(323) 245-6400

6400 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028 34.0979 -118.3291

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Neighborhoods: Hollywood, Central LA

AMOEBAMUSIC.COM

Years in business

Established in 1990

Hours:

Monday To Saturday From 10:30 AM To 11:00 PM Sunday From 11:00 AM To 09:00 PM

Last updated 6.23.11

Category:

Shopping, Poster Printing, Used Records

Payment Methods:

Visa, Discover, MasterCard

Shopping Products:

Music CDs & Tapes, DVDs

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Amoeba Music

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – The sound of plastic CD cases knocking against each other can be deafening as people from all over town flip through the seemingly endless collection. Staffers are on hand to help, but most music fiends simply like to lose themselves amid the racks, patiently digging for something phenomenal. – – The Goods – Amoeba, perhaps the largest independent record store in the country, boasts more than 500,000 new and used CDs, vinyl and tapes with an emphasis on rock. From that old Stones disc your ex-girlfriend swiped, to the rare house mix you once heard at Giant,…

Editor's Tips

Look Good:
Get cash or store credit for old CDs. Amoeba offers some of the best buy-back rates in town.
Know Before You Go:
Amoeba regularly offers free, in-store performances. Show up early to stake out a good spot.
The Extras:
With scanner-activated listening stations, you can play almost any CD off the racks. Just swipe the bar code under the red beam. Buy carefully--returns are only good for store credit.
ambiance
62.5% positive
  1. “the decor is great, too.”
  2. “They only drawback is parking is really bad.”
  3. “Unfortunately, the parking is horrible.”
  4. “The store also has a cool funky atmosphere.”
  5. “Groovey people, groovey music, and deliciously-groovey long lines so as to take a slow deep breath, relish in the not to overally priced ditty in your hand, and take in the atmosphere around ya.”
  6. “Additionally, parking is convenient and the store is central for shoppers from almost any area.”
  7. “might I suggest parking outside?”
  8. “Unfortunately everyone and their mother knows so it's a parking problem and there's always a bit of a crowd but the music's good.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “Best store--bar none”
food quality
100.0% positive
  1. “like to keep my dj sets fresh and unpredictable, so Amoeba has some great finds for the times when I want to drop the perfect old skool jam for the dancefloor.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “I've bought something from just about every section of Amoeba, and there is no doubt the selection is overall excellent, with some big caveats.”
  2. “Price on new stuff pretty decent, pre-owned selection is huge.”
  3. “The prices and selections are to good to be true.”
  4. “Great selection of music and they are always having in-store appearances by good artists.”
  5. “Huge selection of used CDs available along with new titles--best selection anywhere!”
  6. “The prices are very reasonable, the selections are both thorough and eclectic, and the potential for hearing and seeing things you've never encountered before is present in overabundance.”
  7. “used selections is great, as are old records, rock posters, etc. staff knows their stuff.”
  8. “Amoeba carries classic country, and an extensive folk collection.”
  9. “like Amoeba becuase they have a great selection of music (something for everyone) at a great price.”
  10. “It has the most interesting and diverse set of CDs and record.”
  11. “The place is huge, two-stories and they have an incredible selection of music from every genre.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “This is really one of the best music stores in the country.”
  2. “Amoeba is definitely the best record store in Los Angeles.”
  3. “Selection is great, but there are more user-friendly stores in town, with just as good a product.”
  4. “best cd store in town, hands down.”
  5. “best record store in LA”
service
87.5% positive
  1. “hurray for nice sales people!”
  2. “Selection is great, but there are more user-friendly stores in town, with just as good a product.”
  3. “Groovey people, groovey music, and deliciously-groovey long lines so as to take a slow deep breath, relish in the not to overally priced ditty in your hand, and take in the atmosphere around ya.”
  4. “The customer service is not that bad for a large store but there is room for improvement.”
  5. “The staff are very knowledgeable (colectively) with each person having their own specialties.”
  6. “used selections is great, as are old records, rock posters, etc. staff knows their stuff.”
  7. “The staff is also very knowledgeable on even the most obscure artists.”
  8. “Helpful and cheerful staff, who KNOW THEIR STUFF might I add.”
value
88.10000419616699% positive
  1. “The prices are very reasonable, the selections are both thorough and eclectic, and the potential for hearing and seeing things you've never encountered before is present in overabundance.”
  2. “The place is huge.”
  3. “Real deals are found in other local record stores that are shockingly never even mentioned in "Best of LA" lists, mostly because regulars don't want to give up their best kept secrets.”
  4. “Kinda pricey.”
  5. “They also give good prices if you want/need to sell off some of your collection that you don't listen/watch to anymore.”
  6. “am always able to find good cd's at an excellent price!”
  7. “like Amoeba becuase they have a great selection of music (something for everyone) at a great price.”
  8. “Albums that are released on the previous Tuesday, can usual be found in great shape for a reasonable, used price under $10.”
  9. “The place is huge, two-stories and they have an incredible selection of music from every genre.”
  10. “Sure a few things are overpriced, and some new releases should seriously be restocked, like Coldplay, but for the most part, the prices are great, often with new records being several dollars less than the CD.”
  11. “You can buy slightly used music for such great prices!”
  12. “Comedy albums (bought my deluxe Richard Pryor comedy album set there for a brilliant price).”
  13. “This can make a huge difference when you are selling.”
  14. “Ah, Amoeba, their used CD prices are great, but new ones can be overpriced.”
  15. “The prices and selections are to good to be true.”
  16. “The store is huge and the cds are arranged by style which range from rock to electronica to bluegrass.”
  17. “This place is so good you lose all control over the amount of money you spend.”
  18. “And you will surely find a lot of good stuff -- for top dollar.”
  19. “Their awesome, although sometimes pricey used section is the best in L.A. for harder to find titles.”
  20. “My math isn't that great, but 15 sents for an album they are selling for 9 dollars is not half!”
  21. “Price on new stuff pretty decent, pre-owned selection is huge.”
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. “Groovey people, groovey music, and deliciously-groovey long lines so as to take a slow deep breath, relish in the not to overally priced ditty in your hand, and take in the atmosphere around ya.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/20/12

