My love hate relationship with Sansui

[BilboBaggins]

This all started when I first got back into audio, about 8 years ago. I had bought a MAC1900, and then a pair of Celestion Ditton 66 Speakers, and I was...underwhelmed by the sound. So in an attempt to get $1000 sound out of $1000 speakers, I upgraded to a fully restored Sansui 9090. Unfortunately, I had to let the speakers go, but I had purchased a pair of Ditton 44s and a pair of Kef Concerto's. Plus I had more than doubled the receiver output, so I figured I would start to hear something of the sound I heard when I was growing up in the late 70s and early 80s. Nope!

The hunt for "sound" became an obsession, and I went on an audio gear purchasing spree. I picked up a Sansui SR-222, which I really liked mated with an adc XLM cartridge and stylus. I also found a Sansui 2000 with a bit of cosmetic issues at a thrift for $10, and I really liked it, aside from the cosmetics. Early on, I also found a Sansui B2201, which I really liked, but my favourite speakers didn't. I also found a 661, an SR-323, a Sansui 800 that I liked, a Sansui AU-5500 that I really liked, an SR-525, an AU-D9, a whole slew of nice heavy wood veneer Sansui speakers that I thought sounded better than online reports when paired with high current amplifiers such as a Yamaha m40, and a Sansui 2000X that really impressed me!

Recently I picked up a project amplifier. I paid too much for it, which became apparent when I got it home and opened it up. It is going to be a lot of work to bring it back to proper condition, but I'm going to give it a try! As it stands right now, I think it sounds gorgeous. It has just the right amount of low end even when driving some of my more difficult speakers! It will be my backup amplifier, and it has a style that I absolutely love with black face and nice heavy aluminum knobs.

For those who love pictures, here are some of it clothed and nude.


This is going to need a lot of work, and I doubt I will recoup my expenses, but it is too nice to leave it as it is. I will need a few knobs, the caps will need to be done, and I've read some transistors will need to go. Probably some glue removed as I can see the brown glue on the vertical board in the middle, but I do like the board's layout in the unit. I think I will try to do it myself. My soldering skills have improved quite a bit over the last few years, after never touching a soldering iron for about 15 years.

Any thoughts on this beast?

 

[BLAH BLAH]

 

[BilboBaggins]

It just occurred to me that I might be better off trying to find a good condition unit and keep this one as a parts unit. Might be more economical in the long run too!

I took the Tuner knob off a dead Sony STR 5900SD for the tape knob. Not sure where I will find original parts for it. I haven't seen any around.

I needed to give it two good deoxit treatments to get the static out of the potentiometers. I think this was a working amp in a bar. It has that look, and it has the odor of years of cigarettes.

 

[slimecity]

I had a 9900A - probably the best sounding Sansui I've ever had. I really liked it. Not sure why you would want to use this one as a parts unit, it looks fine?

A recap would work wonders too, IMO

 

[BilboBaggins]

Lol, well it certainly has that working amp look, that's for sure! How would you treat the rust?

I had a 9900A - probably the best sounding Sansui I've ever had. I really liked it. Not sure why you would want to use this one as a parts unit, it looks fine?

A recap would work wonders too, IMO

There's no question this is a very nice sounding amp! And I really like the way the volume control works on it. The controls are so versitile and a pleasure to use!

 

[slimecity]

Is the only rust that shown on the inside metal partitions? I would just sand that back with a fine grade sandpaper. Cosmetically you have a great looking amp IMO.

I currently have a NZ-built valve amp that sounds lovely but is a cosmetic train-wreck and I don't have a clue how to fix it as its all just one folded panel of metal - but some of it is covered in a gold finish, and the rest is painted black. Booooo.

 

[Hipocrates]

I'm with slimecity, white vinegar, sandpaper, clean it and good quality high temp paint.

Edit:
On my hand planes restorations I use white vinegar and then I soak them with WD40, after that, I clean them and stays rust free for a long long time, and live in a tropical coutry, very humid place.

