Music Direct

Musicdirect is a Chicago-based leading online retailer of top quality high-end audio components, accessories, and music offering a solid selection from AKG, Goldring, Etymotic, Sennheiser, Shure, Grado, and Ultrasone headphones. They also offer quality headphone amplifiers from Creek, CIAudio, Grado, Musical Fidelity, Naim, and Rega. It is also one of the best places to find audiophile-quality LPs and new music releases. It is a one-stop shopping destination and they offer a brick and mortar location in Chicago where you can audition and purchase equipment. The music selection in the Chicago location will empty your wallet, if you do not control yourself.

The website is very well organized and easy to navigate, although somewhat lacking in the visual department, the images that you can enlarge are very clear and detailed. It took just two clicks to locate the Sennheiser HD650 headphones that we were looking for, after selecting the headphone menu from the left side navigation. One thing we could not figure out was the $599.00 asking price for the HD650s, which had to be the highest price that we have found on the internet for this product. Musicdirect does offer a special discount coupon, which reduces the price to $450.00. I tried specific products using only the model name/number and while we did receive multiple entries, the correct product came up first almost 90% of the time. Musicdirect does not offer ‘free shipping’, and utilizes the United States Postal Service and UPS for all of its shipping. For accessories, larger orders, heavier items and equipment, please contact Musicdirect for shipping quotes based on weight, size, destination and insurance. Overnight and 2nd Day shipping is available at substantially higher costs. Overnight shipping orders require a valid phone number for confirmation. Most orders are shipped from Chicago. Some items require special shipping and handling methods. The shipping cost of these items cannot be estimated accurately using the online tools due to the special handling of these items. In these occasions, the shipping charge will be determined manually by musicdirect and the customer will be emailed with any changes to their original shipping quote.

When it comes to returns and refunds, you will have to have your musicdirect invoice and call them for a 'Return Authorization Label' (RAL). A 'Return Authorization Label' (RAL) is required on any and all returns/defectives/exchanges. A 'RAL' must be obtained within 30 days of the ship date. If the 30-day timeframe has expired on your return/exchange, we will impose a restocking fee (this is true for both accessories and recordings). musicdirect must receive the package within 15 days of the issued 'RAL.' If a package is not received within the above-mentioned timeframe, your merchandise will be subjected to a restocking fee at musicdirect's discretion. Returned packages without the 'RAL' on the outside of the box will not be accepted.

Our experience shopping online was quite positive. We did not receive “free shipping” and the shipment went out within two business days. Musicdirect does not stock a large number of headphones, but they do have an ample supply of headphone amplifiers and headphones of real quality in stock. The selection of music is one of the best on the internet and hard to ignore. If you are looking for a top-notch set of headphones, amplifier, and cable to go with it, this retailer might just be for you.