Best store for stereo equipment
Buying audio equipment can be a daunting task. Not so at Cambridge SoundWorks, a national chain that started as a local speaker manufacturer. It sells quality equipment from the most trusted brands, and it's done factory-direct, which equals savings. There's also a 45-day home trial as well as a "no questions asked" return policy, and 24-hour live support for when you realize you just don't know how to work the darn thing.

People may dump on the big chains, but there is a certain satisfaction in having everything you could want in one place. At Best Buy you'll find all the brands, from low-end (for the budget-conscious) to top-of-the-line. It's got home-theater systems, stereos, amps, and every kind of speaker imaginable from brands such as Sony, Bose, and Yamaha. There's even an extensive online-research center to help you wade through the thousands of electronic offerings and make an informed and prudent decision. It's almost like music to your ears. Why, it is!

Cambridge SoundWorks, multiple locations, www.cambridgesoundworks.com; Best Buy, multiple locations, www.bestbuy.com.