I love sonic boom they treat you like a customer. They are friendly and helpful if you need some help they are there to help you.I have not trouble with them.They are the best. I will go back to the record store.Thank you Sonic boom for treating me like a costumer.And your prices are the best.Keep up the good work.

This is the place for Vinyl records new and used. A massive selection of CDs of all music types and for collectibles.

They also offer headphones, record players, music books and T shirts

Really this is the place if you love music and avoid MP3 files.

There is nothing like listening to a CD on your home stereo system while perusing the included lyrics or booklet.

Love this place. Good, diverse vinyl selection with reasonable prices; more often than not, I find Sonic Boom's prices to be lower than other vinyl shops in Toronto. Lots of CDs, t-shirts, mags and even cassette tapes if that is your thing as well.

As for the big checked bag "controversy," I've never personally felt singled out (white male, early 30s) when I've gone in with a bag. I respect... more

Moving to Toronto from L.A. meant giving up the mecca of used music, Amoeba Hollywood. I am happy to report that in good Canadian fashion, Sonic Boom has been a smaller, less intense and almost equal substitute. I'd guess that close to 60% of my CD purchases have come from here since I immigrated.

The location can't be beat, especially if you are headed over to the Bloor Cinema--it is almost... more

Definitely check this place out if you're looking for anything music related!
Sonic boom has a wide variety of tees, new and used CDs, records and even cassettes!

Very helpful staff as well.

The "check your bag" policy is mildly irritating and I have to knock them back a star for that. These policies always seem to take bags from men but never take purses of any size from women. My peeve is the implied assumption the customers are thieves. The people behind the counter are friendly and cool and everything. Like I say, this is just a pet peeve with me.

Okay that rant over, who'd... more

I agree 100 % fully with Daniel H. Reading his review, he basically indicated everything I have been feeling about Sonic Boom's unequal application of their checked bag policy.

I have been a loyal customer since 2001 when the store originally opened on Bloor Street at Bathurst. I haven't always liked Sonic Boom's treatment of customers - some of their staff can be condescending and dismissive,... more

First of all, I want to state that I am a professional male in his mid-forties with a disposable income, and not a teenager: consequently, I can spend a large amount of my income on music, as opposed to just buying the odd CD or LP every once in a while. Having said that, often - after work on a Friday afternoon - I will purchase new music at a number of places in the Toronto area (depending on... more

one of my favorite places in toronto, awesome place to kill an hour on a saturday.

Easily the best music store in Toronto, and a place I'd rank alongide music stores anywhere, Sonic Boom is the place I keep coming to when I look for music. New or old, CD or LP, actual music or paraphrenalia, Sonic Boom has it all. The new location on Bathurst Street is a bit smaller than the previous location, now a Dollarama, but thankfully quality doesn't seem to have suffered from the move.

Sonic Boom is music to my ears. Literally. Thanks to the good folks at this awesome place I've been introduced to some new, new, sweet, sweet music.

This place is a gargantuan warehouse of music and movie goodies. Their selection is eclectic and extensive. I've shelled quite a few dollars here, and have no regrets. The staff is friendly, and has helped navigate me many times in both direction... more

This was my first time at this record store. The store's layout is spacious and on one level. The cds are divided by genres, with pop/rock being the first to greet you as you walk in. If you make your way to the far left of the store, you will find dvds and boxed sets. Vinyls are found towards the back of the store and they seem to use the far end as a make shift live music venue.

I enjoyed... more

Got suckered into the big signs and catchy exterior as we were driving by. This place is a ginormous store for all things music: cds, vinyls, accessories, clothing, old record players, you name it. There was even a live band setting up to play. It's wonderland for any audiophile.

I never went to the original location on Bathurst but I've had a solid experience here the couple of times I've visited. I'm not sure if it's the high ceilings, but it feels like the store needs to fill out a bit. Maybe they just need time to settle in to their new location.

Sonic Boom has relocated to Bathurst Street and is now connected to Honest Eds. I am not particularly bananas about this move. I mean the space is rather large, the inventory and merchandise are equivalent to the previous location, however; the feel is not the same. This new location is actually kind of disheartening. Honest Eds is so tacky and gimmicky and they carry such random products.... more

I hate change! The old Sonic Boom felt like a Toronto institution where I would spend money on stuff I didn't need when I was drunk and in the Annex. Its interior was weird, wonderful, and lit with harsh, unforgiving fluorescent light that would put a desert 24-hour convenience store in a zombie film to shame. Its basement full of vinyl had slightly better lighting, and lots of nicely organized... more

I don't get this place. It has potential but the prices are so inconsistent that it makes me wonder about all the pricing of albums. Many albums that are new here are cheaper to buy on Amazon.ca. Many of the used are simply overpriced. Many dealers tend to set higher prices on albums that are or were popular and that isn't really how it works. The rare or original recordings are what capture... more

Kind of reminded me of amoeba in california!
Retro, cds, vinyl, tshirts, stereos, anything music related.

