Opinions on Sansui purchase

[BBRN]

Hi all,
I'm going to look at a Sansui 8080 in the morning. I'm pretty sure its an 8080 and not a DB model. It looks to be in really good condition as you can see from the pic. He says it has a couple lamps out, but other than that it is in perfect working order. Seller is asking $150. I don't have any Sansuis and have been looking...Id prefer a g8000 or 9000 but the going rates are pretty high for those guys, and I think this would fit right into my collection. I just wanted some opinions on price.

Thanks!

 

[DCinDC]

Good price on a good model. And if you hate it you can sell it for twice that on ebay.

 

[newguy1]

I think that's a great price!

 

[BBRN]

Great thanks for the replies...I'll post some pics if I bring her home.

 

[24HACKER]

Haven't you picked that up yet? Hell yes for $150!!!

 

[BBRN]

HAHA, well I officially had my first bad CL experience. So this twit was selling the 8080 with a junk set of speakers for $300. His ad said he'd split them up for $150 each. I talked to him on the phone and told him I wasn't interested in the speakers but definitely wanted the 8080. He said sure come on out...40 mile drive one way. Got to the house and he immediately starts showing and touting the junk speakers. I said I wasn't interested as I had a closet full already(trying to be nice and unoffensive). So when I told him I'd take the receiver he says he's gotten other calls (no number listed on the ad:yesafter he spoke to me and decided he didn't want to sell them separately. I asked why he didn't tell me that over the phone...UHH well UHH. I thanked him for wasting my time, and was sure to inform him that someone else in the area had the same junk speakers for sale on CL for half his price OBO. He gave me the surprised "Really" reply. I then told him that just because some commissioned salesmen talked him into buying them in the 70's instead of investing in a good set of speakers doesn't mean that he gets to pass that off to someone else 30 years later...He didn't like that I thanked him again for wasting my time, wished him luck in my sarcastic way, and left. Wasn't meant to be. Oh and the 8080 was only putting out about half the power on the left side compared to the right, he didn't like me pointing that out either. He was a douchebag!

 

[canuckaudiog]

HAHA, well I officially had my first bad CL experience. So this twit was selling the 8080 with a junk set of speakers for $300. His ad said he'd split them up for $150 each. I talked to him on the phone and told him I wasn't interested in the speakers but definitely wanted the 8080. He said sure come on out...40 mile drive one way. Got to the house and he immediately starts showing and touting the junk speakers. I said I wasn't interested as I had a closet full already(trying to be nice and unoffensive). So when I told him I'd take the receiver he says he's gotten other calls (no number listed on the ad:yesafter he spoke to me and decided he didn't want to sell them separately. I asked why he didn't tell me that over the phone...UHH well UHH. I thanked him for wasting my time, and was sure to inform him that someone else in the area had the same junk speakers for sale on CL for half his price OBO. He gave me the surprised "Really" reply. I then told him that just because some commissioned salesmen talked him into buying them in the 70's instead of investing in a good set of speakers doesn't mean that he gets to pass that off to someone else 30 years later...He didn't like that I thanked him again for wasting my time, wished him luck in my sarcastic way, and left. Wasn't meant to be. Oh and the 8080 was only putting out about half the power on the left side compared to the right, he didn't like me pointing that out either. He was a douchebag!

Yeah no kidding, what a douche! Even if it was $50 giving him your money wouldn't have been worth it..

 

[BBRN]

^My thoughts exactly!

 

[canuckaudiog]

^My thoughts exactly!

I wouldn't worry too much about missing out on it though, chances are this is just the gateway to something even better

 

[BBRN]

No worries here, I tend to live by the everything happens for a reason school of thought. I'm sure Karma will take care of him just fine

 

[dr*audio]

I have a better idea for you anyway. Go find yourself a Model Eight or Eight Deluxe. Much better build quality, design and sound than the 8080 or 9090. You won't be unhappy. I work on the 8080's and 9090's and the dB versions all the time but very infrequently the Eights. Tells you something, doesn't it. The 8080 and 9090 are ok when they have had a very complete rebuild, new caps, modify the speaker relay board so it doesn't short the speakers to ground when the unit is off (sometimes the relay contacts weld together and then the output is shorted when you turn it on and the smoke comes out), replace old tired transistors. It's a lot of work for sound that really doesn't do much for me, personally. But the Eights are very nice.