-------------- www.goshoppingo. com/ ----------- a leading

by ujmujmujm at Citysearch

-------------- www.goshoppingo. com/ -----------

a leading worldwide wholesale company (or ucan say organization). We supply more than 100 thousand high-quality merchandise and famous brand name products all at wholesale prices.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/01/11

Amoeba is my Church & savior; I go there weekly!!

by 6626222 at Citysearch

i love this place. everyone who works there are avid music buffs and never ever steer you in the wrong direction. They take the time to ask you a few questions about your personal likes and the staff genuinely care about you satisfaction of finding a great new album or artist. I go there all the time to compliment their last recommendations to me. They really know how to treat customers and make loyal circles.

PS - check out the world music section and ask for their help. my greatest finds have been from that section mostly.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

07/19/08

fantastico

by hired at Citysearch

I can find scandanavian import black metal, and lost vinyl free jazz, in a matter of minutes, just a few feet away from each other. Upstairs, the movies are a little more chaotic, but, who cares with such a selection, and laser discs to boot, I mean, this place has everything. And then some

  • Pros: movies, music, live shows, lots of staff, lots of everything
  • Cons: parking isn't so great
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/29/08

HUGE!!!

by Friendo at Citysearch

THEE best and biggest record store I've EVER been in. Helpful and cheerful staff, who KNOW THEIR STUFF might I add. This store has anything, ANYTHING, I say!!!! You name it and more than likely, they've got it: Music from Senegal: Fatou Guewel, Orchestra Baobab, Fatou Laobe, Youssou N'Dour, Vivian N'Dour, underground hip hop: Mos Def/K-os/Common/Dilla, mainstream hip hop: JayZ/Kanye/Busta. World music of any kind: Enya, Feist, Portishead, Buena Vista Social Club. The biggest reggae selection I've seen, it's almost intimidating. Comedy albums (bought my deluxe Richard Pryor comedy album set there for a brilliant price). I mean I could go on and on and on. I love it and I feel so fortunate to be living in one of only 3 cities where this store calls home (SanFran & Berkeley). Awesome used cd's as well for excellent prices (bought my Van Hunt cd there for a cool $6.99!!! NOW BEAT THAT!) I stay buying their used cd's and I buy w/out testing it out to see if they'll skip because THEY NEVER DO. They guarantee their merchandise. I SIMPLY LOVE IT! I will forever be a loyal customer!

  • Pros: Everything but parking
  • Cons: Parking can sometimes be a drag, but then again, this is Hollywood
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/22/07

only place i'll buy music

by Tara deLis at Citysearch

love this store. love everything about it. i had been to the SF one before it opened, so i was really looking forward to it being here. i don't buy as much music as i used to, but when i do, i do it here. used selections is great, as are old records, rock posters, etc. staff knows their stuff. they do in-store live performances sometimes too. parking is a hassle. that lot is full a lot.

  • Pros: great used cds, call sell your old stuff
  • Cons: parking stinks

The Details on Amoeba Music

Place Categories:

  • great prices
  • best amoeba
  • huge place
  • very knowledgeable staff
  • best cd store
  • really bad parking
  • great selection
  • best record store
  • good current cd
  • cool instore performances
  • diverse set
  • likely enjoy experience
  • favorite artists
  • great decor
  • pricey kinda
  • sometimes pricey used section
  • extensive folk collection
  • enjoy hasslefree shopping
  • best music stores
  • great ameoba
  • best kept secrets
  • love gotta
  • like classical music
  • unpredictable dj sets
  • great free live music

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