Help with Sansui MA-7 Monitor Consolette

[kingkurt72]

Hi, I am new to Audio Karma, just wanted to say hi, and ask a quick question.
I recently acquired a Sansui MA-7 with cue monitor speaker for free (yes free!!)
But I have no idea how to to set it up, I’ve scoured the inter web and can’t find a manual anywhere!.
Can anyone help me with connections?
I’m looking to connect my Akai X-2000SD and turntable.
Do I go out of Akai then in to MA7, then from MA7 in to amp?
I will thank you in advance for any help you can give me.

 

[AdamAnt316]

Interesting contraption! HiFi Engine has the brochure on their MA-7 page, which might be as close to a manual as you're likely to find. From the jacks shown on the back, the most obvious way to use it with your system would be to connect a set of speaker cables in parallel with your existing ones, and connect them to the Power Amplifier input on the back to allow you to monitor the power output level on the MA-7's meters.

I think you can also connect one of the inputs through the Pre Out/Main In jacks on a receiver/integrated amp (or between the preamp and power amp in a separates system) for a line level readout; the rec out/play in connectors apparently can be used the same way to allow the MA-7 to be added across the tape loop.

Otherwise, I'm guessing you'd take an extra set of RCA cables, connect the line output of each source you want to connect to the MA-7 (like the Akai) to one of the three In jacks on the back, and then connect a cable from the appropriate Out jack to the associated input connector on your receiver/integrated/preamp. The turntable will have to remain connected directly to the phono input. Hope this helps.
-Adam

 

[kingkurt72]

Hi AdamAnt316, Thank You very much for the help, it’s greatly appreciated.
Paul

Interesting contraption! HiFi Engine has the brochure on their MA-7 page, which might be as close to a manual as you're likely to find. From the jacks shown on the back, the most obvious way to use it with your system would be to connect a set of speaker cables in parallel with your existing ones, and connect them to the Power Amplifier input on the back to allow you to monitor the power output level on the MA-7's meters.

I think you can also connect one of the inputs through the Pre Out/Main In jacks on a receiver/integrated amp (or between the preamp and power amp in a separates system) for a line level readout; the rec out/play in connectors apparently can be used the same way to allow the MA-7 to be added across the tape loop.

Otherwise, I'm guessing you'd take an extra set of RCA cables, connect the line output of each source you want to connect to the MA-7 (like the Akai) to one of the three In jacks on the back, and then connect a cable from the appropriate Out jack to the associated input connector on your receiver/integrated/preamp. The turntable will have to remain connected directly to the phono input. Hope this helps.
-Adam

 

[Aerobat]

That's a cool piece of gear, and dig that rack system in the brochure.

 

[JL07]

Interesting contraption! HiFi Engine has the brochure on their MA-7 page, which might be as close to a manual as you're likely to find. From the jacks shown on the back, the most obvious way to use it with your system would be to connect a set of speaker cables in parallel with your existing ones, and connect them to the Power Amplifier input on the back to allow you to monitor the power output level on the MA-7's meters.

I think you can also connect one of the inputs through the Pre Out/Main In jacks on a receiver/integrated amp (or between the preamp and power amp in a separates system) for a line level readout; the rec out/play in connectors apparently can be used the same way to allow the MA-7 to be added across the tape loop.

Otherwise, I'm guessing you'd take an extra set of RCA cables, connect the line output of each source you want to connect to the MA-7 (like the Akai) to one of the three In jacks on the back, and then connect a cable from the appropriate Out jack to the associated input connector on your receiver/integrated/preamp. The turntable will have to remain connected directly to the phono input. Hope this helps.
-Adam

Congrats @kingkurt72, that’s quite the score! I recently acquired one as well and have been contemplating/wondering exactly how I should hook it up to my AU-717.

@AdamAnt316, I’m hoping you can shed some light on this - I’d like to use it as a power meter for the output of the 717, which is rated at 8ohm. I’m currently running the amp into a pair of 8ohm Triangle BR03s, and I’m considering running the B-speaker outs to the MA-7’s power input which is rated at 100W, 8ohm input as well. Is there a foreseeable issue running the amp in A+B configuration to run the meters, especially if I’m not connecting the included 2W, 8ohm MA-7 monitor (it doesn’t seem that way from the schematic)? Thanks for any help!

 

[AdamAnt316]

@AdamAnt316, I’m hoping you can shed some light on this - I’d like to use it as a power meter for the output of the 717, which is rated at 8ohm. I’m currently running the amp into a pair of 8ohm Triangle BR03s, and I’m considering running the B-speaker outs to the MA-7’s power input which is rated at 100W, 8ohm input as well. Is there a foreseeable issue running the amp in A+B configuration to run the meters, especially if I’m not connecting the included 2W, 8ohm MA-7 monitor (it doesn’t seem that way from the schematic)? Thanks for any help!

