After 30 Years, We’re More Focused Than Ever on What Matters Most

Thirty years is a long time in any business, and while some might say “true” high-end audio hasn’t changed that much, we beg to differ. We’ve seen formats come (MP3, ugh) and go (remember DVD Audio?), watched countless audio companies play musical chairs with ownership, and witnessed more “revolutionary” technologies than we can count. Through it all, HiFi Buys has evolved, adapted, and somehow managed to keep our sanity—mostly by remembering one simple truth: it’s always been about the music.

While the industry zigged toward “everything digital, everything online,” we took a moment to pause the track, so to speak. We looked at where we’ve been, where we are, and most importantly, where we want to go. And we reached a startling revelation—or at least it seemed startling at the time. We realized that our best path forward was to double down on what we’ve always done best: helping people fall in love with music through great sound equipment.

Back to Basics: The Two-Channel Focus

In a decision sure to please hard-core Atlanta audiophiles, we’ve decided to focus primarily on two-channel audio. Yes, we still do home theater and multi-channel for clients who want a great system, but our heart beats in stereo. Why? Because we believe that’s where the magic happens—just you and the music, no distractions, no compromises.

This isn’t about being audio snobs—far from it. It’s about creating the purest connection between you and your music collection. That’s why we’ve partnered with companies like CH Precision, Rockport Technologies, and Moon by Sim Audio. These are brands that we feel share our passion (some of us might say obsession) for making music sound its absolute best.

Our Technical Philosophy

Let’s talk tech for a moment, but we promise not to get too deep in the weeds. Here’s an example of our view on audio technology. We’re pretty passionate about Class AB amplification—not because it’s trendy (it’s been around forever) or because it’s efficient (don’t touch the heat sinks!), but because we believe it delivers the most emotionally engaging sound. Think of it like a V12 engine versus a turbocharged four-cylinder. Sure, they both get you there, but one does it with more grace and authority.

Is it a bit old school? Maybe. But sometimes, the tried-and-true path is tried and true for a reason. We’re not opposed to new technology—we embrace it when it truly serves the music. But we won’t jump on every bandwagon just because it’s shiny and new.

Building the Right Team

Here’s another way we “think different”, to borrow from Apple’s old marketing: our sales team isn’t on commission. We know, it’s practically audio retail heresy. But we’d rather have our team focused on getting you the right system than pushing whatever has the highest margin. Everyone here is on salary, with team bonuses that encourage collaboration instead of competition. Want to talk headphones? We’ve got a specialist for that. Two-channel audio? We all live and breathe it. Home theater? Yes, we’ve got that covered, too.

This structure means you’ll always work with someone who genuinely shares your enthusiasm. You won’t get someone pretending to be an expert in something they’re not just to make a sale. You’ll get authentic conversations about the music you love and genuine advice on how to make it sound its best.

Creating a Welcome Space

Remember when we mentioned not being audio snobs? We mean it. Whether you’re looking at our $1,000 systems or our $500,000 showstoppers, you’ll get the same enthusiasm and respect from our team. We experimented with e-commerce during COVID (you can guess why) but realized that matching people with their perfect system doesn’t translate well to “add to cart.” While we may continue evolving that, you won’t see us trying to become Crutchfield. 

Instead, we’ve doubled down on creating a store experience where music lovers of all stripes feel welcome. There’s no judgment if you can’t define “soundstage,” and we won’t roll our eyes if you prefer streaming to vinyl. But please don’t bring in your 80’s cassette mixtapes. We draw the line there, and besides, our last player broke in 2006.

Looking Forward

After 30 years, we’re more excited than ever about our future. We’ve got the right team, the right partners, and, most importantly, the right focus: helping you connect with your music in the most meaningful way possible.

Whether you’re just starting your audio journey or you’re a seasoned listener looking for your next evolution, our door is open. Come talk music with us—because some things are better done in person.