John Rutan has offered the finest in home stereo at our Audio Connection campus for over 30 years. John's goal has been the same from day one - to provide his customers customized home stereo systems that bring the excitement of a live musical experience into their homes. The Audio Connection campus offers over 2,000 square feet over multiple showrooms, displaying the widest selection of high performance stereo equipment in the tri-state area.
Our showrooms feature not just the latest in solid state technology, but the vacuum tube electronics held in high regard by audiophiles across the globe. Our expert staff, Nick, Greg, and Samir, can help you select and match speakers, amplifiers, separate and integrated electronics, sources, and turntables.
Our showrooms feature not just the latest in solid state technology, but the vacuum tube electronics held in high regard by audiophiles across the globe. Our expert staff, Nick, Greg, and Samir, can help you select and match speakers, amplifiers, separate and integrated electronics, sources, and turntables.
Reviews (17)
Brandon Enn
Aug 24, 2021
Report
One of the best Hi Fi shops around!
Excellent service! John, the owner and person who runs the shop couldn’t be nicer and more professional. A true audio guy himself, he will get you where you want to be with your setup, whether large or smaller budget. Fantastic shop, too. Great listening rooms. A bit all over the place due to covid, I’m sure, but great acoustics to demo your speakers. I miss being able to go into a shop and spend time with speakers and components prior to making a purchase. I didn’t have time for that myself, unfortunately, but he was more than willing to allow me to bring
Excellent service! John, the owner and person who runs the shop couldn’t be nicer and more professional. A true audio guy himself, he will get you where you want to be with your setup, whether large or smaller budget. Fantastic shop, too. Great listening rooms. A bit all over the place due to covid, I’m sure, but great acoustics to demo your speakers. I miss being able to go into a shop and spend time with speakers and components prior to making a purchase. I didn’t have time for that myself, unfortunately, but he was more than willing to allow me to bring
Gene Dassing
Jan 11, 2021
Report
I am a newer customer of Audio Connection, and I can't speak highly enough of the team and the experience. Go see John, Nick and the rest of the team if you're in the market for anything 2 channel audio. I was lost, adrift in a sea of internet reviews, YouTube videos, and other people's opinions. John cleared it up in an instant and found me a system that fit my budget, does precisely what I want with no fluff, and brings me toe-tapping musical joy every day. The local resource is invaluable and knowing they are a phone call away sets me at ease. A pleasure to do business with.
Paul N.
Dec 24, 2020
Report
Kenneth Kasten
Jun 29, 2020
Report
John Ruttan is a good man. I have been a customer here for many years. While i may only have a modest system and owned it for many years, the guys at audio connection have always taken time to provide exellent service, and helpful with all my needs. A jewel of a store that has stood the test of time.
Ritch Paprocki
Jun 17, 2020
Report
Don't go anywhere but Audio Connection. Do you value experience? Do you value competence? Do you value candor? The batteries in Johnny Rutan's bench testing equipment have been around longer than some of his competition have been in business. Point is, don't gamble your hard earned money with some electronic geeks or flash-in-the-pan wonder boys. Just come to this place, Audio Connection, and get competent service/advice from the people who've had audio/theater in their blood...for decades!!!
Frank B.
Jan 04, 2020
Report
Just want to say what wonderful service I received here. Brought in my Marantz turntable to be serviced. The technician who performed the service was clearly experienced and knew exactly what to do. Recalibrated everything and it now sounds fantastic. Cost was totally reasonable. I highly recommend these guys to anyone interested in higher end stereo equipment.
E. Lins
Oct 14, 2019
Report
Richard H.
Jan 23, 2018
Report
This is a GREAT and honest company. I sent a question to Audio Connection about a problem I was having with my audiophile CD player. I intended to send them the player for repair until they called me and asked several pertinent questions about the problem. They gave me several simple possible solutions for me to try myself before sending them the unit. They were also concerned about the unit being shipped across the country since I am in California and they're in New Jersey. They even found me a service referral in the Los Angeles area AND they called me after a few days to see if any of
Danny Hogan
Jan 14, 2018
Report
John Tortelli
Oct 12, 2017
Report
Jay Lee
Sep 03, 2017
Report
I can't agree more with Jason's post. Johnny really knows good sound. I've visited several dealers around New Jersey & New York and most are not that good. Johnny will put together the best sounding system in whatever your price range. I will continue to go to Audio Connection for my audio needs. Great bunch of guys.
