In praise of Richer Sounds
Discussion
In 1998 I got some fairly OK GCSE grades. All I wanted was a proper hifi system to replace the Aiwa system I'd had since I was 11 - a friend of mine told me about Richer Sounds where I (well, dad) bought a Cambridge Audio amplifier, JPW speakers and a Technics CD player. If I remember correctly they did a special price on the amp/speaker/cd player combo. It was of course a revelation after the Aiwa. Soon after I bought a tuner, can't remember what brand it was but I didn't like it. They took it straight back, I got a nice Sony one instead.
Next year that will be 20 years ago. The amp, speakers and tuner are still in daily use, in fact they're being listened to right now. All working absolutely perfectly. Unfortunately the Technics CD player gave up a few years ago; I replaced it with a Sony from a second hand shop and that's still going strong.
Next year that will be 20 years ago. The amp, speakers and tuner are still in daily use, in fact they're being listened to right now. All working absolutely perfectly. Unfortunately the Technics CD player gave up a few years ago; I replaced it with a Sony from a second hand shop and that's still going strong.
LeoZwalf said:
In 1998 I got some fairly OK GCSE grades. All I wanted was a proper hifi system to replace the Aiwa system I'd had since I was 11 - a friend of mine told me about Richer Sounds where I (well, dad) bought a Cambridge Audio amplifier, JPW speakers and a Technics CD player. If I remember correctly they did a special price on the amp/speaker/cd player combo. It was of course a revelation after the Aiwa. Soon after I bought a tuner, can't remember what brand it was but I didn't like it. They took it straight back, I got a nice Sony one instead.
Next year that will be 20 years ago. The amp, speakers and tuner are still in daily use, in fact they're being listened to right now. All working absolutely perfectly. Unfortunately the Technics CD player gave up a few years ago; I replaced it with a Sony from a second hand shop and that's still going strong.
When Cambridge Audio was good ! Next year that will be 20 years ago. The amp, speakers and tuner are still in daily use, in fact they're being listened to right now. All working absolutely perfectly. Unfortunately the Technics CD player gave up a few years ago; I replaced it with a Sony from a second hand shop and that's still going strong.
I used to get off my train at London Bridge when they had a shop there, this back in the 80s. I was just rubbernecking at that time but the sales staff would chat away and I normally got an offer of coffee. When I got disposable income I bought a hi fi from them. They seemed as pleased as I was.
I moved to Sussex and their dealership in Brighton provided the same sort of customer care. I've never had any problems with the stuff I bought from them so can't comment, but their advice, given without pressure, was always helpful.
I moved to Sussex and their dealership in Brighton provided the same sort of customer care. I've never had any problems with the stuff I bought from them so can't comment, but their advice, given without pressure, was always helpful.
I bought my first HiFi from Richer Sounds at London Bridge in the 80s after much saving,when I was about 15 . Fisher separates I seem to remember. A week later Dixons had a similar set up for a couple of pounds cheaper and I was a bit gutted. My dad rang them up to query the price match and the next day I got the train up to London Bridge where Julian Richer handed my a second tape deck for free so I could do tape to tape recording and he had beaten the Dixons deal. They had a customer for life.
Edwin Strohacker said:
brianashley said:
Where they not in the Guinness Book of records for the highest turn over per SM for a retail business or something ?
London Bridge IIRC. They used to plaster it all over the flyers 
They were great when I made my first 'proper' Hi-Fi purchase when I was about 16 - a Denon DM-30 micro system and some Eltax bookshelf speakers.
I've still got both somewhere in my attic - I loved them as a teenager when I had them in my bedroom. Not sure my parents did though! I bet they'd still sound pretty good today too.
I've bought various bits from them in the years since and have always thought highly of them.
Shame I had to go elsewhere to buy my B&W speakers last year. Anyone know why they don't stock B&W, out of interest?
I've still got both somewhere in my attic - I loved them as a teenager when I had them in my bedroom. Not sure my parents did though! I bet they'd still sound pretty good today too.
I've bought various bits from them in the years since and have always thought highly of them.
Shame I had to go elsewhere to buy my B&W speakers last year. Anyone know why they don't stock B&W, out of interest?
ahh the 80s and RS London Bridge....... Julians office with photos of his wife (a model?) on the wall, was in the basement with boxes upon boxes stacked everywhere in 3 or 4 different rooms, JRs RR parked on the double yellows, no set hourly rate just paid "some money once he'd cashed up and fed all day"... fun times!
First pay cheque (and £200 expenses 'float') I got from my current employer was spent at RS on London Bridge. I still have and use the speakers although the amp has long since died. I wonder if my employer would take a broken amp in lieu of the £200 float I will owe them should I ever leave......
Ben
Ben
As a young lad of 15 - (over 30 years ago) took money I'd saved up from presents and my Saturday job at Currys and got the train into Bristol, then the bus out to the rather ramshackle pile it high sell it cheap store that was Richer Sounds Bristol.. It looked like a corner shop - but in I went and had a pleasant hour with a brew and a natter with store staff..
I left with a Onkyo CD player and enough boiled sweets to get me home ;-)
Roll on thirty years - and visits to many other richer stores for myself with friends and family I find myself moving into SWMBO's house with strict edict on what we can and cannot have for home entertainment - So after some looking online, I end up rolling into the Preston Store with some thoughts and challenges - filling the boot of the car with TV, amp, speakers and sub I head home - to end up bringing a bunch of the kit back for a refund sue to audio delays and crossover issues (thankyou sonos) - Richer just took it all back and swapped it for another bunch of kit no worries - we repeated this again with a subset for a final fix and all's been great since.
They are my goto for anything to do with home entertainment (the only other place is John Lewis) - and surprisingly even with the warranty I've never had to call on it, I've even had the money back when I remembered it with the offered refund if you didn't use it...
I have had nothing but positive experience with them...
S.
I left with a Onkyo CD player and enough boiled sweets to get me home ;-)
Roll on thirty years - and visits to many other richer stores for myself with friends and family I find myself moving into SWMBO's house with strict edict on what we can and cannot have for home entertainment - So after some looking online, I end up rolling into the Preston Store with some thoughts and challenges - filling the boot of the car with TV, amp, speakers and sub I head home - to end up bringing a bunch of the kit back for a refund sue to audio delays and crossover issues (thankyou sonos) - Richer just took it all back and swapped it for another bunch of kit no worries - we repeated this again with a subset for a final fix and all's been great since.
They are my goto for anything to do with home entertainment (the only other place is John Lewis) - and surprisingly even with the warranty I've never had to call on it, I've even had the money back when I remembered it with the offered refund if you didn't use it...
I have had nothing but positive experience with them...
S.
+ another here. Plenty of good experiences with the boys at the Leeds branch. Bought my very first CD player from them about 20 years ago, a Denon DCD-315 ex display model. More than happy to barter on the price and couldn't be more obliging. I became a fairly regular visitor there and soon I was able to borrow various bits of equipment (speakers, amps, cables, CD players) to take home to test with my other kit before deciding whether to buy it or not. I've spent thousands with them over the years 
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