Woody was great to talk to and ended up selling me a Pioneer receiver but it turned out that I should have done my due diligence first rather than assuming that I was paying a fair price. Subsequent research determined that I could have gotten the ssme receiver in better condition at a fraction of the price.

MTR repaired a Phase Linear preamp that had not worked since the 1990s. My son found my vinyl album collection and wanted to start playing them. I really didnt think the equipment was salvageable. Woody and his team fixed it and it sounds great. Very happy with the results and spending time with my son reliving old memories. Please note this is one of the only businesses in Kentucky that does this type of work. It may take them 6-8 weeks to fix your device. Be patient - it will be worth it! Just looking around their shop/showroom is worth the trip.

I brought in my SL-Q6, a not exactly common record player. These guys were able to bring it back to life and went above and beyond on their repair work. Seriously be sure to check them out if you have audio equipment that needs repairing. A few pics of a before and after are included. The 2 machines I had got mangled by shipping in separate ways, and they managed to piece them together into a beautiful looking and sounding machine.

Amazing group of talented passionate techs. They brought back my stereo from the brink of disaster. Charged me less than was originally quoted. And I am still rocking steady. Dont hesitate if you need an expert, this is the only place to go. Customer service is top notch!

*Note the new location on Preston Hwy as of 2021. Great place. Knowledgeable staff. Reasonable prices/rates.

Great place for vintage stereo equipment. I took my Technics 1200 mk2 turntable in for a checkup and cartridge alignment. They took care of everything quickly and professionally. I wouldn’t take my gear anywhere else.

MTR has always been one of my all-time, very favorite places to visit, to look at all the cool older equipment for sale!However, now, I find they no longer sell parts, or so an unhelpful, sales-challenged counterperson said on 9-2-2021. Discouraging.What happened to this place?!

This place is a hidden gem. If you’re interested in breaking out all your old vinyl LP’s and need a tune up on your old turntable, these are the guys to see. Joseph is a turntable “whisperer”. He’s forgotten more than I know about most every model. Very personable, knowledgeable personnel. And very reasonable service costs. At a new location. They were off Baxter for many years.

All I needed was a new cartridge for my vintage turn table and these guys told me they had the part but since my record player wasnt sentimental enough after I told them I got it a couple years ago on a good deal...they werent willing to only put the one simple part on my player. Tried to up-sell me on another record player naturally. The guy with long hair was as rude and short with me as he could have been. The other guy that seemed to be the brainiac of the operation shooed me away so he could save the part for someone that wanted a full service on their device and not help me with what I needed. Even though he said he had the part and was able to fix my turn table....he didn’t want to....so he didn’t.

Great place. Great employees. Dropped off an amplifier to be totally recapped and brought back to her full potential. I know theyll do a great job and I cant wait to hear the result.

AAA+ Service. Joseph and Woody are the best. Did i say customer service was great! I had some older unique electronics to repair. They fixed them! One of the BEST Audio repair places in the country! They treat your electronics like family. I will only take my electronics to Magnetic tape recorder Inc. Give them a call!

This is a wonderful specialty audio shop. they had the fuses that I needed at a reasonable price and were very friendly and helpful. Highly recommended!

Joseph and his crew are the best in the State of Kentucky. They know how to resolve your issue and if they don’t, they will find someone, somewhere, to help you.

Joseph and the guys at Magnetic Tape Recorder solved a difficult problem with my old amp that no-one else could figure out. They were extremely patient in getting everything just right. The cost was beyond reasonable and everything works perfectly. My stereo has never sounded better.

I brought in my mid-90s Tascam Portastudio 424 MKIII with a transport issue and the guy told me they dont work on Tascam. At least he was up front with me about it, and he also gave me a clue as to what was wrong with it, but I was a little mystified that the Magnetic Tape Recorder Inc. wont work on one of the biggest brands in the magnetic tape recording industry. They told me to go to DooWop, who ironically recommended I take it here. I ended up fixing it myself with some new belts, so I know its not beyond their technical ability. I suspect they consider the work beneath them. Its good that they are around, but it seems like they pick and choose what they want to work on.

Been going to them for years, Great staff quality work.

They never disappoint. I been using the services here for 30 years.

This shop repaired my Sony TC-K950ES Compact Cassette Recorder. They also repaired my Sony DVP-S9000ES CD/SACD/DVD Player. Now they’re working on another classic Sony ES piece, and I expect I will be satisfied. I just wish they would repair my Sony PCM-7010 DAT Recorder but they said that’s not a piece they work on. I like that they appear to only undertake repair of electronics that they are confident they have the expertise to repair. Some reviews say this shop has an attitude. That’s not a problem with me, since they get the job done.

