Entry No. 16 — the Memphis file — filed under: records

Memphis Listening Lab

Built entirely around the personal record collection Ardent Records co-founder John King donated before his death — 35,000 45s, 15,000 LPs, 25,000 CDs, 2,000 books, and over 1,000 pieces of music ephemera — free to the public, played back through a reference-quality sound system in a room called the SoundRoom.

The move: Pull two records neither of you has heard, sit in the SoundRoom's good chairs, and let the reference speakers make the case for why vinyl still wins the argument.

• 📍 Crosstown Concourse, Midtown Memphis
• 💸 $
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Indoors

Where: 1350 Concourse Ave, Suite 269, Memphis, TN 38104

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Official site · commercialappeal.com

last checked: 2026-07-20