Au-919
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caesar56
Active Member
[emoji16]I don't care - I still want one
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Sansui AU 919 and X1
I've had the pleasure of hearing a 120V AU 919 and a 100V Japanese version AU X1 running off a Nissyo 1500W step down transformer , but not at the same time. I grudgingly acknowledge any significant sound difference between amplifiers. I think that my recapped AU 9500 sounds just about as good as my recapped AU 919, though the 919 does not have the original fast transistors, and I'm not sure that my original stock AU 919 which still has the original transistors and the black flag capacitors sounds any different than the AU 919 with replacement capacitors (though lately I have been afraid to run it because of the BF capacitors). I will say, going by auditory memory and its known short comings, that the AU X1 sounds richer. I do not know, however, that the X1 has its original output transistors. Having listened the both my AU 919s, I am also skeptical that the fast transistors make any difference over the audible range. These may have developed just for the hype, then disappeared from Sansui audio. Certainly there were later great amplifiers without them.
For those in the US looking at Sansuis on Yahoo.jp, I would point out that the AU X1 or for that matter the X11 are not very popular in Japan. The AU 9500 seems to be just as, if not more, desirable. The AU X1 plus fees and shipping (if you order and use Buyee ask for the special protective packing and use FedEx not UPS) with a used Nyssyo 1500w step down transformer came to less than half the price of the of what the 120v AU X1 currently listed on eBay (plus shipping) will go for. Just my 2 cents. I don't know about shipping to the UK. Of course, the AU X1, if I am not mistaken, also has the black flag capacitors as does the AU X11. Please correct me or comment on anything I got wrong. Thanks.
Marc
I've had the pleasure of hearing a 120V AU 919 and a 100V Japanese version AU X1 running off a Nissyo 1500W step down transformer , but not at the same time. I grudgingly acknowledge any significant sound difference between amplifiers. I think that my recapped AU 9500 sounds just about as good as my recapped AU 919, though the 919 does not have the original fast transistors, and I'm not sure that my original stock AU 919 which still has the original transistors and the black flag capacitors sounds any different than the AU 919 with replacement capacitors (though lately I have been afraid to run it because of the BF capacitors). I will say, going by auditory memory and its known short comings, that the AU X1 sounds richer. I do not know, however, that the X1 has its original output transistors. Having listened the both my AU 919s, I am also skeptical that the fast transistors make any difference over the audible range. These may have developed just for the hype, then disappeared from Sansui audio. Certainly there were later great amplifiers without them.
For those in the US looking at Sansuis on Yahoo.jp, I would point out that the AU X1 or for that matter the X11 are not very popular in Japan. The AU 9500 seems to be just as, if not more, desirable. The AU X1 plus fees and shipping (if you order and use Buyee ask for the special protective packing and use FedEx not UPS) with a used Nyssyo 1500w step down transformer came to less than half the price of the of what the 120v AU X1 currently listed on eBay (plus shipping) will go for. Just my 2 cents. I don't know about shipping to the UK. Of course, the AU X1, if I am not mistaken, also has the black flag capacitors as does the AU X11. Please correct me or comment on anything I got wrong. Thanks.
Marc
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caesar56
Active Member
Au-X1 has black flags indeed. Those little suckers. It is not popular in Japan because servicing it is expensive. (Japanese hand labour) It really needs a professional, and time. (Read echo wars, avionic, etc)
Buyee is indeed a great option if you don't know Japanese.
Hifido.com shop has English capable people, they are very kind, you just need to be patient and vocalize slowly. They will process your credit card and ship the stuff to wherever you are. Website is in Japanese/English.
Buyee is indeed a great option if you don't know Japanese.
Hifido.com shop has English capable people, they are very kind, you just need to be patient and vocalize slowly. They will process your credit card and ship the stuff to wherever you are. Website is in Japanese/English.
Approximately how much would a full restoration cost (by a qualified tech) on an X1 here in the U.S.?
Anyone have an idea?
I think this would depend on who you go to, some might be a lot more expensive than others. You have to define the work exactly, and have the subject (the AU-X1) in front of you.
That's part of its appeal for me, I like this kind of challenge. :thmbsp:
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Sansui AU 919 AU X1
Somewhat off topic but in reply to questions about the AU X1.
Here's a story, sad but true about a member I once knew (78c3sam) who acquired an AU X1 from an estate sale in Canada and had the unfortunate pleasure of listening to it for a brief period before it blew its output transistors. Time has clouded my recollection of events and it is certainly not worth my time to look things up and get everything straight, but what I write is true, at least in spirit, to the actual events.
