Los Angeles, the entertainment capital of the world and second-largest U.S. city, offers exceptional monitor shopping opportunities driven by Hollywood's post-production industry, Silicon Beach's tech boom, and the massive gaming community. With the recent opening of Micro Center Tustin and specialized retailers catering to creative professionals, LA's monitor market rivals any city globally.
Address: 15751 Tustin Village Way, Tustin, CA 92780
Phone: (714) 566-8500
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 11am-7pm
After years of anticipation, Micro Center finally arrived in Southern California in 2024. Located in Tustin (Orange County), it's worth the drive from LA for serious shoppers. This 58,000 square foot store brings East Coast-style selection to the West Coast, with the largest monitor inventory in SoCal.
LA Shopping Tip: Worth the 40-60 minute drive from central LA. Combine with South Coast Plaza shopping. Weekday mornings least crowded. Join their email list for exclusive flash sales.
Address: 420 S Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone: (323) 461-1600
Hours: Mon-Thu 10am-7pm, Fri 10am-2pm, Sun 10am-6pm (Closed Saturdays)
B&H's Los Angeles location caters specifically to Hollywood's entertainment industry. While smaller than their NYC flagship, it stocks professional-grade monitors for color grading, video editing, and VFX work. The staff includes former industry professionals who understand production workflows.
With 25+ locations across LA County, Best Buy provides widespread coverage from the beaches to the valleys:
1015 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Near entertainment industry offices
Strong creative professional focus
10390 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Westside flagship, premium selection
Caters to entertainment executives
1815 Hawthorne Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90278
Silicon Beach proximity
Tech worker focused inventory
1301 N Victory Pl, Burbank, CA 91502
Near major studios
Animation/VFX professional focus
Traffic Reality: LA traffic significantly impacts shopping. Plan routes carefully. West Hollywood and Century City stores accessible via Metro. Burbank location best for Valley residents. Beach stores impossible on summer weekends.
Both Burbank and Woodland Hills locations closed in February 2021. The iconic Burbank store with its UFO crashed into the building was a landmark. Closure left massive gap in enthusiast market, partially filled by new Micro Center.
14 LA County locations including Marina del Rey, Los Feliz, and Alhambra. Limited selection but unbeatable 90-day return policy. Business centers offer better electronics selection. Executive membership (2% back) worthwhile for expensive monitors.
431 S Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036. Local institution since 1976. Specializes in color-critical displays for photographers. Offers professional calibration services. Popular with Hollywood still photographers.
Bay Area chain with LA presence. Caters to enthusiasts and professionals. Better prices than B&H on gaming monitors. Good selection of Korean imports and specialized displays.
Glendale location sells ex-rental professional monitors. Great deals on high-end displays with cosmetic wear. Popular with independent filmmakers and YouTube creators.
Los Angeles's entertainment industry creates unique monitor demand:
LA's tech industry rivals the Bay Area in some sectors:
Critical for entertainment industry
Hollywood colorists need Delta E < 2. Test color gamut coverage (DCI-P3 for film, sRGB for web). Verify 10-bit color support for HDR content.
Essential for streaming content
Netflix/Disney+ require HDR mastering. Test peak brightness (1000+ nits for HDR1000). Verify local dimming zones for true HDR.
For gaming and video editing
Test response time for gaming. Check motion handling for video playback. Verify variable refresh rate support.
Always test before leaving
Professional monitors have stricter dead pixel policies. Even one dead pixel unacceptable for color grading work.
Factor 2x normal travel time during rush hours. The 405 is always congested. Use Waze for real-time routing. Consider Metro for Hollywood/Downtown stores. Parking costs $10-30 in commercial areas - factor into budget.
Entertainment professional? Need color accuracy. Gamer? High refresh priority. Developer? Resolution and screen real estate. Content creator? Balance of features.
Check Micro Center Tustin inventory online first. Compare with B&H for professional displays. Plan route avoiding peak traffic. Consider combining with other errands to justify drive.
If buying for production work, check if employer has corporate accounts at B&H or VER. Many studios have preferred vendor agreements with better pricing.
Worth the drive from LA for selection and prices. Check open-box section first. Build-a-PC area lets you test with actual systems. Staff knowledgeable about creative workflows.
Bring reference images on USB drive. Test in store lighting conditions. For pro work, ask about calibration reports. Request to test sealed unit for expensive purchases.
LA heat can damage monitors in cars. Park in shade or garage. Use AC immediately. Consider Uber/Lyft for expensive monitors. Never leave in vehicle - theft risk high.
Test immediately with our tools. For pro displays, use calibration device. Document any issues for warranty. Keep packaging during return window.
Know return policies before buying. Micro Center: 15 days. B&H: 30 days but strict on condition. Best Buy: 15 days (longer with membership). Factor return trip traffic.
Burbank - Professional calibration for post-production
Industry standard for color grading suites. ISF certified technicians. Services major studios.
Multiple locations - Monitor rentals for productions
Short-term rentals for projects. Rent-to-own options. Popular with independent filmmakers.
North Hollywood - Specializes in professional displays
Repairs reference monitors. Sony and Eizo authorized. Used by post houses.
LA Sanitation e-waste centers throughout city
Best Buy accepts all electronics for recycling
Homeboy Electronics Recycling provides jobs and free pickup
Los Angeles offers a unique monitor shopping experience shaped by the entertainment industry's exacting standards and Silicon Beach's tech innovation. The recent arrival of Micro Center in Tustin significantly improves options for enthusiasts and professionals alike, while B&H's Hollywood location continues to serve the industry's color-critical needs. Despite the loss of Fry's Electronics, LA's monitor market remains robust and competitive.
Success in LA monitor shopping requires strategic planning around traffic patterns and understanding the specialized needs of different industries. Entertainment professionals should prioritize B&H or professional vendors for color-accurate displays, while gamers and general users will find better value at Micro Center or Best Buy. The key is accepting that any significant purchase will require a dedicated trip - there's no such thing as "quickly stopping by" a store in Los Angeles.
Whether you're a colorist in Burbank grading the next Netflix series, a developer in Venice building the future of social media, a gamer in Koreatown seeking competitive advantage, or a content creator in Silver Lake building your audience, use our testing tools to ensure your monitor investment delivers professional results. In the entertainment capital of the world, your display isn't just a monitor - it's your window into creative possibilities. Test thoroughly, shop strategically, and remember: in LA, time spent in traffic planning your purchase is time well invested in getting the perfect display.