 

[canuckaudiog]

I have a better idea for you anyway. Go find yourself a Model Eight or Eight Deluxe. Much better build quality, design and sound than the 8080 or 9090. You won't be unhappy. I work on the 8080's and 9090's and the dB versions all the time but very infrequently the Eights. Tells you something, doesn't it. The 8080 and 9090 are ok when they have had a very complete rebuild, new caps, modify the speaker relay board so it doesn't short the speakers to ground when the unit is off (sometimes the relay contacts weld together and then the output is shorted when you turn it on and the smoke comes out), replace old tired transistors. It's a lot of work for sound that really doesn't do much for me, personally. But the Eights are very nice.

Based on everything I've read I would have to agree with this. The 9090's are accident prone.. not hard to work on, but they do tend to need more maintenance.

 

[BBRN]

Excellent information to have...Thank you guys! I really like the way the G8000/9000 look, but haven't ever even seen one in person much less heard one. Any thoughts on those?

 

[canuckaudiog]

Excellent information to have...Thank you guys! I really like the way the G8000/9000 look, but haven't ever even seen one in person much less heard one. Any thoughts on those?

I've got the G7700. While those are in a different league (the 9000 moreso than the 8000), the sound is sweet, rich, and mostly uncolored. If you've heard the earlier Sansui designs I find they are quite warm but not as detailed. The highs I find tend to be a bit silkier on the G series, and overall it's a very classy sounding receiver.

I've had the AU-555A and in comparison, they were pretty close but the G series just had that little extra bit of sweetness on the top end and sounded a bit more open. Could have been the age of the units, but that's the way I see it.

I've also got an 881 which I find is a bit closer, but again it seems to be trading warmth for the silky smoothness. I personally like the G series, but would love to hear the 5000X. There's one local to me in mint shape, but I'm all outta cash.

 

[DCinDC]

I have a better idea for you anyway. Go find yourself a Model Eight or Eight Deluxe. But the Eights are very nice.

I agree with all that, just snipped to trim it, and to add look at Six Seven and 7000. All these are great and cheap.

 

[Ghonk]

What a JERK.Sure glad that didn't happen to me,probably end up getting my ass kicked.lol

 

[BBRN]

^HAHA! you could have taken him...trust me! If I was still the young man I used to be it would have probably gotten a little uglier, but I like the way I handle things now better. Calm, cool, and collected...he already knows he's an ass...no need for me to say it. His listing is still up and he has now changed the "will split the pair for $150 each" offer. It won't sell. 90% of the people looking for vintage equipment know what they are looking for, and those American Acoustics Labs speakers are not it. Like I said I'll let karma handle the rest

 

[Ghonk]

I bought a pair of AAL'S in 79-80.NO,not from a white van.15'',horn and 4 piezos.Don't know about quality sound,but they sure could punch you in the chest and make your hair stand up.

 

[dr*audio]

Excellent information to have...Thank you guys! I really like the way the G8000/9000 look, but haven't ever even seen one in person much less heard one. Any thoughts on those?

The G8000 and G9000 (and G22000, G33000) are, in my opinion, the best receivers Sansui ever made. They are the equal of separate components (tuner, preamp, amp) costing far more. That is why the prices of these receivers have gone up; people are discovering just how good they are. They have separate power supplies for each channel, all the way back to separate secondary windings in the transformer. They have massive power supplies, excellent preamp and amp design, and the tuners are first rate. They are very neutral sounding and clean. The only issue with the G's is the switches need a good cleaning after all these years, and you can't get the good contact cleaners we used to have, due to the ozone layer, so new cleaners are not as effective and re-treatment is necessary every couple of years.