Joseph will work with you with the most patience in the world in order to figure out any issues with your equipment. Heck I wasnt even his customer yet and he spent an hour helping me define the connection problem with my stereo. After this amazing display of reverence for great music and a 1970s stereo and receiver I decided (unsolicited) to have them serviced. My system sounds better than my buddys fancy 4 grand Apple turntable and receiver.We are lucky to have a place like this in Louisville. The jerk that wrote them a bad review sounds like a cheap punk who was trying to get something for nothing.James and Joseph are experts. If they told me my system needs something Im getting it done for a ridiculously low price.Im not going to tell them what to do, Im not an expert.

I went in with advice and came out with a vintage 1973 realistic album player/receiver combo. They didn’t try to up sale me, but gave me advice and sold me a an exact model I was looking for. The unit had been refurbished by them. I have to say, I have had 0 issues and it operates like brand new. Highly recommended.

This store and the people who work at it are great. I found them from a google search when I needed some speakers refoamed and I am glad I did. They were able to perfectly refoam some Infinity CS 3007 speakers and make them sound new again. It would have cost me many times what I paid for the refoam to buy new, equivalent speakers.Best of all, I could tell all of the employees were passionate about great sound. I appreciated this immensely. Magnetic Tape Recorder is a diamond in the rough.

All of my vintage equipment ends up being serviced here by the guys. They are all amazing, honest, caring technicians, and experts at vintage electronics repair. Every piece of equipment that I listen to every day has been serviced here, for me since 1976. Never disappointed and always amazed at the job they performed. If it can be repaired they can do it! Definitely worth the cost, time and wait to have your equipment restored by Magnetic Tape Recorder.

They have fully restored several pieces for me over the years.Nobody knows or understands the long, tedious process of repairing very complex and ancient (and often decrepit) circuits and machines like these guys. This level of expertise cannot be found for hundreds of miles in any direction. If it can be repaired, they will do it and do it well.We are truly fortunate to have this amazing resource.

Fixed by 1970s pioneer receiver quickly and for a good price. Plays great after they worked on it. Highly recommend.

Fixed a unit that my parents owned before I was born (Im 50) and it sounds just as good or better then I remember throughout my childhood !! Well worth the wait (was on a waiting list) then the time they actually spent fixing and locating parts !!! This unit will go another 50 + years just hope someone is still at Magnetic to help my Grandchild at that time .

It honestly blows my mind that small independent store would turn away business. I needed a belt for my Technic turntable, but they have it but will not sell over the counter as it’s for repair only. They tell me to go look on Amazon! Like dude I know it’s on Amazon I want to buy local even if it’s more money! It’s beyond frustrating to say the least....

Great customer service and very knowledgeable on vintage gear, they can just about fix anything. If they cant they can sell you some nice electronics at a reasonable price.

Had my receiver cleaned and checked over. Very helpful and friendly staff.

The go-to place for repairs if youre into vintage audio. Marantz 2265 probably better than new now. Thanks gentlemen.

Very cool shop fair prices and these guys know their stuff and they have records too and vintage stereo equipment so go visit them 😀

They were very knowledgeable and helpful!

This place is wonderful! They are there for the seasoned audiophile or the neophyte. No putrid snobs here. Cost of work was more than reasonable.Joseph is extremely knowledgeable, friendly and very helpful.James worked on my 40 old turntable and it now sounds magnificent. He also patiently walked me through set-up issues.Dont go buy a new piece of junk. Take your old stuff to Magnetic.Youll pay a fraction of the cost for a new set-up. The store itself is like stepping back in time. This Highlands gem is must see.

Fantastic, affordable, prompt service. I brought my receiver in to have lamps replaced, and generally cleaned up. Joseph made sure I understood the work involved, and was honest and upfront in his assessment, making sure to let me know that if it looked like the caps needed replacing, that it would not be worth it unless the receiver had sentimental value. I was quoted two weeks, and received a phone call after one week telling me the work was done. The receiver looks and sounds as good as it did when it was new. I will be using their services again.

Brought in some old equipment I had inherited that needed repairs. Joseph was very knowledgeable about my receiver and what would most likely need to be done to get it in good working order. They gave me an estimate up front and said they would call if it was going to exceed that price (it actually was finished a little cheaper). In the end, they also gave me a nice deal on some used speakers that compliment my Yamaha well. This was my 2nd time having a stereo serviced at Magnetic Tape, and I will definitely be back for a 3rd when the need arises.

Excellent service. Repaired my 80s Technics Amp and it works like new. Great job!!

The gentleman that worked with me was incredibly knowledge and nice. He was very patient and answered all of my questions. Definitely recommend going there for any vinyl/record player needs.