I especially like the listening stations, where you can listen to your music before buying it. The station also has a scanner so you can scan your music without searching for it!

*self declared music junkie*

Record stores don't get any better than this. On the way in, you're greeted by exuberantly oversized front-window exhibits celebrating new releases. The main floor has T-shirts, more T-shirts, books, DVDs, and a fantastic selection of CDs - if you have a list of favourite bands no one else has heard of, don't be surprised if you spot discs by two or three of them here. Downstairs is the... more

Sonic Boom is a great retro Used CD & DVD store.

I believe they sell vinyl too. It's great how they let you sample and preview CDs. It reminds me of once great record shops in NYC.

They do buy used media, although for not that great of a price. I recently sold about 9 DVD for a grand total of $16. I have no use for such discs, so gladly took the cash.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have bad news to... more

Great atmosphere, has a huge selection of new and used CDs and DVDs and oh, the rarities.
I could spend hours browsing. Love it.

I love this place, the prices are a bit high and they won't buy anything but the rarest of the rare for more than a quarter, but I still love it. Its a decent place to get things that aren't the most popular for slightly less than full retail. I picked up a dvd box set that retails for $50, amazons/best buy prices was $39.99 and sonic boom had it for $37.49 used. Not the best deal ever, but... more

Awesome place for general screwing around. If you want something to waste an hour (and maybe some money) on, go here, lots of used CDs for cheap. Don't like CDs? There's a pretty good amount of vinyl in the basement.

Cool store

The basement has an old vintage feeling to it, hard to explain, nevertheless the selection of whatever media you're looking for is great

Couldn't leave without buying a Richord Pryor dvd, the greatest of all time

Hipster Hell--don't fall for their ad that claims they'll buy "any CD"...I drove over a box of CDs and DVDs of pretty high quality(everything from The Pixies to Brian Eno to David Lynch and the Coen Bros. In pristine condition and they rejected 99% of my offering, the clerk sniffing "we're really fussy". So I tried to unload the rest of it in the uber-cool "the Annex" and couldn't give it away.... more

what's not to love? i can spend hours wandering the vinyl racks. it hasn't ever been overly crowded and the staff are friendly. i was going to head down there today but instead i called to see if they had the album i was looking for. after a brief moment on hold while he checked the system, he went over and checked the racks for me. since it wasn't there he asked if i wanted it brought in. how... more

Funky decor. Used DVDs. I can't even start with what I absolutely love about this place.

Well, not to mention that Scott Pilgrim was filmed here... heh.

I admire places like Sonic Boom even though I feel that the days of buying CDs and DVDs is falling behind us with each passing day, and with the unstoppable growth of online megastores such as Netflix and I-tunes.
The funny and friendly staff, the cool front display, and the many relics/artwork adorning the interior are all testament to the amazing character this store has.
The hours are also... more

Sonic BOOOOOOOOOooom !!

This is a great place to kill some time. Whenever I'm having a lazy Sunday afternoon, I alternate between here and BMV books.

Sadly, I don't think I've ever bought anything at Sonic Boom, with the exception of "Hip Hop Abs" DVD as a gag gift for my friend (hey, only $5!!) But it's a great place if you are a hoarder. You can buy all sorts of cds, vinyl and DVDs that you... more

Yeah, this place is the best but who buys/listens to CD's anymore?

Sonic boom

A few years back I started getting back into collecting vinyl (records that is) and happened to live just up the road from Sonic Boom. I can still remember walking down stairs for the first time, seeing all the racks and getting goose bumps. It's an absolutely massive collection of new and used as well as new and old. They've got a really diverse cross section of stuff so I'm always guaranteed... more

Sonic Boom, or as I like to call it "The store that references a 50 year old man with a japanese anime style haircut" is probably the wet dream of every single person who is really into music and movies.

Where I grew up there was a store called Rasputin, which is essentially the same thing as Sonic Boom, except Sonic Boom has a much cooler name...and less douchier people working there. Like I... more

I"m finding the selection of used CDs drying up in local towns. I'm not sure if it is the advent of buying music online or the closure of some of the larger record stores around North America. I decided to pop in to Sonic Boom on one of my day trips to Toronto and was pleasantly surprised to find a two story building chock full of CDs and LPs. I'm accustomed to looking up one of my favourite... more

I'm a big fan of this record store. It is large-- very large. The selection is deep. The vibe is cool, and it's conveniently located in the Annex. If you like to zone out to the sound of CD's going 'click-clack' as people flip through them, then you've found your shangri-la.

