I would actually look at the inflation price of the Sansui (what it would be now, if it was new) and then compare to what is available at that price. If you take the value of $575.00 new for a AU-719 in 1970 (website for price data -
http://www.classicaudio.com/value/san/ ) - the value today is about 3500.00. So you are comparing 2 different price points.
Disingenuous to say the least.
At the 3500 dollar price point - there are many that would be as good if not better.
This is always the issue with looking at used, older equipment, people use the price they paid used, not what it was new. Compare apples to apples people.
At this price point you have:
Ayre Acoustics AX-7e: $3500
Exposure 2010S: $1495
Leben CS300: $3395
T+A Power Plant: $3100
Cayin SP-10A: $2195
Harman Kardon HK 990: $2599
Musical Fidelity M3i: $1500
Mystère ia21: $2995
NAD C 375BEE: $1500
Roksan Kandy K2: $1925
Shuguang Audio Classic S300MK: $2150 with Treasure tubes
Simaudio Moon 250i: $1800
Vincent Tubeline SV-236MK: $1995
Arcam Solo Mini: $999
Audio Analogue Crescendo: $995
Denon RCD-N7: $599
Marantz M-CR603: $699
Music Hall a15.2: $499
NAD C316BEE: $380
Outlaw Audio RR2150: $699
Rega Brio-R: $895
There are more out there - not knocking the Sansui at all but you gents haven't done a service to it, comparing it to cheap chip amps.
I am done listing as these are all from the Stereophile recommended buying list from 2012. Any one of these would give the Sansui a run for it's money if you take out the 'romantic bias' that goes with using older equipment.