Welcome to The Listening Room
My name is Michael Hoatson, and music has been a lifelong passion for my family. It all began with my grandfather, "Pop-Pop" Donald Hoatson. Upon having a religious moment where he wanted to help people, he started to volunteer for United Cerebral Palsy. Shortly after, he left his corporate job at Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone and decided, on the side, to turn his lifelong audio hobby into something more.
He started by horse trading used gear in the Sunpapers until his friend Phil Rovner (Rovner Products / Power Research Products) convinced him to become a real business and to start selling his speakers in 1978. He started as an at-home business before shortly moving to a storefront in Beacham Square in Pikesville, off Old Court Road, where we were located until the 2010s.
Today the shop is at 320 Cannon Street in Chestertown, MD, where we proudly serve the Chestertown community and music lovers from the DC Metro Area and beyond. We're a short drive from the hustle and bustle, offering a haven for those who crave exceptional sound and personalized service. And now, we're taking those exceptional service standards nationwide via our website!
I run a brick and mortar store my grandfather started almost 50 years ago. I'm not really interested in the Amazon model of racing to the bottom pricing wise just to win a customer's business. I win a customer's business with the service I offer.
Three Generations, One Passion
The spark
Pop-Pop, Donald Hoatson, went from horse trading used gear in the Sunpapers to a real business, selling his speakers from home.
The storefront
A shop in Beacham Square off Old Court Road, our home until the 2010s.
The third generation
After years working in the family business, I took the reins as the third generation to carry it on.
Beyond Chestertown
We brought the showroom's service standards online, delivering to music lovers across the country.
The promise
One customer at a time, matched to what is genuinely right for them.
What's Right for You, Even When It's Not the Most Expensive
I've built and set up thousands of systems, so a short conversation usually tells me what belongs in yours. Sometimes that is less than you came prepared to spend, and I will say so. I would rather you trust me with the next system than squeeze everything out of this one. That's how I'd want to be treated when I'm the one buying, so that's what I do for you.
I called Mike to talk about speakers that would work in a 13 x 14 foot room where they would be close to the walls. He asked my price range and I said $5k to $10k. He recommended a system that was less than $5k. That immediately earned my trust. I knew I was dealing with a person who was more interested in helping me find a good solution than he was in helping me pay as much as I was prepared to pay. It made it easy to trust his recommendation for what to buy: Acoustic Research AE 1 Active speakers and a Cambridge Audio streamer and CD player. I just set the system up. It sounds so good! I just want to keep listening to it. I'm really happy with this purchase. Thank you, Mike!
Our Pillars and Ethos to Exceptional HiFi Service
I bring it to you myself
We offer amazing tiers of delivery within a radius of our store in Chestertown, MD.
- Free delivery within 100 miles for orders above $1000
- Free delivery within 200 miles for orders above $5000
- Free delivery within 400 miles for orders above $10000
- Above $30,000, FREE DELIVERY AND SETUP WITHIN THE CONTIGUOUS UNITED STATES.* I personally deliver and set up your system to ensure it sounds amazing and you are 100% satisfied.
*The free nationwide delivery and setup offer applies to full-price orders. Orders that include a discount are handled on a case-by-case basis and may involve an additional charge. See our Shipping Policy for full details.
It's more than just about getting your system up and running, it's about ensuring it performs at its absolute best in your unique listening space. Witnessing the joy on a customer's face when they hear their favorite music come alive in a whole new way is incredibly rewarding.
And if the timing is tight, I go get it. One customer had a narrow window for a subwoofer delivery, so I drove to the warehouse and made it happen on a Sunday.
Yes, we have stock of most products
We get asked all the time: "Do you actually have this in stock?" And the answer is yes. We stock over 2,600 items across our own warehouse and demo inventory. Unlike many big-box sites that list everything but carry almost nothing, we maintain a real, rotating selection of the gear we actually sell. We've built strong relationships with our distributors, and since we're just a short drive away from some of them, we're able to get products into your hands quickly. If it's on our site, there's a good chance it's either in stock or on its way. No, "it just sold" or ghost listings. Just real gear, real availability, and real people behind every order.
