771 vs 7070

[mmann68]

I am curious from those who have had, or even just heard, both of these which one you would take if you had to choose. The 7070 is certainly heftier, has more going on aesthetically, etc. One thing the 771 has that I love is two auxiliary inputs. For me, this is huge as it allows you to hook up digital sources of music and an audio/video input at the same time. Which sounds better between the 7070 and the 771? I guess, the bottom line question is, if you had the option of taking either one (but could only take one) at the exact same price, which would it be?

 

[DCinDC]

I've had a 6060, lotsa 9090s, 771s and 881s.

I'd take the 7070. I really liked the 6060 after I redid it.

I also have a personal dislike for the xx1 series.

 

[Zekeman]

771 any day. I love the look of the 7070 and prefer it to the 771 but prefer the 771 sonically. Friends and I a-b'd a 771 with a dynaco st70 tube amp and it was almost indistinguishable.

 

[mmann68]

I've had a 6060, lotsa 9090s, 771s and 881s.

I'd take the 7070. I really liked the 6060 after I redid it.

I also have a personal dislike for the xx1 series.

I'm gonna bite, DC. What's the personal dislike for the xx1's?

 

[mmann68]

771 any day. I love the look of the 7070 and prefer it to the 771 but prefer the 771 sonically. Friends and I a-b'd a 771 with a dynaco st70 tube amp and it was almost indistinguishable.

I hear this a lot from folks who have heard an xx1. The x0x0 seem to have the bigger footprint reputation wise, and certainly sell for a lot more than the xx1. But I am still pleasantly amazed when I listen to the 771. I have a Pioneer SX-1080 that I swap back and forth with the 771, and it's a real close call sound wise between the monster Pioneer and the 771. Both units have a lot to recommend them, but the 771 has some aspects that are superior to the big boy.

 

[LBPete]

The 7070 is better looking and more powerful. It uses the same basic amplifier circuit as the 9090DB. That said, I've been using a 8010, the black faced version of the 771 every day in my kitchen. I really like the sound and it has a great tuner section.

- Pete

 

[nosirrah]

I've had both, got the 771 at a yard sale for $5....
I prefer the 7070 for sound, even over an 881, but it's close, I am not sure I could choose blindfolded. The 7070 has meters...the 771 will be less coin.
Get them both.

 

[stereofun]

Never compared directly so this will be a general statement. 771 is an older design than 7070. One difference is that 771 does not have a full complementary output stage, but a quasi complementary. This means that all the outputs are npn, with only one pnp in the driver stage. I wouldnt claim this makes a world of difference, but I do think the quasi sound is a tad smoother or some would say tube-like. Wonder if there are less cross over issues with all npn's ?

 

[DCinDC]

I'm gonna bite, DC. What's the personal dislike for the xx1's?

It's just my opinion, and I am in the vast minority. I am the seemingly one negative.

It's probably because I saw the transition from the Single Digit series; Six, Seven, Eight to the xx1 (when it happened) and knew then what we'd lost.

Nosirrah has the best advice; get em both!

 

[CDFixer]

If you are worried about needing two Aux inputs you can use a tape input as an aux they are the same level inputs. Use care in using digital inputs as some can overdrive the tone section, and causes the signal to get clipped which can at high volume levels cause the unit go into protection.

 

[mmann68]

The 7070 is better looking and more powerful. It uses the same basic amplifier circuit as the 9090DB. That said, I've been using a 8010, the black faced version of the 771 every day in my kitchen. I really like the sound and it has a great tuner section.

- Pete

I completely agree about the 771 tuner section. It's awesome. I was having this conversation with someone the other day. I just picked up a Pioneer SX-1080. I put the Pioneer in the exact same spot that the 771 had been, with the exact same basic, "t" style wire FM antenna. The Sansui 771 was bringing in stations 100% clear and pristine, all the way to the limit on the strength meter. The SX-1080, while fine (it sounds great), was nowhere near as good.