Joseph and all of the folks at this unique, audiophile business are so great, I wish I could give them 6 stars. They will help you get the most out of your classic equipment. Great prices and expert service make them a cherished, unrivaled resource in Louisville.

Knowledgeable friendly people that know vintage audio.

The new young so called owner is a real gem. Tells people the items in the shop so not get new caps inside like the ones they sell on eBay. They do not keep stock. Anything of any value immediately goes into eBay. No need to go here. High prices. They will not allow you to do what you want they will direct and force you to pay day l for a upgrade to completion so the work wont come back on them even if you want a simple fix. They dont pay anything for nice used stuff either. The technician is telling nice but that young guy running the front is someone to avoid. Sad too because its one of the few electronics reissue places in town specialized in older audio.

Super cool and helpful guys in there. They are honest with pricing and how feasible repairs are. Also sell refurbished items which os great

These guys are smart and can fix anything.

Love love love Magnetic Tape! We were looking to upgrade our suitcase style record player to a nice turntable and amplifier setup and got a great setup in our budget. They made sure we knew how it worked and showed my boyfriend how to set everything up so hed know when we got it home. We love our new setup and the fact that they backed it with a 30 day warrantee.

These guys were recommended to me by Craig at Underground Sounds (also a great place). James and the crew at MTR are extremely knowledgeable, courteous and timely. Theyre the only people to ever handle my turntable and audio equipment - even though I now live in Nashville. I would refer anyone to them for any audio need. Theyre legit. Thanks guys!

I have had a Turntable repaired, works perfect, had a reel to reel repaired works perfect, took in a Mini disc, they said could not be repaired, no parts available anymore, was told the truth, very knowlegable and polite. I read some one star reviews here and could not be further from the truth, Great place highly recommend and then some !!

Pictures of inventory are very misleading, Beware.

Just spent a good long time speaking to James over the phone. Planning on bringing in my Marantz 2500 for a cleaning and run through. If their service and work is half as good as James was on the phone I have no worries! Thanks and looking forward to getting it cleaned up!

Yeah I gave them five stars, BUT there was a thing or two that rubbed me the wrong way during my interaction with them. HOWEVER, they are the only repair shop of this sort in town, and even at their worst, their snooty attitude is tolerable . They also specialize in vintage equipment, so I suppose were lucky to have them here.

Took my parents console stereo to this shop and absolutely could not be more pleased! Not sure why anyone cares if they sell some of the repaired equipment on eBay. If you have a vintage stereo that needs repairing, this is the place to go!

Knowledgeable and friendly staff. Plus theyre probably the only place in Louisville to get parts for old record players. Highly recommended

Knowledgeable people who can narrow down what the right product is for your needs. Love my turntable.

These guys dont even know what they are doing, almost messed up my tape deck more.....couldnt fix anything and if theyd do it they say will cost me the same as buying a new deck . No geniouses there, STAY AWAY FROM THAT PLACE!, nothing but ignorants and scammers!

What can you say about this place except when you need something done right, you come here. This is a blessing to the audio community and we here in Louisville are proud to have Mag Tape in our graces. Ive been there several time and have had nothing but stellar service. One thing about this place is you feel welcome every time you walk into the door. Thanks!!

They know what they are doing, plus a good bunch of guys.

This place has been in business longer then most people have been on this Earth. Not exaggerating. For the audiophile or just music enthusiast it is worth going here. Turntable sales and repair I believe are there specialty. This place holds a special place in every diehard music lovers heart in Louisville: i.e. Every music fan I know from Louisville has a story related to Magnetic Tape. Thanks to the family and staff.

Everyone is super nice, courteous, and very knowledgeable about all electronics, musical equipment, as well as Vintage electronics, record players, stereos and music. A great vintage place in itself. Must see.

I had NAD 2600 A power amplifier that Ive had since 1990 while serving in the Military ...the channels were cutting out intermittently and finally got worse, took it here and James worked his magic, it took a couple tries taking back in but he finally found the main issue and WOW..its better than brand new with all the work & upgrades done to it, its well worth taking it to Magnetic tape, the only downside was that I had to take off work a Couple of Hours off of work early during the week because they arent open weekends!...if they were open till noon Saturdays Id give them 5 stars!

Vinyly got around to buying a record player, and Im lucky that these guys were able to give me a great system at a fair price. Shop here if you needle little music in your life.

I have never had a problem with anything that I took to him thats why I keep going back

Talk to Joseph. He is friendly, honest, and knows audio gear.

Top shelf ! Electronic repair on 60& 70s equipment, stereos an such for the house.

A plus...best place for old school electronics.

Analog heaven.