So why not 5-stars then? I'm sorry to have to do this to you, Sonic Boom, but your prices are insanely expensive.... more

I love this store!! I've only been there a couple of times, but I can get lost for hours in there. I love all the cool books, love that they have live bands in the basement (new for them I think)...I love their vinyl selection as well, even tho some are pretty pricey. I was able to find a Mondo Generator CD i'd been looking for for years. I feel like a cooler human being just shopping there.... more

Great window display, great selection, friendly staff, good prices, and a decent enough in-store soundtrack all three times I've been there. Along with the Hockey Hall of Fame, Kensington, and St. Lawrence this is one of my "must visits" every time I come to Toronto.

I've been to Rasputin Berkeley, Amoeba LA, Amoeba Berkeley, and myriad other music stores - along with Vintage Vinyl in St.... more

I visit often and I enjoy the selection of used DVDs and BluRays, but anything new is very expensive compared to the Big Box's. I suppose this is to be expected. Used pricing is competitive on DVDs.

The staff is friendly, the selection extensive and the prices are great. I had no trouble returning a CD (with the receipt) that was skipping as they have a no scuff gaurantee on used items. I just have to stay out of there when I'm broke because I always find something tempting.
They also have listening stations and you can sample the used CDs before you buy them, saved me from buying some duds!

This is The Place to get the music you need. Period.
Nuff said.

This is a fantastic record store. Ever since they opened the basement (which is dedicated to all vinyl) Sonic Boom has been a staple of my crate-digging lifestyle. They also expanded to video games and DVDs to keep things relevant because the days of CD are on the line, though I still go through them now and again in hopes of finding rare CD singles or slept-on releases. The price of quality... more

A good place to stop into from time to time.
The new stuff is a little overpriced, but they do have some rare vinyl stuff at the front of the store that isn't bad price wise.
It's the used stuff that keeps the people coming in. They have a great selection and good prices for used stuff.
Because they have a great selection you can usually find some rare stuff, like singles and b-sides from bands... more

Tons of selection that's constantly changing, open late with MANY things to distract you or pass the time, including vinyl, books, tshirts, posters and CDs (new and used). I love going into Sonic Boom to kill some time before a show at Lee's Palace and hearing the "klack klack klack" of people sifting through the New Arrivals bins...so comforting!

Only been there once and i fell in love with the place

I love this place. Im a music and games junkie especially for the older games. Sonic Boom has both items covered. I even managed to find a few dusty old copies of Super Mario Bros. for the NES... ahh the memories.

Sonic Boom came into being a wee bit past my hey-day of CD collecting.

However, that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the place: the CD and DVD collection is impressive, massive, and their attempts at the we-have-everything/Amoeba Music-esque personality is admirable.

The best part is the lower level, which feels like my parents' basement and hosts some pretty sweet in-stores... more

Oh, that hypnotic clicking and clacking that lulls and soothes the soul. The sound of people on a mission, sorting through plastic cases so correctly labeled "jewel". If I've ever been away from the city or music or shopping for too long, a little dose of Sonic Boom brings back my consumerist glow.

There isn't much more that I can add about this place; I love its long hours and convenient... more

A great place to buy records, CDs, and DVDs that are cheap and previously loved, and an even better place to spend an hour if you've made it somewhere too early.

Sonic Boom is a huge space with zero attitude, lots of awesome finds, and cool staff. My favourite part is the new arrivals section at the front, where you get to see what kind of stuff people bring in on a regular basis.

I've also... more

I love vinyl, but I'm not one of those crazy people who want to rummage through dusty boxes of crud to find good records. Which is why I oh-so-dearly love Sonic Boom.

Its vinyl is neat and tidy and reasonably priced. Plus it's all clear-sleeved and available to listen to downstairs in the basement: the vinyl cubby-hole.

And of course there are tapes and CDs available at great prices too, but... more

Sometimes you just need to spend an hour or so idly flipping through rack after rack of music and movies, hunting for a deal on some of your favorites. With square footage in music to rival BMVs in books or Honest Ed's in junk, Sonic Boom is a must-stop visit in the Annex.

The beloved display windows of Sonic Boom are redone momentarily, and feature absolutely stunning large scale recreations... more

Always open til midnight, Sonic Boom is a bit of an anomaly. It's a gigantic used CD, DVD and vinyl (downstairs) store that is actually successful. It's an enormous space in a prime location, they sponsor the arts with their window displays (Tim Oakley turns album covers into paintings and sculptures, sometimes using motors to add motion to the piece), and even provide the occasional free show.... more

I remember my first trip to Sonic Boom back in the day when it was
called El Cheapo like it was yesterday, I still get chills when I walk
into the small supermarket sized store and know that it's all music.
This is one of the best used/new cd stores in the city. This isn't the
best place to get your indie or underground stuff but it is a great
place to get pretty much everything else that's... more

Huge selection, has obscure movies too such as Fritz The Cat. Relatively obscure albums can be found here, along with albums by local Toronto bands.

As the other reviewer said, it's a great place for killing time.

Sonic Boom Records

I love love love independent record stores. Don’t get my wrong, i have nothing against your HMV’s and Virgin Mega stores. But there is ... more