Another single digit sansui discussion

[liveoffroad]

Hey AK, i've been searching for months to find a sansui Eight deluxe. I'm currently running an 8080 and like the sound a lot, but i just have to try out the single digit series to see what all the hype is about. My question to you all regarding the six, seven, and eight is do they all share the same preamp? one possible route i may go is to use the six or seven, which are much cheaper, as a preamp rather than waiting and overpaying for an eight d. i want to make sure i don't miss out on the sound sweetness of this series though. Please let me know your thoughts

 

[M-D-Z]

Hey AK, i've been searching for months to find a sansui Eight deluxe. I'm currently running an 8080 and like the sound a lot, but i just have to try out the single digit series to see what all the hype is about. My question to you all regarding the six, seven, and eight is do they all share the same preamp? one possible route i may go is to use the six or seven, which are much cheaper, as a preamp rather than waiting and overpaying for an eight d. i want to make sure i don't miss out on the sound sweetness of this series though. Please let me know your thoughts

There are incredibly knowledgeable experts here who can actually answer those questions very authoritatively, I can only offer my opinion based upon the experience of having owned a few Sevens, an Eight, Eight Deluxe and their close relative, the 7000 both when they were new and still to this day.

If they are in reasonably good shape, but unrestored, they should still sound satisfactory, all mine do unrestored. My present dilemma is choosing which one to send in to somebody like QRX-Restore for a comprehensive resurrection. I know they can all benefit greatly from this, I just can not afford to have them all done. I wish I had the knowledge and skill to do it myself.

Your idea of using a Seven as a preamp sounds smart, but I’m pretty sure the characteristic “Sansui sound” is partly from the amp section too.
I have two Sevens that play in a quad setup, very sweet! But I firmly believe that anything that’s original and untouched absolutely needs to be competently restored if you really want to keep them a long time and enjoy their true signature sonic potential.

 

[grillebilly]

The single digits may sound a little better than the #xoxo series but don’t expect the difference to blow you away. If SQ is your end game think speakers or separates. If you like collecting and playing with receivers than hold out for what you want.

 

[liveoffroad]

thanks guys. i've currently got an unrestored 7000 and i like my 8080 better. but from what i've read, the 7000 is inferior to the single digits as far as internal components, so probably would benefit greatly from a resto. maybe restoring that unit should also be an option on the table

 

[playittwice]

In my experience (9090 and a AU505) I would say my Seven is in the middle of those two, sonic-wise. The 9090 is gone in favor of the 505 and Seven. I am using efficient speakers though.

 

[liveoffroad]

In my experience (9090 and a AU505) I would say my Seven is in the middle of those two, sonic-wise. The 9090 is gone in favor of the 505 and Seven. I am using efficient speakers though.

Thanks for the input. I'm not sure something like a 505 would be enough power for the space i have, but there is an AU-717 for sale locally, i wonder where that would fall in line sonically? i do enjoy the earlier "warm" sansui sound and i've read once you get to the 719 vintage they begin to be more neutral.... but maybe the 717 still has it? off to do more reading

 

[playittwice]

Never heard a 717, but I’d like to. I’ve read those that have them keep them, so there’s something there.

The 505 is 23 watts. Probably not enough power hungry speaks. But the watts that are there are sweet. All Sansui amps I’ve heard sound very good, it just what flavor you enjoy.
Good luck.

 

[LBPete]

Keep in mind you are comparing two 45 year old receivers. How they sound will depend more on how they have aged over the years then on their design. It's impossible to compare the sound directly without restoring both of them.

A Seven is closer in design to the Eight Deluxe than the Eight. It would be a good compromise.

- Pete

 

[stereofun]

I've not had a X0X0 series, but I've had All the single digits in my rack at some time. The Six and Seven are near identical. Either one sounds wonderful. The Six probably impressed the most, but that has more to do with lower expectations for it's only 29 watts....

The Eight D as Pete says is closer to the Six and Seven, all three sporting a next gen amp vs the "original" Eight. They all however sound very similar - punchy, detailed, great separation and with a touch of warmth as a nod back to their cap coupled predecessors while staying more HIFI' ish.

What .makes the single digits special imo is the uncompromising build quality and ambition of the series at large. They came in right before dollar inflation and decidedly cheaper builds. They all have separate driver boards and tone controls with individual resistors, including beautiful wood covers - not the much thinner veneer wrap that followed. Both Eight versions has gorgeous anodized heat sinks.....just works of art.

So it's the whole packet, at least for me, well beyond their indisputeable sonics. If you collect Sansui, then owning a single digit is almost a rite of passage.

 

[playittwice]

The Seven was TOTL for approximately 1 year before the Eight D was released, if memory serves me. So yes as Pete says the Seven is closer in sonics to the Deluxe than the regular Eight. I really dig my Seven, especially after I restored it.

 

[AnalogueBen]

thanks guys. i've currently got an unrestored 7000 and i like my 8080 better. but from what i've read, the 7000 is inferior to the single digits as far as internal components, so probably would benefit greatly from a resto

If you weren't already aware the 7000 is a capacitor coupled output design, as opposed to the the 8080 so the sound will be a less accurate. Yes, a good resto will bring out a units best so take this into account. The seven would be a great choice really, similar to the 8D as mentioned throughout AK, essentialy a professional amp with a tuner. A 717 would probably meet your sonic needs but that needs a recap due to the corrosive glue found in that era of sansui.

 

[M-D-Z]

Keep in mind you are comparing two 45 year old receivers. How they sound will depend more on how they have aged over the years then on their design. It's impossible to compare the sound directly without restoring both of them.

A Seven is closer in design to the Eight Deluxe than the Eight. It would be a good compromise.

- Pete

Good advice!

If you are concerned about your budget and also getting a particular sound quality on any of these models, then it’s not enough to compare prices on unrestored examples because the sound suffers unpredictably (but never sounds improved) over the 40-50 years since they were brand new.
There are talented and brilliant folks here on AK that know how to make all of those old beauties behave more reliably, last longer and sound equal to and often better than new!

So I would budget for the combined cost of purchasing the unrestored piece plus shipping (or carrying) it to a smart top level tech who will execute a competent and thoroughly comprehensive restoration with modifications and improvements if desired or required.

 

[LBPete]

This is a post from an earlier thread on a similar topic.

"The Seven represents the transition between the Eight and Eight Deluxe. It had the amp architecture of the Eight Deluxe first and that amp design is an improvement over the amp design in the Eight. Looking at the production range recorded in the database:

The Seven was produced from May '72 through January '74
The Eight ran from November '70 through March '72
The Eight Deluxe was produced from April '73 through March '74

That raises an interesting production quirk. There were no "Eight" models produced between April '72 and April '73 but during that time the Seven was in production. Does that make the Seven the TOTL receiver during that period? It's likely there was a supply of unsold Eights in the pipeline during that period so Consumers may not have seen the gap but from a production standpoint the Seven was king during that period."

- Pete

 

[liveoffroad]

thanks guys, i appreciate all the responses. i think the nature of my original question was focused on 1. using a "six" as a preamp since it doesn't have quite the power i need or 2. hold out for and 8d and run it stand-alone. I already have a high quality audiophile amp, so i was hoping i could get into a "six" for a fraction of what an 8d goes for and just use it as a preamp, but as some pointed out i may lose some of the sonic goodness of this series if i'm not using the amplifier section, which makes me think i should hold out for an 8d or look at a 717. thoughts?