aesthetics of the triple digit series

M

mikstick

Active Member
Anyone know why the:
au222, 555, 777, 777b and 999 all have the same external design and similar manufacturing dates to the:
555a, 666 and 888
these last three look like they were designed by a different team or different time.
What went on here? and why is there no Au-333? And why not name the Au-555a, the Au-444 to keep it odds and evens:scratch2:

Are these 2 'series' of amps related
anyone know anything?
 
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DCinDC said:
I believe the second group came later.
Click to expand...

Yep - I think that is correct - the 'numbers game' is just marketing mumbo-jumbo AFAIK.

If you had a model with a 4xx number and a competitor had a rival model numbered 5xx at the same price point - which would the customer choose? - that sort of thing I think....
 
The Serial number data base will tell you when each series was produced. Generally, anything with an A suffix is a second generation of the design.

- Pete
 
In answer to one question from the OP - There was supposedly an AU-333 model. This I base upon sites such as "The Best of Sansui". I think this is one model from the Sui line (1967-1970) that should be considered rare indeed. Also from my limited "While traveling" the net I was surprised that there was a Sansui AU-117.
 
I'm not sure how accurate the information on that site is (or any site for that matter, unless backed up with some proof.
In 2006, morden2004 wrote:
Here are the Sold-On-eBay counts for this series of integrated amps:
Model # Sold
AU-111 17
AU-222 32
AU-555 37
AU-666 6
AU-777 19
AU-777A 9
AU-888 13
AU-999 111

apart from http://www.sansui.us/Amplifiers.htm
the best of sansui, which writes;

"From 1967 to 1970, Sansui introduced the array of the single number three digits integrated amplifiers. They were AU-222, AU-333, AU-555, AU-666, AU-777, AU-888, and AU-999 followed by improved versions; AU-555A and AU-777D. The sound of this series was very close to that of tube amps. Even mixing with tube amplifiers with frequency divided multi-power amps system, it sounded natural"

I can't find anymore proof that the Au-333 model exists/existed
and even this information is not descriptive enough. I get the feeling the Au-777 was designed and released first, followed by the AU-222, AU-555 and AU-999, then an improved version of the Au-777 (the Au-777a) released.
At some point during this period, the Au555a, Au-666 and Au888 must have been designed and released, because they just look so different and have a more modern design, I feel, to the first triple digit models.
I would love to see an image of the Au-333 if it does exist.
I guess without information from the original designers or sales team, I'll never know
 
thanks DcinDc and Stene

My Au-555 was built in april 1970 (004) which could still fit your thoughts as I'm sure they were in manufacture for a few years after initial release.

But, my Au888 was released in december 1970! Just shy of your 1971 release date. I wonder where that database of serial numbers are?

Your list appears to support the idea that the three models, the 555a, 666 and 888 were designed and released later to fill the gaps in the numbering scheme.

I wonder why they never got there own numbering scheme, I don't know, but I guess that although the external design is different (and it seems from looking at photographs of these amps innards which also vary greatly from one another, all chassis are different sizes and layout) internally they share circuit design and thought?

What was my question again? And why am I asking it?:lmao:
 
This is the closest I've been able to figure it out.
year/month
(I didn't use the AK data base - this is independent research.)

AU/TU-XXX models and dates
AU-111 1966
AU-101 Date unknown.........or 1973-75
AU-505 Date unknown (1973?)
TU-505 Date unknown.........or 1973-75
AU-222 1968
AU-777 1967/5
TU-777 1968/3...................or 1967-70
AU-777A 1970......................or 1969
AU-555 1968/5...................or 1970-73
TU-555 1968/6
AU-222 1968/6...................or 1970-74
AU-777D 1969/6...................or 1970-73
AU-333 ? (was there one?)......? 1970-74
AU-555A 1970......................or 1971-75
AU-999 1970/2...................1970-1973
TU-999 1970......................1970-1972
AU-666 1970/5...................1971-1973
TU-666 1970/6...................or 1971-1973
AU-888 1971
TU-888 1971

ZebraBlvd said:
In answer to one question from the OP - There was supposedly an AU-333 model. This I base upon sites such as "The Best of Sansui". I think this is one model from the Sui line (1967-1970) that should be considered rare indeed. Also from my limited "While traveling" the net I was surprised that there was a Sansui AU-117.
Click to expand...