As is often the case, the "both" suggestion is the best suggestion. In my personal opinion, backed up by a lot of what I've read, the xx1 series is one of the more underrated of the Sansuis from back in the day. I love mine. This thread has pretty much confirmed my initial feeling. The way for me to go is to definitely not trade out the 771 for an x0x0 series. But it may well be that I end up with "both". It's partly aesthetic, as I do love the looks of the VU meters on the x0x0 :thmbsp:. Keep the opinions coming, though, I love this type of a thread.

 

[Robisme]

Well, I have had a few 661's, a 221, and a 881. I have also had a 9090Db, 9090, and 7070.

I do not have any XX1's, still have the 9090DB, and would have kept the 7070 over the 881.

Rob

 

[LBPete]

"Best" is often subjective. Only you can decide what is best for you. Get both, used them and decide for yourself.

Construction wise, the xx1s are a giant step backwards from the single digit. At the same time, they were also the predecessor to the X0X0 series and share a lot of the same circuit elements and construction with the 9090/8080. The xx1s were the forefront of what was to come as the Japanese manufacturers had to deal with lower profits from changing exchange rates.

- Pete

 

[mmann68]

"Best" is often subjective. Only you can decide what is best for you. Get both, used them and decide for yourself.

Construction wise, the xx1s are a giant step backwards from the single digit. At the same time, they were also the predecessor to the X0X0 series and share a lot of the same circuit elements and construction with the 9090/8080. The xx1s were the forefront of what was to come as the Japanese manufacturers had to deal with lower profits from changing exchange rates.

- Pete

Naturally, when it comes to what we like in sound and even aesthetics, "best" is absolutely subjective. Pete is right on, of course. It's nice to get different perspectives from folks on all this stuff, though. Particularly from all the folks out there with different experiences and knowledge bases. Thanks a lot for all the feedback.

 

[wolf66]

"Best" is often subjective. Only you can decide what is best for you. Get both, used them and decide for yourself.

Construction wise, the xx1s are a giant step backwards from the single digit. At the same time, they were also the predecessor to the X0X0 series and share a lot of the same circuit elements and construction with the 9090/8080. The xx1s were the forefront of what was to come as the Japanese manufacturers had to deal with lower profits from changing exchange rates.

- Pete

Maybe, but I had an Eight and, among other Sansuis, the AU-9500 and the AU-9500 is soo much better than the Eight IMO ........ sold the Eight and never looked back

 

[LBPete]

I don't understand you point. You listened to both, decided which you liked and kept it. That's exactly what I'm recommending folks do in this kind of situation.

If you are comparing build quality, both the Eight and the AU-9500 were the top of two different lines at the peak of Sansui build quality. If you are comparing sound, you are making the classic choice between receivers and separates not to mention how well the two units have aged over time. What criteria did you use to decide "better," sound quality, build quality, esthetics, all of the above?

- Pete

 

[wolf66]

I don't understand you point. You listened to both, decided which you liked and kept it. That's exactly what I'm recommending folks do in this kind of situation.

If you are comparing build quality, both the Eight and the AU-9500 were the top of two different lines at the peak of Sansui build quality. If you are comparing sound, you are making the classic choice between receivers and separates not to mention how well the two units have aged over time. What criteria did you use to decide "better," sound quality, build quality, esthetics, all of the above?

- Pete

I just reacted to your posting in which you stated the following :

that Construction wise, the xx1s are a giant step backwards from the single digit. At the same time, they were also the predecessor to the X0X0 series and share a lot of the same circuit elements and construction with the 9090/8080. The xx1s were the forefront of what was to come as the Japanese manufacturers had to deal with lower profits from changing exchange rates.


It seemed to me you meant that all that came after the single digit Sansui amps (1971 ?) was a rather great step down in quality ... and the AU-9500 (1973 ?) was a later model I think and i found it to be superior to the eight I had ...... maybe I misunderstood you :scratch2: