First Listen Sansui AU-20000

[The Fez]

Wow - What an amplifier..

Heaps, I mean heaps of effortless power. It looks like it means business, and so it proves, performance matches the look. The volume control feels silken like in the hand, you know it just wants to be turned clockwise. And keep turning.

Past "12 o'clock" and it gets loud, VERY LOUD.

For those that like their bass, get an AU20000. Simple as that. There is tons of it. The bottom end aint bad either. I was expecting a more bloated delivery, but its pretty good. Will be even better after a restore. But the amp keeps digging it out from its seemingly limitless bass reserves, and its happy giving it to you.

But its the midrange that I think these Sansuis excel. So, so sweet in the mids. Reminded me of the AU-999 I borrowed from Skippy a while back. Maybe a hangover from their tube heritage, I dunno, but I like it!

Brilliant piece of audio heritage, that seems to be in super condition sonically. No hum, no noise, no pops, no scratches, no static anywhere. Testiment to the build quality I guess. And its obviously been looked after.

Looking forward to seeing how the phono inputs go tomorrow..

 

[EchoWars]

Always liked the 20000. Nice.

 

[JOMARK911]

It excells in phono input too. And it's totaly adjustable.

 

[sansui88]

it looks the part with your mcintosh player. when doing the restore I would personally recommend nichicon audio power supply caps, nichicon caps in the power amp side and elna silmic in the pre amp stage. I've had this done with ba 5k and ca3k. sounds wonderful.


Posted from Audiokarma.org App for Android

 

[ToniCH]

One of my favorites too

Now go open it and post pics of the innards!

 

[skippy124]

One of my favorites too

Now go open it and post pics of the innards!

I was fortunate to see this amp in the flesh last weekend..... here is a teaser




It is in very good original condition!!!

Cheers

John

 

[Hyperion]

Wow ! look at the size of those smoothing capacitors compared to the toroid :thmbsp:

 

[larryderouin]

DAMN! They look like SOUP or BEER CANS!

 

[JOMARK911]

Wow ! look at the size of those smoothing capacitors campared to the toroid :thmbsp:

I had changed both of them on a clients AU 20000 with four , from accuphase , quadruple capacity. Also did some work , replace all six output transistors , and ofcourse recaping all boards. Mostly with nippon and silmics ii , that was his pic.
Monster is still going , in a small bar in athens driving a pair of 801's (b&w) , fed from a laptop. This amp turns on at around 0800 am and turns off at 0300 pm every night.
It's still young and fresh , job was done in 2000 , and 13 years later the monster holds it's own. The problem now seems to be the woofers surounds , that are living their last moments.
No problem with amp.

 

[MacNoob]

in a small bar in athens driving a pair of 801's (b&w) , fed from a laptop. This amp turns on at around 0800 am and turns off at 0300 pm every night.

Those are some strange bar hours :beer:

 

[JOMARK911]

Right , in the morning it serves as coffee shop.

 

[richardpp]

Brilliant piece of audio heritage, that seems to be in super condition sonically. No hum, no noise, no pops, no scratches, no static anywhere. Testiment to the build quality I guess. And its obviously been looked after.

Looking forward to seeing how the phono inputs go tomorrow..

Sounds like a beautiful amp you've got there! I'm glad it arrived safely.

They certainly have great build quality.

Cheers,
Richard

 

[pete_mac]

Very nice Stephen. Sorry that I couldn't make it over to Dad's place last weekend to see the beast in the flesh!

it looks the part with your mcintosh player.

That's an Emotiva rather than a Mac.

 

[ToniCH]

I was fortunate to see this amp in the flesh last weekend..... here is a teaser
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg66/pmd_2008/AK20K001sm_zps2eadcd0f.jpg

Looks great, very clean.

Does it also have the coverplates which are removed in this pic?

What are those 2 black things in the phono connectors? Caps of some kind?

 

[JOMARK911]

shortplugs, for shorting the input, so it won't pick up any noise , while a turntable is not connected.

 

[omri617]

It looks like a 'complicated' unit to service / fix .
Or maybe I'm wrong ?
I'm a proud new owner ..

 

[The Fez]

Had the TT hooked up to the 20K and sounds very sweet. Vintage just made for phono.

I'm going to be interested comparing the phono in a few large vintage integrated amps see how they shape up.

 

[ehoove]

Congrats! Beautiful piece of Vintage Integrated high end with highly adjustable Moving Coil Cartridge inputs I'm sure.:scratch2:

Happy Holidays,
Jim

 

[sansuilove]

Have to agree with what was said above about the midrange of AU20,000
Sounds nice really .
One thing bothers me : need to turn the volume to 11-12 o'clock to start hearing 'bit loud'
Lower than that sounds low dramaticLy
Any other owner feels this way too ?

 

[The Fez]

Yeah I've noticed that too regarding volume. I think that is just how they came out of the factory.. .I don't mind in the least turning the volume knob...

Sent from my XT925