{"id":"record-stores-montreal-2026","name":"Best Record Stores in Montréal","category":"Record Stores","location":{"city":"Montréal","province":"Quebec","country":"Canada"},"canonical_url":"https://bests.ca/best/record-stores/in/montreal","publication_type":"algorithmic","methodology_version":"record-stores-v4","evidence_cutoff_at":"2026-08-26T06:20:00.000Z","published_at":"2026-08-26T06:20:00.000Z","maximum_positions":3,"positions_published":3,"positions":[{"rank":1,"entity":"Aux 33 Tours","entity_type":"Place","descriptor":"Exact Mont-Royal store with exceptionally broad new, used, 45, Japanese pressing, rare, CD, cassette, audio-equipment and accessory inventory, plus preorders, special orders, grading guidance, Canadian shipping and explicit exchange terms","best_for":"The broadest format and genre brief, pressings, hardware and special orders","why_it_ranks":"Aux 33 Tours provides attributable Montréal record-store evidence. The Bests Algo privately resolves the exact store and release by artist, title, label, catalogue number, pressing, country, year, format, speed, variant, matrix or runout where consequential, completeness, grade and play condition; separates live store stock, web stock, preorder, special order, used, consignment and Discogs inventory; and normalizes pickup, shipping, defects, returns and total acquisition effort. Awards, follower counts, décor, rarity language and raw review volume do not rank.","decision_notes":["Search by artist, title, label and catalogue number; confirm pressing country and year, format and speed, colour or variant, matrix/runout when consequential, inserts and whether the exact copy is live store stock, web stock, preorder, special order, used, consignment or a separate marketplace listing","For used records, require a record and sleeve grade under a named standard, ask whether the copy was cleaned or play-tested, inspect warp, scratches, groove damage, noise, labels, seams, odour and every included disc or insert; a stock image never proves the copy","Confirm hold and preorder rules, pickup notice, packaging, tracking, insurance, defect test, return postage and refund or exchange remedy plus total after-tax delivered cost; verify turntable setup before attributing playback problems"],"profile_url":"https://bests.ca/best/record-stores/in/montreal/profile/aux-33-tours-montreal","verification_url":"https://bests.ca/verify/record-stores-montreal-2026/aux-33-tours-montreal","bests_score":null,"confidence":null,"proof_index":null,"consensus":null},{"rank":2,"entity":"Phonopolis","entity_type":"Place","descriptor":"Exact Mile End independent with weekly new and used additions, a strong local section, specialist depth beyond the mainstream, in-store shows, collection buying and encouraged special orders","best_for":"Local, independent, experimental, jazz, avant-garde, folk, blues and global music","why_it_ranks":"Phonopolis provides attributable Montréal record-store evidence. The Bests Algo privately resolves the exact store and release by artist, title, label, catalogue number, pressing, country, year, format, speed, variant, matrix or runout where consequential, completeness, grade and play condition; separates live store stock, web stock, preorder, special order, used, consignment and Discogs inventory; and normalizes pickup, shipping, defects, returns and total acquisition effort. Awards, follower counts, décor, rarity language and raw review volume do not rank.","decision_notes":["Search by artist, title, label and catalogue number; confirm pressing country and year, format and speed, colour or variant, matrix/runout when consequential, inserts and whether the exact copy is live store stock, web stock, preorder, special order, used, consignment or a separate marketplace listing","For used records, require a record and sleeve grade under a named standard, ask whether the copy was cleaned or play-tested, inspect warp, scratches, groove damage, noise, labels, seams, odour and every included disc or insert; a stock image never proves the copy","Confirm hold and preorder rules, pickup notice, packaging, tracking, insurance, defect test, return postage and refund or exchange remedy plus total after-tax delivered cost; verify turntable setup before attributing playback problems"],"profile_url":"https://bests.ca/best/record-stores/in/montreal/profile/phonopolis-montreal","verification_url":"https://bests.ca/verify/record-stores-montreal-2026/phonopolis-montreal","bests_score":null,"confidence":null,"proof_index":null,"consensus":null},{"rank":3,"entity":"Sonorama","entity_type":"Place","descriptor":"Exact Bernard Street store with new, reissue and used vinyl, cassettes and vintage music magazines across rock, jazz, soul, funk, disco, francophone and global music, backed by direct want-list and special-order response","best_for":"Want lists, francophone and global music, soul, funk, jazz and vintage discovery","why_it_ranks":"Sonorama provides attributable Montréal record-store evidence. The Bests Algo privately resolves the exact store and release by artist, title, label, catalogue number, pressing, country, year, format, speed, variant, matrix or runout where consequential, completeness, grade and play condition; separates live store stock, web stock, preorder, special order, used, consignment and Discogs inventory; and normalizes pickup, shipping, defects, returns and total acquisition effort. Awards, follower counts, décor, rarity language and raw review volume do not rank.","decision_notes":["Search by artist, title, label and catalogue number; confirm pressing country and year, format and speed, colour or variant, matrix/runout when consequential, inserts and whether the exact copy is live store stock, web stock, preorder, special order, used, consignment or a separate marketplace listing","For used records, require a record and sleeve grade under a named standard, ask whether the copy was cleaned or play-tested, inspect warp, scratches, groove damage, noise, labels, seams, odour and every included disc or insert; a stock image never proves the copy","Confirm hold and preorder rules, pickup notice, packaging, tracking, insurance, defect test, return postage and refund or exchange remedy plus total after-tax delivered cost; verify turntable setup before attributing playback problems"],"profile_url":"https://bests.ca/best/record-stores/in/montreal/profile/sonorama-records-montreal","verification_url":"https://bests.ca/verify/record-stores-montreal-2026/sonorama-records-montreal","bests_score":null,"confidence":null,"proof_index":null,"consensus":null}],"interpretation":"Null metrics have not been published. A Bests list may contain fewer than three positions when the evidence gate does not support another entry."}