pete_mac
Super Member
My friend owns an AU-666 . Is that amp with a sonic style close enough to the 999 .
I could test it
No, they are a different design topology.
My friend owns an AU-666 . Is that amp with a sonic style close enough to the 999 .
I could test it
For comparisons of 999 and 9500 look no further . here it is .
http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/sansui-au-999-vs-au-9500.448014/
enjoy !!!!
Hey kevzep,
During your mods to the 9500 Did you play around with the pre amp capacitors . Does it make any BIG differences ????
In those threads it was stated as only bringing subtle differences , the ones that a listener can only pick up when sitting alone in deep sessions and playing very familiar recordings .
However the differences that my tech have picked up are pretty noticeable ....especially in the high frequency department
I think this http://audiokarma.org/forums/index....-upgrade-of-scribby31s-sansui-au-9500.654341/ thread should answer all of your questions, but I think you may have seen this before?
You seem to be obsessed with the possibility that you are missing out on some 'heaven sent' sound experience that maybe we are all enjoying, and that you are missing out on and have yet to discover. This is almost certainly not the case, as you own a model of amplifier that many here would regard as the last piece they'd ever need or want. I currently have the luxury(?) of owning 6 Sansui amplifiers, they each sound a little different, and I prefer some models playing some kinds of music but that's about it. They all sound wonderful to my ears and I love them all, even when not playing the music that makes them sound the best.
Your undoing is the slight variability of sound from some models of Sansui, partly because of the changing 'voicing' of those amplifiers depending on the exact model, and the time period they were produced in. But also because of the improvements (or not) that a reconditioner can make to those amplifiers by the subtle upgrading of some components to account for small shortcomings, or more recently found (larger) engineering issues in a very few models.
I am thinking you would be much happier auditioning new amplifiers and choosing the one you like the sound of, because honestly you sound like you're going to worry yourself into an early grave with your obsessing about this 'sound' that you are searching for. Only YOU know what it is - we can point you in a different direction of search with OUR descriptions of the sound of amplifiers - but that is with OUR music, sources, speakers, cables, rooms - and ears!
Please try to just use and enjoy your vintage pieces and accept them for what they are, there is no magic sound, it all depends on the individual. To be perfectly honest I don't think I have found total Audio Nirvana yet... but even if I don't find it (before my ears give out on me ) - I KNOW I will still be hearing some really wonderful sound.
Hey kevzep,
During your mods to the 9500 Did you play around with the pre amp capacitors . Does it make any BIG differences ????
In those threads it was stated as only bringing subtle differences , the ones that a listener can only pick up when sitting alone in deep sessions and playing very familiar recordings .
However the differences that my tech have picked up are pretty noticeable ....especially in the high frequency department
Dear fellas . Thanks for the input . And beautifully conveying the message .
I totally agree .
I understand the CEILING EFFECT.
I just want the readers to know that the idea of working on the 9500 was to restore it to its originality of sound and removin the age related short comings .
I love this amplifier the way it sounds already.
Please dont take an impression that im looking for it to sound like any other .
I have luxman 550x , Marantz esotecs, Quad 303 and musical fidelity A1 amps .I have pioneer elites .older sony vfet amps and other experiences but 9500 strikes me.
It has its sheer beauty and robust presence .when in the rack.
The heaviness in bass compliments weak speakers ...
The fat bass thing is a feature more highlighted in my room because of boominess in the room and and frequency modes .I get that trouble with most solid states and thats the problem with untreated room acoustics .It will stay.
The bass from my cousins C200 pioneer tube amp is weak and least thrusty than all solid states and has way more extension in the HF that is why in same boomy room the c200 sounds good .
I will ask my tech to send it back soon. Iwanna enjoy 9500 . Its been 4months.
So what you are saying is it doesn't sound like an AU9500 any more? The Bass was the best part about these amplifiers......Hey kev,
I spoke to my tech yesterday. He told me something great. He listened to the 9500 for a few days and decided that its bass was in need of a leash .i disagreed, but then i surrendered as he compared it to supreme 600s bass responce . So i left it to him to do the needful to reduce the bass . After a week he had done something to the components the details of which i cudnt get over the fone with him.
He now says the 9500 is with a linear bass and a noticeably detailed midrange like he heard a very feeble violin note in a recording .that violin wasnt noticeable in the supreme ...i was pleasantly surprised and am really excited .
Ill tell you all in 2 or 3 days
Conrad the amp should be here tomorrow. He just told me to have a listen and if it didnt suit me we can always get back to factory settings /specsI'm skeptical. A correctly restored 9500 has flat response and is in need of no modifications. I'd note there are two "solid aluminum" capacitors that feed one of the boards, and those get leaky and must be replaced. Naturally anything else out of tolerance need to be replaced, but screwing with the values is likely a mistake. The amplifier is wonderful as designed, unless you don't like the Sansui tonal quality for some reason- there are those that don't. IMO, they should get something else, rather than screwing up a classic design.