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=473169
The bottom line is that none of the technicians who are well known to this Forum who read the original posting, or whom he or I contacted, had any strong desire to work on this formidable amplifier. I was in private correspondence with him. The original output transistors are almost, but not quite unobtainium. At one point Echowars had a post about equivalent fast replacement transistors (mentioned in the above thread) and these also became obsolete but I managed to pick up some, after they were discontinued, from the UK, and offered them to 78c3sam at cost if he could find someone to fix it. He initially could not and, during a period of despondence, offered to ship it to me gratis to keep just in case I could ever get it repaired. Finally, he had it repaired by Cherish44 (or something like that, listed on eBay). The cost probably was near $1000. I did contact him to ask what they used for replacement transistors. He said that he didn't know. Sometime thereafter I saw his AU X1 listed on eBay and it sold. I didn't have the heart to contact him subsequently to find out why he sold it. Financial pressures perhaps.
The bottom line is that unless, like Hyperion, you can thrive on challenges or do it yourself, this is a very hard amp to get someone else to restore.
By the way Kale has a marvelous thread on a restoration, but he is in Croatia.
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=477461
Somewhat off topic but in reply to questions about the AU X1.
Here's a story, sad but true about a member I once knew (78c3sam) who acquired an AU X1 from an estate sale in Canada and had the unfortunate pleasure of listening to it for a brief period before it blew its output transistors. Time has clouded my recollection of events and it is certainly not worth my time to look things up and get everything straight, but what I write is true, at least in spirit, to the actual events.
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=473169
The bottom line is that none of the technicians who are well known to this Forum who read the original posting, or whom he or I contacted, had any strong desire to work on this formidable amplifier. I was in private correspondence with him. The original output transistors are almost, but not quite unobtainium. At one point Echowars had a post about equivalent fast replacement transistors (mentioned in the above thread) and these also became obsolete but I managed to pick up some, after they were discontinued, from the UK, and offered them to 78c3sam at cost if he could find someone to fix it. He initially could not and, during a period of despondence, offered to ship it to me gratis to keep just in case I could ever get it repaired. Finally, he had it repaired by Cherish44 (or something like that, listed on eBay). The cost probably was near $1000. I did contact him to ask what they used for replacement transistors. He said that he didn't know. Sometime thereafter I saw his AU X1 listed on eBay and it sold. I didn't have the heart to contact him subsequently to find out why he sold it. Financial pressures perhaps.
The bottom line is that unless, like Hyperion, you can thrive on challenges or do it yourself, this is a very hard amp to get someone else to restore.
By the way Kale has a marvelous thread on a restoration, but he is in Croatia.
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=477461
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Sansui AU 919 X1
Hi all.
I sit corrected. The very unit I spoke of is now listed you know where. He says that he paid $900 for it and spent over $1800 to have it serviced. I thought that he had previously sold it and I know that it was listed on eBay about 1 year ago, but the deal must have fallen through. I would not expect service to have cost near that much if it were functional to begin with.
Marc
Hi all.
I sit corrected. The very unit I spoke of is now listed you know where. He says that he paid $900 for it and spent over $1800 to have it serviced. I thought that he had previously sold it and I know that it was listed on eBay about 1 year ago, but the deal must have fallen through. I would not expect service to have cost near that much if it were functional to begin with.
Marc
_mano
Well-Known Member
E2
Addicted Member
Nothing wrong with it, and not using it at the moment, but I have an AU 919 that I snagged in a thrift for $50 back in January 2010. I used it for 2 years without issue. And after a year of non use used it again without issue for a couple months.
I had not used my Yamaha CR 2040 for a long time, and have been using that for about 6 months.
Yes, the 919 is a great amp. It sounds very modern.
I would like to have it updated, but can't do it now.
I had not used my Yamaha CR 2040 for a long time, and have been using that for about 6 months.
Yes, the 919 is a great amp. It sounds very modern.
I would like to have it updated, but can't do it now.
nj pheonix
Lunatic Member
I had a 919 pass through here (unrestored). I thought it sounded good but not amazing (i tend to be a bit critical but then don't we all) . I was talking to Glenn EW, about doing it over. I think he had a six month backlog but was willing to take it in 3 Months (I think he has a soft spot for 919s). I got cold feet and bailed. He did seem to think properly restored it was something special and from everything else i've read, i'd tend to believe it. A clean unit with shipping to you. Shipping back and forth from service and the service itself tends to run up quick. You'd have to really want one to jump (or just have stupid money burning a hole in your pocket).
SAnsui AU 919
At this point I would say that neither the AU 919 or the AU X1 are "safe" amplifiers as long as they have the black flag capacitors. The second reference is by ConradH. The third is the thread that lead to Conrad's research on the BFs with a link to the second. The failure rate on the BF capacitors is quite high and replacement output transistors are hard to come by. I am afraid to run my unrestored AU 919, it sits unplugged.
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=253094
http://conradhoffman.com/BF_caps.htm
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=594032
Marc
At this point I would say that neither the AU 919 or the AU X1 are "safe" amplifiers as long as they have the black flag capacitors. The second reference is by ConradH. The third is the thread that lead to Conrad's research on the BFs with a link to the second. The failure rate on the BF capacitors is quite high and replacement output transistors are hard to come by. I am afraid to run my unrestored AU 919, it sits unplugged.
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=253094
http://conradhoffman.com/BF_caps.htm
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=594032
Marc