To the best of my knowledge, that'd probably work fine. The easiest way to see if the A+B setting puts the speakers in series or parallel would be to set the switch to A+B with only one pair of speakers connected: if the sound goes away, the switch wires the speakers in series; otherwise, it puts them in parallel. Personally, I wire my watt meters (Realistic APMs) directly in parallel at the speaker terminals on the back of my amp, and I believe that's how the MA-7 is intended to be connected, since it doesn't have both input and output speaker terminals except for the one for the cue monitor speakers. Speaking of which, I'd probably hook that speaker unit up if I had it and the MA-7 even if I didn't use it much, since it looks damn cool.
-Adam

 

[JL07]

To the best of my knowledge, that'd probably work fine. The easiest way to see if the A+B setting puts the speakers in series or parallel would be to set the switch to A+B with only one pair of speakers connected: if the sound goes away, the switch wires the speakers in series; otherwise, it puts them in parallel. Personally, I wire my watt meters (Realistic APMs) directly in parallel at the speaker terminals on the back of my amp, and I believe that's how the MA-7 is intended to be connected, since it doesn't have both input and output speaker terminals except for the one for the cue monitor speakers. Speaking of which, I'd probably hook that speaker unit up if I had it and the MA-7 even if I didn't use it much, since it looks damn cool.
-Adam

That’s a great idea throwing it in parallel from the speakers. That’s what I assumed with the A+B from the 717 as well, and as it is in parallel I can just run the double speaker outs since they’re both 8 ohm impedance. The head unit will make it on soon enough, but given my other components I just don’t have the space rn! Appreciate the help

 

[Solomon Hāte]

Hi, Also new to posting here (lurked for a few years) I posted the set up diagram I'm going by for the moment for my system which includes an MA-7 on another thread earlier today and tried to start collecting info on this unit.

I've managed to get the MA set up to monitor an aux in successfully by going straight to the MA from source then into the amp below, this works for aux and I guess a tuner would as they are the same level.
Phono is obviously a much fainter signal so was barely registering on the VU meters so for the moment I've bypassed it.
Connecting a tape deck and EQ is proving difficult too as neither are sources (truly, in my case) so going via tape loops.

Waiting on a few more RCA cables to connect with but I reckon with some schematic thinking the unit could be connected via loops entirely?

I guess you could connect speakers to the outs intended for the cue monitors but i don't really get why you would if you normally connect to the back on your amp?

As I'm sure with everyone else here any additional info would go down well!

 

[jmfernandes]

Hi, I am new to Audio Karma, just wanted to say hi, and ask a quick question.
I recently acquired a Sansui MA-7 with cue monitor speaker for free (yes free!!)
But I have no idea how to to set it up, I’ve scoured the inter web and can’t find a manual anywhere!.
Can anyone help me with connections?
I’m looking to connect my Akai X-2000SD and turntable.
Do I go out of Akai then in to MA7, then from MA7 in to amp?
I will thank you in advance for any help you can give me.

Hi kingkurt72, both items don't really add any specific music/quality value. You can find manuals online

 

[Bright_Star]

Hi, Also new to posting here (lurked for a few years) I posted the set up diagram I'm going by for the moment for my system which includes an MA-7 on another thread earlier today and tried to start collecting info on this unit.

I've managed to get the MA set up to monitor an aux in successfully by going straight to the MA from source then into the amp below, this works for aux and I guess a tuner would as they are the same level.
Phono is obviously a much fainter signal so was barely registering on the VU meters so for the moment I've bypassed it.
Connecting a tape deck and EQ is proving difficult too as neither are sources (truly, in my case) so going via tape loops.

Waiting on a few more RCA cables to connect with but I reckon with some schematic thinking the unit could be connected via loops entirely?

I guess you could connect speakers to the outs intended for the cue monitors but i don't really get why you would if you normally connect to the back on your amp?

As I'm sure with everyone else here any additional info would go down well!

The MA-7 is a very cool device, similar to a G22/33K- the big G units, in that only was made for a short time, 1978.

I could understand why so few big G's were made, but its unclear why Sansui made so few MA-7's, as opposed to the AX-7, I would think
if folks liked the meters on the MA along with the cue speakers, they would be popular sellers, go figure.

I have a few MA-7/GX-5 setups, here are two:

 

[wmgwizard]

Sansui MA-7 manual and picts

Hello folks, radio newbies here, how is it? I think this time I have been lucky, I have a Sansui MA-7 on the table in front of me now! Aaaaaaaand manual!!! :banana: I finally found the way to contribute to this great forum, I have been looking for this manual since looooong time so I guess...

audiokarma.org

 

[Bright_Star]

I think an MA-7 will generate the most interest in the Sansui forum, vs General discussion.

Congrats on yours, they are rare, does the power button light up, they seem to typically go out, but should not be too hard to replace the bulb within.