Chris B.
Jun 21, 2017
Report
Went here about a week ago to get a simple cartridge swap done on my basic Audio Technica turntable. Decided to go on Tuesday since it was their late day. I arrived there about 30 mins before their close time but unfortunately they had some issues that caused them to close early. Anyways, I spoke with the owner John and he said he was gonna return in an hour so I decided to grab something to eat then head back since it was a decent drive from my house. Took a little longer than an hour, but things happen. When John got there, he gladly changed the cartridge for me on the spot (during after hours
Jay Lamb
Jun 01, 2017
Report
John Knows his stuff, I have been a long time Vandersteen fan and have had many speakers along the way. Used another dealer till I found John he has always worked with me and knows his stuff. He can tell you what sounds good with what speakers and make a system sing... More importantly he is able to tune a system right by ear, very few people have this skill. He knows his stuff and will direct you in the right direction for your budget weather it be Vandersteen, B&W etc... His tuning ear and getting it to sound right in the room is what is amazing you can but the product anywhere but he can make
Seth H.
Apr 04, 2017
Report
I highly recommend Audio Connection. I visited the store twice before purchasing a new set of speakers from AC. AC provides a very friendly, no pressure kind of environment - they really let the products sell themselves. Both John and Greg were extremely patient, knowledgeable, and went out of their way to explain the relative merits of various options available given my personal budget, space and musical preferences. I'll certainly be a return customer.
Glenn S.
Jan 15, 2014
Report
I held off for nearly a year before writing this. I don't like dissing a business and didn't want to act on my emotions. I also second-guessed myself because of all the great reviews. However, my experience was what it was and that was horrible.
I called around different places to buy a new NAD amp. I should have known from my initial call to AC to steer clear. When the price and terms quoted weren't to my liking and I offhandedly said I may as well get it from Crutchfield, John the owner went into a tirade and actually yelled at me. This is the absolute truth. But there
I called around different places to buy a new NAD amp. I should have known from my initial call to AC to steer clear. When the price and terms quoted weren't to my liking and I offhandedly said I may as well get it from Crutchfield, John the owner went into a tirade and actually yelled at me. This is the absolute truth. But there
Michael K.
Aug 23, 2013
Report
The folks that run this store, John, the owner, and his associates, Greg and Nick, are some of the nicest people you will ever encounter in a retail establishment. Although they carry some the finest and priciest stereo equipment on the market, they are real down-to-earth guys that are happy just to shoot the breeze with you, but will also share their vast wealth of experience and knowledge, while never pressuring you to buy anything at all.
In fact, John will encourage you to borrow a component, or even a cable, take it home and demo it in your own familiar environment before shelling out any
In fact, John will encourage you to borrow a component, or even a cable, take it home and demo it in your own familiar environment before shelling out any
Don M.
Feb 14, 2013
Report
Yelp isn't the place I turn to for information on Hi-Fi, but I got to put in my two cents worth.
Many such stores treat you like you're inadequate. Whatever you have, be it a $500 system or a $20000 is inadequate. John Rutan's Audio Connection is not that. He will be glad to sit with you and listen to some music in his shop. Don't be misled by its appearance from the street. This is not just a little storefront. There are quite a few listening rooms scattered both in that space and in another building nearby (one has an amazing sounding system that costs crazy amounts of money
Many such stores treat you like you're inadequate. Whatever you have, be it a $500 system or a $20000 is inadequate. John Rutan's Audio Connection is not that. He will be glad to sit with you and listen to some music in his shop. Don't be misled by its appearance from the street. This is not just a little storefront. There are quite a few listening rooms scattered both in that space and in another building nearby (one has an amazing sounding system that costs crazy amounts of money
