I found the 517/717 vs the 719/919 to be preferable.....I can't remember if it was a 719 or the models after it and 919 to lean towards a slight edge in the treble and having a cheaper build quality (ie. just look through the case from the top, whilst this particu;llar item doesn't effect sound quality, I think the individual bell covers on the transformers in the 517/717 with Sansui labels on them vs the plain/exposed transformers in the 719s etc, show the beginnings of cost cutting during the years post the 517/717 (but that was typical across the board for most brands at the time). It really depends on what speakers you have or plan on using with the amp. I can say that the tech I knew, who gave me a 517 from his personal rack (and I suppose myself) think that the 717 is much better than the 719/919.....and I hate to speculate, since I wasn't old enough to remember, but overall I've seen way more 517/717s, especially recapped in the wild the last decade, which leads me to believe that the 517/717 were built better and meant to last forever, if taken care of, etc.............Also, the good thing about a lot of the idiots overpricing vintage gear on that auction site I loathe, is that you can find one in good condition for cheaper due to people thinking they have a channel out, etc. (when in actuality it is because of that cap coupled output/direct coupled switch, or potentially it's sweitched to "seperated" and the people don't realize it's the switch in the wrong setting....it's the only other issue I meant to mention before. In any case, that switch can be fixed without opening the case a la Deoxit, a lil dab will do ya for about 3-4 years, assuming one doesn't do anything else to said switch. My tech felt bad about losing the items he traded me for a Pioneer SX-1010 that I recapped. Moreso the Proton D-1200 (restored) and of all things a lower powered Fisher Futura 202. To think I got 1 restored Marantz 2238(and 1 was for spare parts), A restored marantz 6300 turntable, along with the restored proton, 517 and Fisher Futura, for that one monster pioneer!! I told him about the sansui switch issue, and he emailed me the next weekend wherein he found a 717 at a flea market for 50 bucks because they thought it was broken, but even still.....about 1.5yrs later....out of all the pieces I just listed, I swear to god.....the piece of gear he wished he had back was the FIsher Futura....and he threw that one in as a freebie. It was hooked up to his reel to reel, and he thought the sound quality was because of the reel to reel, but after the trade he wquicly realized the fisher was the piece responsible. This trade of trades, was right about the time all the younger folk went bananas with anything with the marantz name on it, especially the 22xx series. During a move I had to unload my 2238 in a mint wood case in 2018 for $500....so that hurt from a financial aspect the last couple of years, but as far as flexibility and sound quality, I wish I had my restoredf Proton back, with the 517 a close second. I had a chance to obtain a restored Sansui AU-919 or AU 719, but to my ears or IMHO, they didn't sound better. Not bad, per se.......but I suppose they sounded like one of the slimmer TOTL 1980s Technics receivers (after/without the New Class A or Class AA badges on them). I also forget which model it was....it could be the au-d1x or maybe 919 etc. that was much more difficult to repair, even with upgraded components and wasn't as reliable as a 517, even in stock. But yeah , what speakers do you have? or might be planning on usuing with your new sansui gear? If one had power hungry speakers, I could see how pete adores the sound of the 719/919.....especially the 919. When an amp can't handle the low end, the 1st thing that sends one racing for the volume knob is clipping in the treble. Me having DIY Cornscala variant speakers at 103Db/ a watt efficiency does allow me much more flexibility, without the need for a typical higher watt amp, but even still....another compliment to all these amps, but verified with my 517 only, is that it was dead quiet and is HUGE positive considering my speakers. Let's just say that they expose any weakness in ones chain considering they theoretically only need 1 watt to produce 106db loud music in my home. And yet, it never left the rack. I can also easily see wherein everyone who owned any of these integrateds thinks their model is probably the best. To me, if I wanted to the 517 to sound mor elike a 719/919, I just had to turn the treble knob to +2. I apologize if I missed this info, but are you a veteran of this hobby, or jut getting started and/or possibly looking for a forever integrated? I figured the answer to that and/or your speakers can make much more of a difference, in terms of what your ears might prefer. However, I stand by the 517/717 build and component quality being a notch above. It still hurts losing 2 marantz 2238s, 6300 turntable, the sansui, proton, AND the fisher (and it wasn't restored!!) I lived with a 517 for a pretty long time, and with answers to those 2 questions above, might be able to produce potentially cheaper options you can acquire that beat all the Sansui's in consideration, fwiw anyway. It's damn shame that vintage prices have gone to insane levels compared to 15yrs ago. In this short time, pieces yanked from 2 decades of attic storage without even so much as a bias check, now cost anywhere from 5-10 times more. Sad really, I even managed to leave behind a pioneer SX-626 I acquired from my dad as a teenager, back in 2013.....as I could snag one ]rehabbed and shipped to my door for about $75-$100 bucks. Sorry for the long post! But your current system/speakers could really dictate your choice, here. I don't want to ruin the thread on this tangent, but after building one myself and listening to 2 Aikidos that were built by someone else for me, etc. I'm willing to say that I've given up on trying to buy any vintage piece, esp integrateds or receivers wherein the pre amp and amps are used in unison. WHen ya factor in the odds of a 517 being shipped to your door without being dropped at least thrice, and typical vintage maitenance etc, I'd rather find/recommend a 12AU7 Aikido Pre-amp matched with a favorite amp of yours. It universally can drive ANY amplifier and sounds equal to separate preamps costing $5000-$10,000, and do it for only $500!! IOW, one can pay 5 times as much for a 517 to 919 of completely unknown quality if shipped, compared to 2017 vs possibly an Aikido coupled with just about any decent power section and blow it away. The aikido is something that really is hard to appreciate until one hears a proper one. I'm known to tweak tone controls and yet my aikidos dont have them and don't need them. I never entered the sometimes snobby audiophile, "no tone controls" camp before or until the aikido (built by blair chapman) arrived. Again, sorry for going off tangent, but I'd feel remiss if I didn't suggest the possibility of an aikido on the front end, I've had one of those in my rack for the last 7 years, and really because I seriously doubt one can find a better preamp for the price, coupled with the Seperates= better than integrateds/receivers. Trsut me when I say you can take an aikido and drive a magnavox console SE amp or to stay on point, your random favorite sansui amp section and it will be genuinely better than any sansui integrated in the 517/717 price range. I know the aikido is a tube pre- but not like what one thinks in terms of sound. Very 3D soundstage, but with speed attack/timing and decay more aligned with esoteric branded SS preamps costing 5-10 thousand. Not an exaggeration, you couold even build the 12volt version or all-in one, but I'd suggest to find a prebuilt one from one of the senior members on Audiokarma. I'm currently trying to build/layout a 12au7 point to popint wired version of the only aikido topology preamp Blair ever built vs SEPP preamps.....and hopefully either make it easier to DIY since it's unbeatable unless one goes into the level or point of dimishing returns based on price. But around $500 for a prebuilt will save ya huge headaches as the aikido doesn't have a documented single and/or standard version, aside from VTA current offering. And there's crucial accidental mistakes based off some part values in earlier manuals and what not, even simple things like wiring the vol pot can cause one to almost give up when building this preamp. It'll cost you probably over $500 to build one with premium parts yourself though, and is a primary reason to acquire one on this site. I have a feeling that the prices may go up quite a bit very soon, but yeah the reason it's cost is so low is because they are built DIY via the board kits or point to point, vs a singular or various built branded AIkidos by Broskie. I just couldn't let anyone pay