I don't know about the AU-333 either. It's a mystery. I've seen it 'mentioned' once or twice before, and yes...on 'Best of Sansui', but never have seen a photo of one. If it does exist...it's beyond super rare. If it exists, I would of seen a photo by now. I don't think it exists, but...who knows? A Sansui mystery!

AU-117: It would take me a while to find it in my notes. I could find it if you really want the date and data on the amp.

---

And just in case you ever wondered about the alpha dates and designations (while I had my external hard drive out):

1986 AU-a607 (straight number - no suffix)
1987 AU-a607 i
1988 AU-a607 EXTRA
1989 DG
1989 AU-a607 L EXTRA
1990 AU-a607 DR
1991 R
1991 AU-a607 MOS PREMIUM
1992 AU-a607 KX
1993 AU-a607 XR
1994 K
1995 AU-a607 MR (domestic), MRX (international)
1997 AU-a607 NRA
1997 RX
1998 MRV
1999 AU-a607 NRA II
 
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The AU117 is shown in the AU317/217/117 brochure. Power output was 15 watts/channel into 8 ohms.

We sold these in 1978 at Sounds N Imports in Houston, TX. The controls were the same as the AU217 minus the phono subsonic input (it only had phono input).

As I remember it, we had one display model, but always sold up to the AU217 (30 watts/channel) as the price difference wasn't very much. The AU317 (50 watts/channel) was the model I sold the most. My 317 is still going strong.

The mysterious 333 was before my time, so I have no knowledge of that model.

MrBill
 
Here's what the Serial number data bases says. These are production dates, not sale dates.
AU 111 - 1966 (data sketchy)
AU 101 - 71 -74 (data sketchy)
AU 222 - 3/69-10/71
AU 333 - No serial numbers recorded
AU 505 - 7/72 - 4/74
AU 555 - 5/68 - 5/71
AU 555a - 7/70 - 11/73
AU 666 - 2/71-2/72
AU 707 - one serial number on file, listed as 3/77 but more likely 3/67
AU 777 - 7/68 - 3/69
AU 777a - 9/69 - 1/70
AU 888 - 10/70 - 2/72
AU 999 - 7/70 - 9/72

The data base isn't perfect because serial numbers aren't always recorded accurately. The data is better when more serial numbers are recorded. For many of these models there are just a few on file.

- Pete
 
hey Pete, is that database still being kept, added to?
wonder what other info can be gleaned from that database?
possibly rarity of model numbers

is the data available to everyone on AK?

Just from the information you gave it seems (although as said, limited data) that the au111 came first,
followed by the au555 and au777
then the au222 and the revised au777a
then au999
then au888 followed with the au666
au101 and 505 after

didn't even know there was an au707!
 
hope I didn't come across too cheeky Pete

surely the au-707 was the start of a completely different line of amps, appearance and design

by '76 the 2200, 4400, 5500, 6600, 7700 had been released

I suppose I did say 'the triple digit series'. forgot that:stupid:

and maybe the early ones are related to the later models in some way, which way I have not a clue. Sansui sould have used 5 digits maybe
 
mikstick said:
hey Pete, is that database still being kept, added to?
wonder what other info can be gleaned from that database?
possibly rarity of model numbers

is the data available to everyone on AK?

Just from the information you gave it seems (although as said, limited data) that the au111 came first,
followed by the au555 and au777
then the au222 and the revised au777a
then au999
then au888 followed with the au666
au101 and 505 after

didn't even know there was an au707!
Click to expand...

The previous Sansui forum moderator,Paul kept that database. I have not elected to attempt to keep it going.
It still provides a lot of information, and I thank Paul for all his efforts over the years.:thmbsp::yes:
Casey
 
The AU 707 was listed as a 1976 model. You can access the database at the top of the first page of the Sansui Forum.

- Pete
 
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