falootin attitude. The owner is a music lover first and foremost and is great at tailoring a system around the customers’ listening habits. Whetstone is a laid-​back, fun place to find the perfect audio setup (and they sell records as well!)

I’ve been a Whetstone client for over 10 years, and I’ve always been more than satisfied with the products and service. I don’t have a lot of money, so I’ve consistently shopped in the low end of what Brian has on offer. He’s always given me the care, attention and friendly attitude you would expect if I was spending thousands of dollars.
The store is a really fun place to hang out. Brian has excellent taste in music, so there is always some amazing record playing on some ridiculously good sounding set up. I’ve discovered a lot of my favorite records by walking into Whetstone and saying «what is this we’re listening to?». There is also a nicely curated selection of ‘for sale’ vinyl, and I rarely leave without buying a record (sometimes right off of the turntable!)
The selection of gear is really interesting, as well. It’s all stuff Brian is personally excited about, and he’s usually been to visit the factory where the stuff is built. You can be sure that when you buy something at Whetstone, you’re getting as good an item as is available for the money you have to spend.

Whetstone is a really great hi-​fi store. The best thing is that an average person can walk in and not feel at all intimidated by the imposing atmosphere that most hi-​fi stores seem to relish. Both Brian, and the store, are very laid back. You can go in and just shoot the shhh and hang out and he’ll help you out in listening to some components or speakers and won’t try and push anything on you. I took a turntable I bought online there and he helped me set it up for a small price. I also bought a dynavektor phono pre-​amp from him and his old VPI cleaning machine.
That’s all — I highly recommend Whetsone to anyone looking for some new audio gear!

I love vinyl. Records sound so much better than CD’s.
Now imagine hearing your favorite records on a super hi-​fi system that makes them sound even better! Heaven on earth for me. You’ll hear all sorts of nuances on your albums that you never heard before. They’ll take on a whole new meaning to you!
Whetstone Audio makes that gear available to you, and the owner is friendly and knowledgeable. He sells only British made gear, and won’t try to sell you some trendy brand that he doesn’t trust.
The shop also sells records, so it’s a great place for all you vinyl junkies to check out.