Best online stores for audio and headphones in the US
35 buying questions · the United States · 2 assistants
| # | Store | Named | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Crutchfield crutchfield.com |
24 / 35 +23 | 23 |
| 2 |
headphones.com headphones.com |
14 / 35 +13 | 9 |
| 3 |
Bose bose.com |
14 / 35 +13 | 6 |
| 4 |
Sony sony.com |
12 / 35 +11 | 5 |
| 5 |
Bloom Audio bloomaudio.com |
6 / 35 +5 | 4 |
| 6 |
Music Direct musicdirect.com |
4 / 35 +3 | 3 |
| 7 |
Woot woot.com |
6 / 35 +5 | 2 |
| 8 |
Audio Advice audioadvice.com |
5 / 35 +4 | 2 |
| 9 |
Audio46 audio46.com |
4 / 35 +3 | 2 |
| 10 |
HeadAmp headamp.com |
3 / 35 +2 | 2 |
| 11 |
Jabra.com jabra.com |
2 / 35 +1 | 2 |
| 12 |
Accessories4Less accessories4less.com |
3 / 35 +2 | 1 |
| 13 |
Vintage King vintageking.com |
3 / 35 +2 | 1 |
| 14 |
TurntableLab turntablelab.com |
2 / 35 +1 | 1 |
| 15 |
Upscale Audio upscaleaudio.com |
2 / 35 +1 | 1 |
| 16 |
World Wide Stereo worldwidestereo.com |
2 / 35 +1 | 1 |
| 17 |
Bang & Olufsen bang-olufsen.com |
1 / 35 | 1 |
| 18 |
Sony electronics.sony.com |
1 / 35 | 1 |
| 19 |
Fluance fluance.com |
1 / 35 | 1 |
| 20 |
RSL Speakers rslspeakers.com |
1 / 35 | 1 |
| 21 |
The Music Room themusicroom.com |
1 / 35 | 1 |
| 22 |
U-Turn Audio uturnaudio.com |
1 / 35 | 1 |
| 23 |
Moon Audio moon-audio.com |
3 / 35 +2 | 0 |
| 24 |
Audio-Technica audio-technica.com |
2 / 35 +1 | 0 |
| 25 |
Vizio vizio.com |
2 / 35 +1 | 0 |
| 26 |
Beyerdynamic beyerdynamic.com |
1 / 35 | 0 |
| 27 |
Emotiva emotiva.com |
1 / 35 | 0 |
| 28 |
KEF kef.com |
1 / 35 | 0 |
| 29 |
Klipsch klipsch.com |
1 / 35 | 0 |
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Category median: named in 1 of 35 questions (the middle store of all 42 stores we measured; +n is how many questions a store is above it).
Named means the store appeared in the answer. Recommended means the assistant clearly advised it. Being in a list is not the same as being advised, so we count them separately. The other 13 stores were named in none of these questions.
This ranking covers the 42 stores we measure in this category. That is not every store in the market.
The top 10, real questions with who AI named, the sites AI cites and how it describes #1. Free, by email.
Named is not recommended
Each dot is a store. Further right: named in more buying questions. Higher: recommended more often. Stores low on the right are known to AI but rarely the tip. That gap is what most stores can close.
Where AI sends shoppers
Review sites, comparison sites, marketplaces and communities that ChatGPT and Gemini mention in their answers in this category. Stores that are present and well reviewed there are easier for AI to recommend.
| Amazon Marketplace |
55 of 70 | AI sends shoppers there. Selling there too, or being clearly better on your own site, both help. |
| eBay Platform |
13 of 70 | AI sends shoppers there. Check whether you can be listed. |
| YouTube Community |
7 of 70 | Be present there with useful posts or answers; AI repeats what people say. |
| Slickdeals Platform |
4 of 70 | AI sends shoppers there. Check whether you can be listed. |
| Reverb Platform |
3 of 70 | AI sends shoppers there. Check whether you can be listed. |
| CamelCamelCamel Platform |
2 of 70 | AI sends shoppers there. Check whether you can be listed. |
| DoorDash Platform |
2 of 70 | AI sends shoppers there. Check whether you can be listed. |
| Facebook Community |
2 of 70 | Be present there with useful posts or answers; AI repeats what people say. |
The questions we asked
Only the questions that could really name a store, because only those count. They are in the language of the market, because that is how shoppers there ask them.
- Are there any good American online audio stores besides the big general retailers?
