Help me choose an integrated amp?

Hi all,

I'm looking for a fine Sansui integrated amplifier. My main requirement is that it have a good/great Phono section. I don't want to mess around with a separate phone section if at all possible. Ideally, that means it can drive a relatively low-output MC cartridge. I'm willing to spend $1k for something that has been recently serviced and is very very clean.

It'll drive some smallish Sonus Faber Electa Amatour II's - which do well with at least 80wpc.

What should I be looking for? Are there any people I should talk to who do restore->resell work?

Thanks a ton,
adam

You'll find some good suggestions in this thread

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=286980

Although not all of them have integrated MC Phono capability.

If you subscribe you will get access to 'Barter Town' where AK members advertise gear they want to sell, it could be the best $25 you will spend in pursuit of audio nirvana.

At $1000? The AU-919. Check e-bay.

As far as I know, no one on AK is affiliated with this seller.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SANSUI-AUDI...pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item20f2616215

Several of us love this amp, however.

The tuner is highly rated, I can attest to it's quality. I have this combo. It has the MC/MM switchable phono input. I've never used the phono section on mine.

It's great amp, and a great value, IMHO.

Sansui AU-919 has a very good MC/MM phono section,also as a jump switch like the AU-X1.

If I'm not mistaken au 701, has the same generic phono like 901, 911dg.
The mc section consists of a step up transformer. Which is not a very audiophile way boost low mc's output. Well not always. I think 919's or au-x1's phono is better.
I would search ebay for au 919 or au-x1, and also yahoo.japan. You find lot's of these amps there in good prices , and the only problem is they are 100V Japanese models , which is not necessarily a problem. A step down transformer will solve this problem.

There are a couple of 919s on Ebay within your price range.