5 Best Music Stores in Johannesburg (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Talise Sterling, Goods and Shopping · ✓ Data verified August 2026 · 8 min read

Buying a guitar string, kitting out a full DJ booth and hunting down a rare vinyl pressing all count as visiting music stores in Johannesburg, but they send you to completely different shops. SOUND SELECT has logged 2,131 Google reviews, more than any other name here, while Tokzen Records holds a perfect 5.0 average built on 61. The real question on this page is scale versus specialism.

Short answer: SOUND SELECT in Sydenham is Johannesburg's most-reviewed music and sound equipment store, 4.6 stars across 2,131 reviews, covering DJ gear, instruments and pro audio. Tokzen Records holds a perfect 5.0 across 61 reviews for vinyl and house music. Mercury Music (4.5) and A1 Sound (4.2) round out the shortlist for instrument repairs and large-scale sound equipment.

Jump to a business

1. SOUND SELECT
2. A1 Sound
3. Mercury Music
4. Downtown Music Hub
5. Tokzen Records
Get listed

Johannesburg music stores at a glance

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	SOUND SELECT	4.6 ★	2,131	DJ gear / broadest range	View ›
2	A1 Sound	4.2 ★	1,145	Sound equipment / stage gear	View ›
3	Mercury Music	4.5 ★	311	Instrument repairs	View ›
4	Downtown Music Hub	4.4 ★	310	Recording studio and community hub	View ›
5	Tokzen Records	5.0 ★	61	Vinyl and house music	View ›

5 Best Music Stores in Johannesburg (2026)

Our top picks, reviewed

#1 Overall🕑 Open 6 days/wk

SOUND SELECT

4.62,131 Google reviews

SOUND SELECT, in Sydenham, sells sound and music equipment both online and in-store, spanning speakers, PA systems, mixers, DJ controllers, microphones, lighting and musical instruments. It is the most-reviewed music store in Johannesburg by a wide margin, and its site advertises price matching and free gifts with bundle purchases.

What people praise

Staff, including one named repeatedly, praised for fast, professional service on DJ gear purchases
Huge product range spanning DJ equipment, pro audio, lighting and instruments
Fast, reliable delivery reported by multiple reviewers
Deals and specials reviewers describe as some of the best in the market

Reputation scorecardrank in Johannesburg

Rating4.6 / 5

Review volume2,131 · 97th

Confidencevery high

Recency3 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown81% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: By far the deepest review base of any music store here, and the pick for anything DJ or pro-audio related, from a single controller to a full setup.

Website +27114853639 Directions

6 Durham St, Sydenham, Johannesburg, 2129

#2🕑 Open 6 days/wk

A1 Sound

4.21,145 Google reviews

A1 Sound, on Main Street in Marshalltown, supplies professional sound equipment, studio gear, lighting, stage gear and musical instruments, describing itself as Africa's leading retail sound equipment store. It carries a large product catalogue online, from digital mixers to loose subwoofers.

What people praise

Staff, including one named repeatedly, praised for helpful, responsive service
Store described as fully stocked with a wide range of PA equipment
Second-highest review volume on this list

Worth knowing

Multiple reviewers report slow or missing responses to online order queries
One reviewer described a shipping-damaged item that took repeated follow-up to resolve

Reputation scorecardrank in Johannesburg

Rating4.2 / 5

Review volume1,145 · 90th

Confidencehigh

Recency5 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown58% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Strong for range and in-store service, but the online order communication complaints are frequent enough that we'd recommend calling to confirm an order rather than relying on WhatsApp or email alone.

Website +27113312177 Directions

148 Main St, Marshalltown, Johannesburg, 2001

#3🕑 Open 6 days/wk

Mercury Music

4.5311 Google reviews

Mercury Music, in a small mall in Edenvale, sells and repairs musical instruments and pro audio gear, and also buys and sells used equipment. Its site emphasises repair and service work alongside sales, and it covers guitars, pianos and general audio visual repair.

What people praise

Staff described as passionate and knowledgeable about instruments specifically
Repair turnaround praised, including a same-visit guitar setup and polish
One reviewer noted staff gave away a spare guitar string rather than insisting on a full-pack sale

Worth knowing

At least two reviewers found the shop closed during posted operating hours
Smaller shop than the sound-equipment specialists on this list

Reputation scorecardrank in Johannesburg

Rating4.5 / 5

Review volume311 · 83rd

Confidencehigh

Recency8 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown81% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The pick for instrument repair specifically, backed by reviewers who highlight genuine care for the craft, though call ahead given the reports of unexpected closures.

Website +27833581641 Directions

Shop 2, Victoria Lane Mall, 32 8th Ave, Edenvale, Johannesburg, 1610

#4🕑 Open 7 days

Downtown Music Hub

4.4310 Google reviews

Downtown Music Hub, on Goud Street in the Johannesburg CBD, is a recording studio rather than a retail music store, offering studio time, mastering and a gathering space reviewers describe as a creative hub for local musicians. Its Google hours are listed as open around the clock.