 

[Nemo bit]

This all started when I first got back into audio, about 8 years ago. I had bought a MAC1900, and then a pair of Celestion Ditton 66 Speakers, and I was...underwhelmed by the sound. So in an attempt to get $1000 sound out of $1000 speakers, I upgraded to a fully restored Sansui 9090. Unfortunately, I had to let the speakers go, but I had purchased a pair of Ditton 44s and a pair of Kef Concerto's. Plus I had more than doubled the receiver output, so I figured I would start to hear something of the sound I heard when I was growing up in the late 70s and early 80s. Nope!

The hunt for "sound" became an obsession, and I went on an audio gear purchasing spree. I picked up a Sansui SR-222, which I really liked mated with an adc XLM cartridge and stylus. I also found a Sansui 2000 with a bit of cosmetic issues at a thrift for $10, and I really liked it, aside from the cosmetics. Early on, I also found a Sansui B2201, which I really liked, but my favourite speakers didn't. I also found a 661, an SR-323, a Sansui 800 that I liked, a Sansui AU-5500 that I really liked, an SR-525, an AU-D9, a whole slew of nice heavy wood veneer Sansui speakers that I thought sounded better than online reports when paired with high current amplifiers such as a Yamaha m40, and a Sansui 2000X that really impressed me!

Recently I picked up a project amplifier. I paid too much for it, which became apparent when I got it home and opened it up. It is going to be a lot of work to bring it back to proper condition, but I'm going to give it a try! As it stands right now, I think it sounds gorgeous. It has just the right amount of low end even when driving some of my more difficult speakers! It will be my backup amplifier, and it has a style that I absolutely love with black face and nice heavy aluminum knobs.

For those who love pictures, here are some of it clothed and nude.

View attachment 1108295 View attachment 1108297 View attachment 1108298
This is going to need a lot of work, and I doubt I will recoup my expenses, but it is too nice to leave it as it is. I will need a few knobs, the caps will need to be done, and I've read some transistors will need to go. Probably some glue removed as I can see the brown glue on the vertical board in the middle, but I do like the board's layout in the unit. I think I will try to do it myself. My soldering skills have improved quite a bit over the last few years, after never touching a soldering iron for about 15 years.

Any thoughts on this beast?

Beautiful piece. Your list is similar to mine.I first picked up the AU-D9 and a TU-217 I was a happy man. Then picked up a 2000x that I spent hours cleaning upgrading to leds. I than had a European 990DB I did a barter deal for.
Next came a G-9700 which is under the knife and I am chomping for it to be up and running. I love the sansui's and all have gone to good homes. I do have a minty 881 which is next to my pride kr-9600 at the moment that the powerhouse and fully gone through
In my opinion its hard to find speakers that dont work well with the sansui provided matched efficiency. I find a pair of Walsh Ohm 2x0 tend to be the ones it runs most of the time. Kr-9600 and speakerlab Ss7S for an aggressive rock n roll day. I have many options for speakers but those little r2d2 speakers work amazing and I use them on several power sources as well. The G-9700
Will most likley be it the last one I will ever do
I think....but who knows that can't let that 22000 or 33000 go if it land's in my lap. Thank God my wife travels for work I am preparing to set up a 4th listening room while shes on this trip. I am a few years only a few
Ahead of you and I love all the gear of my era.I regret the sale of my 2000x most of all and just missed a deal on a 5000x. Rumor
Is I may have an Sansui 8 coming my way also. All of the late 60s and 70s manufacturers put out awesome gear. I started primarily with kenwood but everyone hears differently and I believe I was born with a lean towards Sansui. Remember if you can pick it up with no effort its too new. Beautiful
Piece you have! If it was about the money It would be work. I feel we caretake these important pieces of history and hope they last for many many years of pleasure. Old school rules. Cheers! Nemo Bit

 

[Zekeman]

I'm with you as well. I think the AU-9900, AU-7900, AU-7700 series amps sound best.