Bought a receiver and turntable from them two years ago. Sounds as good today as it did on day one. Great customer service. Total pros when it comes to stereo gear.

The best place in Kentucky for repair or restoration of vintage audio equipment.

The rumors are true - these guys are great. I took an old Sansui receiver in that wasnt outputting sound. I had a sentimental attachment to it, so I figured Id bite the bullet and have it repaired. I felt like the price they quoted me was pretty modest for the hard to find parts and expertise needed to repair these old things. And, I felt like it would be worth it if they could get it back into serviceable condition.I was pleased when they called and told me they had gone ahead and done a couple little extra things to it, cleaning pots, etc. When I picked it up and plugged it in, I was very happy. This receiver couldnt have sounded any better rolling off the assembly line in 1975.The 60hz hum I had always just dealt with? Gone. The static when I turned some of the knobs? Gone. The occasional, small cracks and pops I had grown accustomed to? Gone. Awesome!

I have been into Magnetic Tape recorders perhaps a dozen times over two decades and have always had the same experience: courteous service from knowledgeable people performing a needed function.Its a great place to get stereo gear repaired or find good quality used gear.

Great place if you need repair work on your stereo equipment or you are looking to purchase some vintage gear

Great service, great vintage gear, knowledgeable friendly staff and competitive prices. What more could you want?

I called ahead and asked rates, was quoted one price, It doubled when I got there. I was told I didnt talk to the right person. I wondered why the right person doesnt answer the phone in the first place. I didnt feel I could trust them.

Excellent service. Truly lucky to have them around I drive from Lexington to have service done by them.

Everyone is so lovely. Thanks for bringing my record player back to life.

Great place very friendly and helpful

Joseph maned the counter and helped me find what I was looking for. They know what their talking about and are really cool guys.

Great service,friendly and really know what they are doing fixed my 85 yr old friends pioneer stereo

Walked in and the gentlemen at the counter dropped everything he was doing to help me. He calibrated my record player speed and gave me some great tips for keeping it in top shape! I know where ill go when I need to buy a subwoofer!

If you cant find it, come here

A response to the lies the young man at the front counter responded with. he can say anything he wants in his response. go in and let him tell you they dont place anything on the shelves that does not hit ebay first, so looking to buy you go a look at the junk they have left over. They sell it on ebay like he said :it does not have a warranty, also my dislike has nothing to do with his direct demeanor, if anything I was more direct than him, what I didnt appreciate is driving 30 minutes to be told all the good stuff gets sold on ebay. not in the store...I could have done that from home... all for sale items I was told had some issue like if a SDK pack blew we would never be able to repair that unit again, again exactly why you are selling it in your shop and not ebay, because no one wants it. And you stated specifically I could set a $250 budget and you would not go over that unless it absolutely needed it to run properly as you didnt want it to come back on you your words not mine.... and that you wound force me to complete the upgrade or I would not get any work completed by your teams because you only do complete repairs again your words not mine.. so yeah, keep on lying in public and skewing the truth in private. great work. If you have had a good experience here I am happy for you. i for one hope the current owner does not sell or give the business to you, as you will ruin it if you havent already. clean you shop by the way that place is disgusting.

Awesome place they repaired my Pioneer stereo,, great people,, I hope they can help me find a reel to reel RT 909 pioneer,, thanks

Amazing job on my Marantz 2330. It has never sounded better.

Excellent and knowledgeable service staff. They can find a replacement cartridge for almost any type of record player. They will keep your classic stereo gear alive and happy. Just recently had my Technics SL1200 serviced by them, and the attention to detail was impeccable. When I listened to Emerson, Lake, and Palmers Targus on it...it sounded so good my head almost exploded.

Best service ever! Great place!

Great people and great prices! They honestly care about their work and customers.

Fantastic service, parts sales, and used equipment! None better in the region!

The young man was what I say rude basically told me this wasnt 1985 cleaned the laser on my DVD recorder put the cover on it said he couldnt fix . previously I took my stereo over each time I brought it home it didnt play two minutes spent good money mentioned this to the young man he said they lost over a thousand dollars on it I wish I could have talked to Jim hes always been very professional so My LAST VISIT WILL BE THAT PS. MY FIRST SANSUI THEY WORKED ON FROM 1969 IS STILL WORKING JUST FINE

Wonderful place.

Killer

One of the few remaining places who work on electronic gear, very friendly, reasonable prices, on the spot service, fixed 3 things wrong with a turntable for $46, vintage gear for sale, vintage parts available. ..

Busy place!!! Repairs made to older equipment.

Friendly and helpful!

Fixed my 25-year-old turntable for under $150 and theres nowhere else in town. Thanks!

Wonderful place

Excellent Service

The best!

Very knowledgeable