MP-2 Multiplex

[stormking]

Thought someone might like to see this piece of obscure Sansui history I found at an estate sale last weekend. The original owner was a Vietnam era fighter pilot and brought home some nice gear. There was a 1000 there also but I didn't end up with it. This looks like it has never been out of the box, and that makes sense. Maybe the pilot bought it thinking he needed it for stereo FM not realizing the 1000 already had an onboard MPX. Now for a question..... What Sansui tuner were these likely used for? FM-5 FM-8 something other than these? All of these are rare and little info out there.
B2 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/119819727@N06/, on Flickr
B2 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/119819727@N06/, on Flickr
Have to run more pics when I get back.

 

[Omegaman]

Yes, I appreciate stand alone tube FM multiplexers
I think they are superior to built in MPX circuits
I use a Knight KN-MX3

 

[Sansuiman]

There were a handful of tuner/preamps Sansui made in that era, this outboard MPX decoder may be compatible with some of them. I'll need to go digging to turn up any specific model numbers, as these fall outside my otherwise encyclopedic knowledge of Sansui. Definitely an extremely rare unit, and to have find in the box like that no less.

 

[stormking]

Thanks Sansuiman, I know there is great knowledge of all things Sansui on this board. Additional pics.
B2 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/119819727@N06/, on Flickr
B2 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/119819727@N06/, on Flickr

 

[larryderouin]

Damn, if that don't look like a FISHER MPX-100 clone!

 

[Sansuiman]

Appearance wise, it looks to be made to almost in the same general styling as the 1000A, AU and TU-70 though the knobs are slightly different, as is the panel lettering. The orange pilot lamps are pretty generic items of the era.

 

[Reidy12]

WOW so much info on an obscure piece of gear....you guys ROCK

 

[bluesky]

.

I find it interesting that the box says "Sansui's" in large lettering rather than the norm Sansui

View attachment 2366087



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Good point!

 

[Sansuiman]

^ Sansui did use that a lot in marketing/advertising though when they were touting some new product or general breakthrough, like variomatrix. One can find many magazine ads and even factory brochures and mini-catalogs where "Sansui's newest/latest/most powerful etc." is how the copy reads.

It is a bit of a strange convention, stylistically speaking. Seems British English is more apt to do that sort of thing with a company name than American English, perhaps that is where Sansui picked up the practice.

 

[LBPete]

Sansui's is the possessive tense, not plural. That said, it's an extraordinary find.

- Pete

 

[stormking]

Thanks all, for the great info. I'm a big fan of Sansui tube gear, such nice build quality.