Audio d'occasion

What Audio d'occasion does

Audio d'occasion is a Montreal-based specialty retailer founded in 1985 by Mario Gagnon and Denis Quenneville, focused on high-fidelity audio equipment with a particular emphasis on the resale of used premium gear. The company operates as the only specialty retailer in Canada dedicated to used high-fidelity equipment resale, individually verifying each used unit against original manufacturer specifications using oscilloscope and performance testing, and offering a 6-month warranty that exceeds the 3-month legal minimum. The product portfolio spans integrated, pre, and power amplifiers, CD players/DACs, network streamers, turntables, loudspeakers (including electrostatic designs), headphones, subwoofers, and accessories, drawn from authorized dealer relationships with brands such as Atoll Électronique, Rega, Oracle Audio, Cambridge Audio, Moon, DALI, Davis Acoustics, Focal, and Chord Electronics.

The business generates revenue through four streams: one-time sales of used equipment (typically priced at ~50% of original retail), one-time sales of new equipment from authorized dealers, hourly technical service and repair ($130 standard / $180 for tube/high-end/electrostatic, effective January 6, 2026), and ancillary hardware sales of music albums co-produced with blues artists Bob Walsh and Guy Bélanger. Distribution is omnichannel within Canada: a physical appointment-based Montreal showroom with three listening rooms, the HIFIPRO.ca e-commerce storefront, and toll-free/toll phone sales, complemented by social media and content marketing. Named enterprise clients include Radio-Canada, Radio-Québec, Vidéotron, TVA, and film production companies, alongside a primary consumer base of audiophiles and music enthusiasts served through long-tail transactions.

Audio d'occasion's strategic positioning combines curation, technical verification, and personal service in a niche where generalist retailers lack both expertise and authorized-supplier access. Recent activity has emphasized product-line breadth (Atoll EVO series, Final Audio electrostatic loudspeakers, Stable 33.33 Immuable turntable), channel development (HIFIPRO.ca, Calendly-based appointments), and brand validation (Google Top Quality Store recognition in 2018/2024), while remaining a small owner-operated business without external funding.

Name

Audio d'occasion

Legal name

Audio d'occasion

Website

https://audio-occasion.qc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Audio d'occasion is a Montreal-based specialty retailer founded in 1985 that sells and services new and used high-fidelity audio equipment, serving audiophiles, audio professionals, and music enthusiasts through an appointment-only showroom, the HIFIPRO.ca e-commerce platform, and phone sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

High-Fidelity Audio Equipment Retail

NAICS

Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (459140)

SIC

Musical Instruments (3931)

akta.pro primary industry

Used & Vintage Musical Instruments Retail (CRALAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Audio Accessories & Consumables (Cables, Stands, Cases, Strings, Picks, Heads) (MPAIAJAF), DJ & Performance Gear (Controllers, Turntables, CDJs, Mixers) (MPAIAJAC)

Keywords

• Used audio equipment
• High-fidelity retail
• Audiophile equipment
• Turntable sales
• Audio repair services

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Used Audio Equipment Sales: Core business since 1985. Sells high-quality used high-fidelity equipment at approximately 50% of original price. All equipment individually verified to meet original specifications with 6-month warranty.
2. New Audio Equipment Sales: Authorized dealer for numerous premium audio brands including Atoll Électronique, Rega, Oracle Audio, Cambridge Audio, Moon, Dali, Davis Acoustics, and many others. Products include amplifiers, turntables, speakers, DACs, headphones, and accessories.
3. Technical Service and Repair: Service department with certified technicians providing repairs on brands sold. Rates starting at $130/hour standard, $180/hour for tube/high-end/ESL equipment. $110 non-refundable deposit required.
4. Music Production: Co-produced multiple albums for blues artist Bob Walsh and Guy Bélanger. Sells albums on CD, USB, and vinyl formats.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Audio d'occasion is a Montreal-based retailer specializing in used and new high-fidelity audio equipment, including amplifiers, CD players, DACs, network streamers, turntables, speakers, headphones, subwoofers, and accessories from premium brands. Each used item is individually verified by qualified technicians to meet original specifications and carries a 6-month warranty. The company also operates an in-house technical service and repair department staffed by certified technicians.

Product overview

Audio d'occasion is a Montreal-based high-fidelity audio equipment retailer specializing in both new and used premium audio gear since 1985. The company operates a physical boutique (requiring appointments) and an online store (HIFIPRO.CA), offering a curated selection of audiophile equipment including amplifiers (integrated, pre, and power), CD players/DACs, network streamers, turntables, speakers, headphones, subwoofers, and accessories. The product portfolio centers on premium brands like Atoll Électronique, Rega, Chord Electronics, DALI, Davis Acoustics, Focal, Grado, and others, with a focus on mid-to-high-end segments. Used equipment undergoes rigorous testing with a 6-month warranty, while new products come with full manufacturer warranties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Used High-Fidelity Audio Equipment
• New High-Fidelity Audio Equipment
• Technical Service and Repair

Quantifiable outcome

• Equipment sold typically at 50% of original retail value
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Disques BrosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced 6 CDs and a vinyl compilation of blues artist Bob Walsh. Also co-produced Guy Bélanger's 'Postcards from London' album. Partnership allows the company to sell these music products and engage with the music community.
• HIFIPRO.CAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSame ownership/management operating the company's e-commerce platform. Online sales channel for both new and used high-fidelity audio equipment.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Reverb: Global online marketplace for new, used, and vintage musical instruments and audio gear. Comparable as a transaction platform for used and new specialty audio equipment, though marketplace-based rather than direct retail.
• Crutchfield: US specialty consumer electronics and audio/video retailer offering premium hi-fi components, home theater, and accessories with strong expert-advisory service. Directly comparable as a specialty hi-fi retailer focused on premium brands and consultative selling.
• Guitar Center: Largest US musical instrument retailer carrying guitars, amps, pro audio, and recording gear through national storefronts and e-commerce. Comparable business model of multi-brand specialty audio equipment retail with both new and used inventory.
• Sweetwater: US-based musical instruments and pro audio retailer with strong online sales, expert sales engineers, and broad premium-brand selection. Comparable as a high-touch specialty audio equipment retailer combining e-commerce with personalized service.
• Canuck Audio Mart: Canadian online marketplace dedicated to buying and selling used and new high-fidelity audio equipment. Direct geographic peer competing for the same audiophile customers in Canada through a marketplace model.
• Audio Advisor: US specialty high-fidelity audio retailer offering amplifiers, turntables, speakers, and home theater components from premium brands. Direct comparable as a specialty hi-fi retailer with curated premium-brand selection and expert service.

Broad incumbents

• Best Buy Canada: Canada's largest mass-market consumer electronics retailer with broad audio category presence including headphones, home audio, and turntables. Comparable as an audio equipment retailer in the same geography but operating at mass-market scale rather than audiophile specialty.

Regional players

• Plurison: Canadian distributor of premium high-fidelity audio brands including Sonos, Bluesound, and Dali. Operates upstream of Audio d'occasion as a brand distributor and adjacent channel partner for premium hi-fi products in the Canadian market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/audiodoccasion
• Facebookfacebook.com/mariogagnon1325
• Instagraminstagram.com/audio_doccasion

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Audio d'occasion