What people praise

Reviewers describe the sound quality and mastering as strong
Long-running reputation as a hub for South African musicians going back years
Welcoming atmosphere reviewers say makes artists feel at home

Worth knowing

This is a recording studio and creative space rather than a retail store selling instruments or gear
Not currently a Google-claimed listing

Reputation scorecardrank in Johannesburg

Rating4.4 / 5

Review volume310 · 77th

Confidencehigh

Recency7 months ago

Info completenessphone · hours

Rating breakdown66% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Worth knowing about specifically for recording and mastering rather than buying equipment, and reviewers consistently describe it as a genuine fixture of the local music scene.

+27604144950 Directions

2001, 62 Goud St, City and Suburban, Johannesburg, 2094

#5🕑 Open 6 days/wk

Tokzen Records

5.061 Google reviews

Tokzen Records, at Gandhi Square in Marshalltown, is a record store specialising in vinyl, with a particular focus on house music. Reviewers describe it as a hub for South African house music culture rather than a general instrument retailer.

What people praise

Perfect rating on this list, with every recorded review a 5-star
Staff described as knowledgeable and generous with their time, including help fixing a customer's record player
Strong reputation specifically within the house music and vinyl community

Worth knowing

Its most recent reviews are several years old, so confirm current stock and hours before visiting
Niche focus on vinyl and house music rather than instruments or general audio gear

Reputation scorecardrank in Johannesburg

Rating5 / 5

Review volume61 · 60th

Confidenceearly

Recency4 years ago

Info completenessphone · hours

Rating breakdown100% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The specialist choice for vinyl and house music specifically. Its perfect rating is real, though its review activity has slowed, so a quick call to confirm hours is worth it before a special trip.

+27730128833 Directions

Gandhi Square, New St, Marshalltown, Johannesburg, 2001

Your business here

Get listed on this page, in front of local customers already searching for you.

Claim this spot ›

How we score

Every number on this page is computed from public Google data as of August 2026, not opinion or payment. Rating is each business’s live Google star average. Review volume shows how many customers have rated them, measured against other Johannesburg music and sound stores. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a 4.6 from over two thousand reviewers carries more weight than a 5.0 from a few dozen. Recency reflects how recently customers are still leaving reviews. No business can pay to change these numbers.

How much does music gear cost in Johannesburg? (2026)

Pricing swings hugely between a single guitar string and a full PA system, and while none of these stores publish one blanket price list, several real prices appear directly on retailer websites in the data.

Job	Typical price
Pioneer DDJ FLX 4 DJ controller with free headphones bundle (A1 Sound, listed online)	R7,450
Sennheiser HD 25 professional DJ headphones (A1 Sound, listed online)	R3,020
Allen & Heath Qu-24C 24-channel digital mixer (A1 Sound, listed online)	R41,000

Prices compiled August 2026 directly from A1 Sound’s own website listings. Music equipment pricing varies by brand, model and stock availability, so confirm current pricing with each store directly.

Serving Johannesburg, from the CBD to Edenvale

These music stores span Sydenham, Marshalltown, the Johannesburg CBD and Edenvale. Searching for a music store near me? Every listing below shows a live phone number and address so you can call ahead and confirm stock before you visit.

What to ask before you buy music equipment

Is this item in stock in-store, or does it need to be ordered in?
What’s the warranty period on new equipment, and is there a local repair service?
For a repair, what’s the turnaround time and does it come with a written quote first?
Do you buy or trade in used gear, and how is a trade-in valued?
Is delivery available, and what does it cost outside Johannesburg?

Frequently asked questions

How did you choose these music stores?

We started from music and sound equipment stores in Johannesburg with a public Google presence, then ranked by rating, review volume, consistency and recency. See How we score above.

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another business’s score or position.

How often is this updated?

The data carries a verified date (August 2026 on this page). We refresh listings periodically so ratings and review counts stay current.

Where do I get an instrument repaired in Johannesburg?

Mercury Music in Edenvale focuses on instrument and audio equipment repair alongside sales, with reviewers specifically praising its guitar setup and service work.

Where can I buy vinyl records in Johannesburg?

Tokzen Records at Gandhi Square specialises in vinyl, particularly house music, and holds a perfect 5.0 rating on this list.

The bottom line

SOUND SELECT is the safe default for range, volume and DJ gear specifically. For instrument repairs go to Mercury Music, and for vinyl and house music head to Tokzen Records.

Best Retail And Shopping in other cities

More categories in Johannesburg

Own one of these businesses, or want to be here?

Claim your spot on this page: Basic listing $50 or Premium $100 for the top spot, held a full year. Both include a permanent link to your site.

Get listed See pricing