Sansui TOTL receiver chronology

redbeard74

AK Subscriber
I have been researching the Sansui product lines for a few months and while there are some great references on the internet, it can be a bit confusing sometimes compared to other brands (Marantz, Pioneer).

I am wondering if anyone knows of a list of the succession of TOTL Sansui receivers during the 60s and 70s?

Seems like it went something like this:

1000 (tube)
1000A (tube)
1000X
2000A
5000
5000A
5000X
Eight
Eight Deluxe
881
9090DB
G9000
G22000
G33000

Where I get confused is during the early to mid 70s. It seems like the higher numbered models weren't necessarily the TOTL at the time. Or perhaps Sansui was raising the bar at such a rapid pace that newer models were fast on the heels of the "current" TOTL model.

How do certain models, such as 5500 and 7000 fit in, and was the 2000 or 2000A considered TOTL for a time?

I'm hoping some of you Sansui experts can point me to a definitive list or help me piece one together, with the years that each one reigned.

Thanks
Whit
 
The G-22k and the 33k were both released pretty much at the same time.. but from what I've read and been told they manufactured more of the 22, and they were much easier to get ahold of.
 
The only way to make this list is to reference the production date in the Sansui Database. There was a lot of overlap.

- Pete
 
How do certain models, such as 5500 and 7000 fit in,

It was my understanding (and I could be wrong) that the 7000 came before the 5500. Both were TOTL for their model lines but the 7000 had more power than the 5500, although the 5500 had more features.

I'd be curious to know how similar they were in design to each other and to some of the other single-digit series.

Thanks for your effort.
Tiga
 
The 2000/A was never the top of the line model. The 3000/A and 5000 were both above it.
 
And there is the difference of the tube or solid state models. The 1000A was the last tube receiver made by Sansui---and was it a winner!!
 
So which was the ultimate Early 70s Sansui receiver? It seems like the 7000 must have been the TOTL of the X000 series.
It had the highest wpc and was almost like a prototype for the Eight, which was the top of the next line.
The 5500 does seem to have more features, though. Both receivers are kind of rare, compared to the 5000.

It was my understanding (and I could be wrong) that the 7000 came before the 5500. Both were TOTL for their model lines but the 7000 had more power than the 5500, although the 5500 had more features.

I'd be curious to know how similar they were in design to each other and to some of the other single-digit series.

Thanks for your effort.
Tiga
 
At one time the most ebay sales of any Sansui receiver was for the 5000.
I think the totl for the early 70's might be an 8 deluxe. The 5000X with the later boards were very popular and a great receiver. The 4000 is a nice unit, see where I am going here?
 
First you need to define "Top of the Line" in the early 70s, Sansui made several "lines" of receivers simultaneously. First you have to define the "line" then you need to look at the chronology to see when the various top models of that line were produced. If you truly want to know the chronology, you need to look at the production dates in the Sansui data base. That's the definitive answer to chronology.

Although the Eight and the 7000 share many components, they have very different amplifier design. I would argue that the 7000 was the top of the X000 line while the Eight was the top of the single digit series until the Eight Deluxe was released. The Eight and the Eight Deluxe both represent the TOTL Sansui when they were current models just as the 9090DB and G9000 represent TOTL modes from different time periods.

I'm not really sure how the XX00 series fits in. One of the realities of Audio Equipment marketing at that time was competition between retailers. "We'll beat any price" advertising was pretty common. If a retail chain had enough buying power, they could commission a unique line of products from a manufacturer. Since they were the exclusive retailer they could very confidently say they would beat competitors prices. I have no direct evidence but the XX00 series may have fit that mold as the AU/TU-710 did later on.

The X000 series is pretty confusing. The X000, X000A, and X000X designated improvements to the original design that occurred over time. The X000 model and X000X models were built months or even years apart. In most cases these improvements are desirable so if you want an example of this series, an X will get you the last production.

