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Interesting Sansui products on Yahoo-auction-japan

^ and immediate predecessor to the TAC-505, which is a full blown receiver with power amp stage. I have one here I'm (slowly) getting back into shape. I'm also converting it for normal FM band by using the front end pack from a 350A receiver (which is the same part, but tuned for an FM band of 88-108MHz). I still need to find a good way to replicate the dial scale, which would be identical to that used in the TU-666, as I've not run across a parts unit from which to purloin an OE part yet. Probably just need to bite the bullet and have one screen printed.

These were JDM models exclusively, and given the general lack of popularity of receivers in Japan, I find it surprising that Sansui
made these to begin with. They are cool units, though. Especially with the radial dial scale, which is a pretty unusual design.
 
The thing I find interesting about the QA-5000 and 6000 is the fact that they didn't use a X in the model number (as was used to designate the variomatrix decoder on receivers starting with the lowly QRX-2000, and culminating in the QRX-9001. The "QS" logo mark also denoted that, where the earlier iterations had that stylized square with triangles at the four corners, and had model prefixes of either QR or QS.
 
I like 80's Sansui (I like every era). This kit is more on the BPC end of the spectrum, but definitely checks the nostalgia box for me. As a Gen-X, this kind of setup was what we all had in high school - along with our orange ringed woofers.
 
Those "bubble" buttons first saw use on the C-1000/B-1000 & 3000/T-1000 line of separates (and related components). I've made a point of not publicly ragging on them here (or elsewhere online), but they are amongst Sansui's most marginal efforts. Most of these were made in China or Malaysia (back when both countries were more known for making budget tier "junque" than they are these days (having upped their game noticeably). This is the stuff that really started to badly nick Sansui's reputation. The 1983-85 lineup had already done that to an extent, these just deepened the public perception that Sansui was now a bargain brand.

Yes, I like some 80's Sansui as well, but I try to stay focused on the actual quality gear they still made (and which saw very limited distribution alongside the BPC stuff, needless to say) while avoiding the mainstream, down-market stuff. I guess I find it depressing to be in the presence of the sort of gear that so clearly demonstrates their fall from greatness. And yes, they eventually gained that greatness back, but at the expense of continuing to sell worldwide, and pulling back to a much smaller concern that was destined to fail anyway due to being unprofitable, even if they were making great gear again.
 
Wait is the 'bubble' referring to those buttons or to the Japanese bubble economy of the 1980s? I thought it was the latter.
 
I assumed it was the styling. The Japanese bubble economy didn't account for this stuff being sold at department stores in the US. It resulted in the production of ultra high spec gear like the alpha series.
 
My first thought were the buttons too but the period was bubble economy so I went that direction. Buttons it is. Hadn’t heard that one before.
 
@JimEGR, I could maybe see it being a reference to the Japanese economy, but the height of the bubble, and in turn the peak of JDM high spec audio gear hitting the market, was a few years hence from the time this stuff dropped. And I doubt anybody in Japan was buying these inexpensive rack system components (made from about 86-88) when they had the budget to do far better. Most of this stuff probably never saw distribution in the JDM, in fact. It was purpose built for distribution in the North and South American markets, and perhaps saw some sales in Europe, and in other parts of Asia.

To support that notion, I'd say that one would be quite challenged to find 100V versions of any of these lower cost product lines. As Sansui withdrew and focused on the JDM, they went ever further upscale from about 1989-1995, and then hit a level of quality they pretty well maintained until their eventual shutdown. There were a few things they made for sale in Japan that were more midrange/upper midrange product, like the Ælf series of midi sized components (A-a7 and 9, and associated components, and the RZ line of AV receivers) but these were exceptions to the rule, and were far better than the BPC stuff from a few years prior.
 
Sansuiman said:
@JimEGR, I could maybe see it being a reference to the Japanese economy, but the height of the bubble, and in turn the peak of JDM high spec audio gear hitting the market, was a few years hence from the time this stuff dropped. And I doubt anybody in Japan was buying these inexpensive rack system components (made from about 86-88) when they had the budget to do far better. Most of this stuff probably never saw distribution in the JDM, in fact. It was purpose built for distribution in the North and South American markets, and perhaps saw some sales in Europe, and in other parts of Asia.

To support that notion, I'd say that one would be quite challenged to find 100V versions of any of these lower cost product lines. As Sansui withdrew and focused on the JDM, they went ever further upscale from about 1989-1995, and then hit a level of quality they pretty well maintained until their eventual shutdown. There were a few things they made for sale in Japan that were more midrange/upper midrange product, like the Ælf series of midi sized components (A-a7 and 9, and associated components, and the RZ line of AV receivers) but these were exceptions to the rule, and were far better than the BPC stuff from a few years prior.
Click to expand...

You are probably right about the bubble description referencing the buttons. This is 100V JDM gear being sold in Japan then and listed now though. As well as an adjacent *900* set not sure what the differences are. Look like they have an X-Balanced setting on the amp too which is cool makes me wonder what the other settings are. This is not at all top tier Sansui but I'd love to have a stack of it here. Looks like fun and may not sound too bad either!

sui .jpg

more sui.jpeg
 
Reading the listing description again I am going with my original claim - the bubble economy. He talks about "top of the line" for the system (this is a bold claim but maybe it looks like it from his perspective or maybe he is just hyping his ad).

"Thank you for viewing my listing.
I am selling a complete Sansui Bubble Era component system, made by the now-defunct, long-established audio manufacturer separately, as part of a decluttering effort. The
set includes five units: amplifier, tuner, equalizer, double cassette deck, and CD player.
This is the top-of-the-line model in the series."

And this is all 100V JDM gear. Not sure what you are referencing with your claim -
"Most of this stuff probably never saw distribution in the JDM, in fact. It was purpose built for distribution in the North and South American markets, and perhaps saw some sales in Europe, and in other parts of Asia."

And the buttons are dimples not bubbles.
Screenshot 2026-09-04 at 8.08.35 PM.png
Screenshot 2026-09-04 at 8.17.56 PM.png
 
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Ok. Interesting that these are visually very much like the aforementioned down market B/C/T-1000 separates (and related CD and tape decks), but are in fact a separate product line. I knew the amp was unusual, and noted the X-Balanced reference on it. So, perhaps these specific components are of a better pedigree that I first expected. Were there any pictures with serial numbers visible? Because that would add some further insight. The stuff I was referring to was cheaper product sold here in the US (and to a lesser extent in Europe, from what I can discern) made from about 1985-87. It spanned the logo change, as one will find examples of these with both the "old" and "new" logos. I can't say I've seen this lineup in JDM versions, but then I don't go seeking them out, either, so perhaps they do exist.


I suspect these you've posted pics are from 88-89, maybe even into 1991. Seems to me the Japanese bubble peaked in 1989 (based upon reading I've done on the subject) and burst in 1991. Which is a bit odd, considering Sansui's specs and build quality continued to improve into the mid 90's, and then remained consistently excellent until their ultimate winding down as a going concern. So, arguably, their very best gear of the Alpha era was built after the officially recognized bubble era.
 
^ for a minute there, the toroidal transformer threw me off; I knew that didn't come out of an AU-9500. Reading the description clarified things.
 
Ok, maybe I'm missing something, but the ad states it has the output stage of an AU-11000. So it has the driver stage of 9500, but a different transformer and output section from the 9500? I'm having a bit of difficulty thinking of this as an AU-9500 based power amp, if 2/3 of it came from other models. Still an excellent effort, but I'm questioning the description a little.
 
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