Getting every order right is paramount
Making sure each customer ends up with exactly what they wanted is the standard I hold every order to. One customer at a time, in person, that part is easy. Online sales make it more complicated, with more room for something to slip. My goal is to give you the same level of service through our website that you'd get standing in my showroom. So if there's ever an issue with your order, for any reason, contact me directly at the number on the website (it's my cell) and I'll personally make it right.
We're all about transparency
We'll readily point out features that might not be worth the extra cost, saving you from buyer's remorse. We also offer competitive pricing, with special discounts for repeat customers, system purchases, and gently-used demo equipment. And if you find a better authorized dealer price, just let us know, we'll match it! We offer the best out-the-door pricing in the business!
Military, veterans and first responders
If you're serving now, you've served, or you're a first responder, I take 12% off most of what we sell. It isn't posted anywhere on the site and there's no code to go hunting for. Just call or email before you order and I'll set it up.
Free shipping on most orders over $100
Our steadfast goal is to get the audio you want into your house, and we happily will ship that to you for free as long as the order is over $100! This is not the case with larger speakers that cost a boatload to ship or larger towers that are inexpensive.
90-Day Product Functionality Guarantee
I stand behind every product we sell. If your item has a defect or failure within the first 90 days, we'll swap it out for a brand-new unit, no questions asked. Because quality and satisfaction matter.
After 90 days, I don't disappear. If something goes wrong two years from now, give me a ring. I would rather find you a solution than leave you stuck with a product that isn't working.
An authorized dealer for every brand we sell
Every brand on this site, I am an authorized dealer for. That matters on the day something goes wrong. Your warranty is valid from the start, and if a unit arrives with a manufacturer defect or fails while it is covered, I take it up with the manufacturer myself. You are not chasing a distributor or arguing with a marketplace seller about whether your serial number counts.
Honesty and integrity
These are the cornerstones of our business. I believe in building relationships, not just making quick sales. We are here to guide you, not pressure you. We'll happily answer your questions, set up listening sessions, and ensure you find the perfect audio components to fit your needs and budget.
It's about more than just selling equipment
I (still Mike but use the "we" since I employ help occasionally) am passionate about helping you create a dream audio system that brings your music to life. Ask around locally or check in audio groups and you'll see pictures of speaker, amp, preamp, and audio component boxes meticulously stuffed in the back of my van. 4-5 days per week, I deliver amazing HiFi audio locally to Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C., but also to customers almost anywhere east of the Mississippi.
Audio is Your Passion.My commitment is making your dream a reality.
Let's chat about your vision, and we'll work together to design a setup that exceeds your expectations. Welcome to the family! We can't wait to help you experience your favorite music like never before.
Tell me about your vision
What Our Customers Say
Mike has been great. He has set me up with an incredible system. Rogue RP7 preamp, Rogue Apollo Dark mono amps, Magnepan 3.7i and a pair of Perlisten R212s subs to fill in the low end. His shop is roughly 500 miles away but that hasn’t stopped him from providing me in home delivery and set up. He’s always there when I have questions. Highly recommended.
This hi-fi store goes above and beyond to keep customers happy. Spoke to Mike who is very approachable and super knowledgeable. I ordered some Perlisten speakers that were on sale, and Mike and Aaron were able to deliver them in-house and set them up that same evening. I think they gave honest advice about how to set up my home theater. I had a similar great experience for the subs I ordered. I am just awestruck at how easy they made everything. If you’re in the market for audio gear, rest assured they will work make the experience pain-free and within your budget. Thanks guys!
Michael is the man. He gave me a great price on a Goldring cartridge and installed it for no charge on my vintage Thorens turntable. You can tell he knows his stuff and really cares about doing it the right way. Well worth the trip to Chestertown...