So lets try to define the lines first, then you can look at production dates and see when they were produced. It can be a little tricky because there are errors in the serial numbers that will give you outlining production dates. In most cases, there are enough serial numbers recorded to get a good feel for the actual production range.

- Pete
 
Here's a partial list of production dates based on serial numbers in the Sansui Database:

Model Start Date End Date
5000 Jul-68 Dec-69
5000A Jul-69 Sep-70
5000X Feb-71 Feb-72
7000 Mar-71 Dec-71
Eight Jul-71 Jun-72
5500 Jul-72 Nov-73
Eight Deluxe Jun-73 Mar-74
771 Dec-73 Aug-76
881 Aug-74 Jul-76
9090 Aug-75 Jun-77
9090DB Oct-76 May-78
G-9000 Nov-77 Nov-78
G-33000 May-78 Nov-78
G-9700 Jun-79 Aug-80

It looks like the 5500 replaced the Eight and was TOTL until the Eight Deluxe was introduced.

- Pete
 
I think the 3000/3000A might have preceded the 5000/5000A. It seems like I've read that it was introduced in '67.
 
Here's an updated list. I've added more models.

Model Start Date End Date
2000 Nov-67 Jul-69
2000A Dec-69 Sep-71
2000X Nov-70 Dec-73
3000 Feb-67 Mar-68
3000A Nov-67 Oct-68
3300 Jul-72 Only one serial number on file
3300S May-72 Only three serial numbers on file
3500 Nov-69 Feb-70 Only three serial numbers on file
4000 Jul-69 Jun-72
5000 Jul-68 Dec-69
5000A Jul-69 Sep-70
5000X Feb-71 Feb-72
7000 Mar-71 Dec-71
Eight Jul-71 Jun-72
5500 Jul-72 Nov-73
Eight Deluxe Jun-73 Mar-74
771 Dec-73 Aug-76
881 Aug-74 Jul-76
9090 Aug-75 Jun-77
9090DB Oct-76 May-78
G-9000 Nov-77 Nov-78
G-9000DB Jun-78 Jan-79
G-33000 May-78 Nov-78
G-7500 Nov-78 Feb-79
G-7700 Mar-79 Aug-80
G-9700 Jun-79 Aug-80
9900Z Sep-80 Jun-82

- Pete
 
I wonder how similar the build of the 5500 is to the either the Eight or Eight Deluxe. Has anyone ever compared them?

If anyone would like to lend me their Eight (Deluxe) for a while I'd be happy to do a comparison. :D:music:

It looks like the 5500 replaced the Eight and was TOTL until the Eight Deluxe was introduced.

- Pete
 
The G22 and 33 may have been on store shelves into 1980 but based on the serial number range recorded in the Sansui Database, they were only produced for a few months. You can tell the year and month of production from the serial number. The third digit is the year and the 4&5 digits are the month of production. When was yours made?

The G33 had a retail price of around $1900 when it was introduced in 1978. That would be around $6,700 in 2012 dollars. They were very slow sellers and probably were discounted heavily over time to move the ones that were built.

- Pete
 
I have memories and info , from the inside , that g22 g33 production was based on the demand . Kind of a preorder buy. They were never on display , as far as i know.
Anywhere , you had to order them , and the price was salty also back then. I "ve heard of 2200 for g22 and 2800 to 3000 for g33 , 1979 street prices in new york.
Anyway , thats the info from my side regarding europe , and greece.My g22 is november 1978 built. I don"t yet the production date of the g33 that i 'm going to have in a couple of months .
 
Made to order is a compelling story but the serial numbers show otherwise. If they were made to order the production dates would be scattered over years. The reality is they were all made between May and November '78. What is much more likely is very few stores stocked them and if you wanted one, it did need to be ordered from Sansui but they had it on the shelf waiting for a buyer.

As far as the selling price, the only price I've seen referenced is $1,900 and I believe that to be the list price. Actual selling price could be different depending on how aggressive the seller and how savvy the buyer.

I'll wager an AK donation that the G33 that you are getting will also be built between May and November '78.

- Pete
 
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