 

[BilboBaggins]

I'm with slimecity, white vinegar, sandpaper, clean it and good quality high temp paint.

Edit:
On my hand planes restorations I use white vinegar and then I soak them with WD40, after that, I clean them and stays rust free for a long long time, and live in a tropical coutry, very humid place.

I didn't know that. Excellent information!

I don't need a perfect amp cosmetically, in fact I kind of like the look. The internal quality is quite good with quality components used in my inexpert opinion. This unit looks very similar to some of the DEC computers I've worked on. I don't like the odor, but experience has taught me that as I go through the unit, cleaning as I go, the odor will decrease. I'll be looking for a replacement tape play knob as well as a power and tuner toggles.

 

[Hipocrates]

I don't need a perfect amp cosmetically,

It will give her, 'some character' you may say.
Let us know how it goes.

Windex and alcohol help with the odor, isopropyl for the unit and Scotch for the owner.

 

[BilboBaggins]

I like the scotch part!

 

[AlTinkster92]

 

[lbcgav]

I just got done with an AU-710 that when I first got it makes your AU-9900 look like a minter. This thing was so dirty and smelly I had to strip it down to the chassis and clean it with simple green and alcohol (not the Johnny Walker Gold Label I'm sipping on right now). It turned out alright. I'll post some pics in a bit.

 

[BilboBaggins]

I just got done with an AU-710 that when I first got it makes your AU-9900 look like a minter. This thing was so dirty and smelly I had to strip it down to the chassis and clean it with simple green and alcohol (not the Johnny Walker Gold Label I'm sipping on right now). It turned out alright. I'll post some pics in a bit.

That would be great! I certainly need encouragement. I've been thinking about how to approach this, always with the discussions I've had with leestereo in the back of my mind. Hm, maybe he has a thread on doing an au-9900?

 

[lbcgav]

Some before pics:


See the dirt?


Check out the corrosion on the RCA jacks:


Here are some of the boards after using a brush and Simple Green & water and rinsing with isopropyl alcohol:


Ahh, the glorious Sansui glue:


After the power supply is renewed:


Simichrome is good stuff:

 

[lbcgav]

More of the finished results:







And the bias setting:


It took several turns of VR03 to get any bias reading. I thought there was a problem at first, but after checking the voltages between C and E on TR06, I knew I had to just increase the voltages with the trimmer.

The transformers were completely rusty. Luckily I have access to a blasting cabinet, so stripped them down to bare metal and repainted them.

 

[SansuiJavier]

I just got done with an AU-710 that when I first got it makes your AU-9900 look like a minter. This thing was so dirty and smelly I had to strip it down to the chassis and clean it with simple green and alcohol (not the Johnny Walker Gold Label I'm sipping on right now). It turned out alright. I'll post some pics in a bit.

I just bought a 717 from the UK, I will receive it in the next few days and I will do a full recap, what brand of capacitors have you used for your 710? (It's exactly like 717). In my 517 I used Panasonic FR in the power supply and Nichicon fine gold for the drivers, what do you think is better for the 717?

 

[lbcgav]

I just bought a 717 from the UK, I will receive it in the next few days and I will do a full recap, what brand of capacitors have you used for your 710? (It's exactly like 717). In my 517 I used Panasonic FR in the power supply and Nichicon fine gold for the drivers, what do you think is better for the 717?

I'll defer to someone with more knowledge than I.

I will say, I used a combination of Panasonic, Nichicon, and Elna Silmic II's. The main filter caps are Kemets ($6 a piece at Mouser).

 

[BilboBaggins]

I've just gone through all of leestereo's threads today. He's never worked on an AU-9900, but he did work on an AU-7900, and an AU-9500, and between the two of them, and a few other restoration threads, I think I should have enough information to get started. But before I start, I want to get to know this amp much better. In the meantime, I will try to fill in the cracks of what I will need to know.