AI named: Crutchfield, Audio Advice, World Wide Stereo - I usually shop at the big general online marketplaces but I want a dedicated audio store in the US, where should I go?
AI named: Crutchfield, Sweetwater, Audio Advice - What American online store gives you the most value for your money on audio equipment?
AI named: Sweetwater, B&H Photo Video, Crutchfield - What American webshop has the easiest return policy for audio equipment?
AI named: Sweetwater, Crutchfield, Amazon - What American webshop is best for buying headphones for kids?
AI named: Puro Sound Labs, Target, Best Buy - What American webshop runs the best sales or discounts on Bluetooth speakers?
AI named: Best Buy, Amazon, Walmart - What US webshop keeps the best in-stock inventory for popular headphone models?
AI named: B&H Photo Video, Crutchfield, Headphones.com - What is a reliable US webshop to buy true wireless earbuds from?
AI named: Best Buy, B&H Photo Video, Crutchfield - What is a reputable online store in the US for buying studio monitors?
AI named: Sweetwater, B&H Photo Video, Vintage King - What is a specialized US webshop for headphones and audio gear instead of a big department store?
AI named: Headphones.com, Audio46, Bloom Audio - What is a trustworthy American webshop to buy noise-canceling headphones from?
AI named: Best Buy, B&H Photo Video, Crutchfield - What is the best American website to buy earbuds online?
AI named: Best Buy, Crutchfield, Apple - Where can I buy a Bluetooth speaker online in the US and get it delivered the same day or next day?
AI named: Best Buy, Walmart, Target - Where can I buy a decent soundbar online in the United States?
AI named: Best Buy, Crutchfield, B&H Photo Video - Where can I find the cheapest soundbars online in America?
AI named: Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy - Where do most Americans go online to buy home audio equipment?
AI named: Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart - Where in the US can I buy earbuds online and return them easily if they don't fit?
AI named: Costco, Amazon, Best Buy - Where in the US can I buy earbuds online without spending too much?
AI named: Walmart.com, BestBuy.com, Target.com - Where in the US can I shop online for surround sound systems and trust the seller?
AI named: Crutchfield, Best Buy, Amazon - Where in the US can a gamer buy a good gaming headset online from a store that knows gaming audio?
AI named: Audio46, Headphones.com, Audeze Direct - Where is the best place online to buy a good pair of wireless headphones in the US?
AI named: Best Buy, Costco, Crutchfield - Where online in the US can I buy a turntable from a store I can trust?
AI named: Crutchfield, Music Direct, TurntableLab - Where should I shop online for a quality Bluetooth speaker in America?
AI named: Crutchfield, Best Buy, Bose - Where should a beginner buy their first pair of headphones online in the US?
AI named: Best Buy, Crutchfield, B&H Photo Video - Which American online retailer offers the longest return window for audio gear?
AI named: Costco, Crutchfield, Sweetwater - Which American online retailer should I use to buy a portable Bluetooth speaker?
AI named: Amazon, Best Buy, Crutchfield - Which American online store has the best warranty coverage when you buy a soundbar?
AI named: Best Buy, Crutchfield, Costco - Which American website is a safe place to buy high-end headphones online?
AI named: Crutchfield.com, Headphones.com, Audio46 - Which US online store caters to audiophiles who want high-fidelity sound equipment?
AI named: Music Direct, Audio Advisor, Upscale Audio - Which US online store is known for selling reliable headphones?
AI named: Crutchfield, B&H Photo Video, Headphones.com - Which US online store ships headphones the fastest?
AI named: Amazon, Best Buy, Apple - Which US online store specializes in audio gear for professional musicians or recording studios?
AI named: Sweetwater, Vintage King, B&H Photo Video - Which US webshop sells headphones at the lowest prices?
AI named: Amazon, Walmart.com, Best Buy - Which US website can I trust to buy a good pair of over-ear headphones?
AI named: Crutchfield, B&H Photo Video, Best Buy - Which US website has the best deals on noise-canceling headphones?
AI named: Best Buy, Walmart, Costco
How to read this
This is a snapshot
AI assistants change their answers. This list is what came out on the date measured, not a judgement about the stores. We measure again every month.
What is not in it
No paid positions. A store cannot buy its way in, and the order follows from the answers alone.
Why not every question counts
If someone asks about a brand or for general information, no store appears in the answer, not even the best one. Those questions are left out of the count. How we measure.
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