Impressions on low end Sansui - Any thoughts?

[mattstech]

I'm new to AK!
So I've been collecting some vintage sansui equipment for a while now, and usually I end up buying low end Sansuis for quite cheap at local thrift stores and garage sales. Now this isn't their utter plastic 90s garbage, but I tend to find amps and receivers from the late 60s and 70s and I find them to sound quite good regardless of how much fellow AK-ers bash them.

Here were my finds over the years:
Sansui A-80 (1981, very musical however has a high noise floor)
Sansui AU-101 (1973, needs work)
Almost bought an AU-317
and
Sansui 350 (Which I use as my main reciever, got for pocket change)

The 350 is by far the best sounding in my collection, only 21wpc but gets loud enough to drive a pair of JBL 4311s.

What is your opinions/experiences with low end sansui?

 

[ChicagoTom]

I have a recapped/upgraded AU-505 that is right near the top of any vintage amp I've ever owned (and I've owned a few dozen, from most of the major makers from the late 60s to late 70s. I think it is very similar to the AU-101 but with more power. I also owned an original Sansui 800 which I LOVED, then later found out it has the amp and preamp of the AU-505!

 

[KentTeffeteller]

The AU 101 out of both of your choices is superior build wise, superior sounding. With efficient speakers, beloved by many.

 

[mattstech]

The AU 101 out of both of your choices is superior build wise, superior sounding. With efficient speakers, beloved by many.

The AU101 probabbly needs service to bring it to it's full glory, But As-is I A/B tested the 101 against the 350 and found to my surprise that the 350 actually sounds nicer! I think the AU has potential to sound better though, it's a bit dull on the highs

 

[Bodyblue]

I dont see Sansui being bashed at all actually, I see a lot of Sansui love most of the time. I had a 881 recently and while I liked it, I did not love it like I have other receivers that I own from the same vintage. It sounded great and looked nice but I did not think it quite lived up to it's reputation for built quality. The case was nice but the knobs and they way the felt and moved was average at best. I flipped mine for a nice profit when I got the chance so I am happy. I do need to try a later model to see if I like it better however. I found the Sony STR 5800 to easily sound as good and liked the feel of it much more.

 

[slimecity]

I have had a lot of Sansuis and I have only kep the AU-999.

I've even had some of the A and R series. Sure they are built cheap as hell and are quite plasticky but even that series doesnt sound too bad for what Im sure would have been a fairly low new retail price.

Stuff like the 350 and Eight receivers do sound great, they are well built with good circuits.

A good step up for you would be a 505, 555 or 555a.

 

[Djcoolray]

Actually the Sansui black face Alpha607 from the early nineties sounds better than the seventies silver faced and I've heard and owned both using JBL's....

 

[silver faced]

most receivers when matched with right speaker sounds good

 

[larryderouin]

News to me on the 40W for the 2000. More like 32W, as the 2000A is rated for 35W, and the 2000X is rated for 39W into 8 ohms. And I've had all 3 for almost 10 years. But I WILL agree all 3 of these models are very good receivers for their wattage rating. A lot of the 60's and very early 70's Sansui's with lower ratings were Cap coupled.