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POLL: Sansui 8080DB vs AU/TU-7700 ?

which would you choose?

  • Total voters
    78
bolero

bolero

Super Member
I am curious what people here would choose, between the two?

AU-7700 + TU-7700 are separates, but from a slightly earlier era than the 8080DB

AU-7700 = 55w ( approx )
8080DB = 85w

I doubt the difference in volume would realistically be a factor.....a 110w amp would be 2dB louder than a 55w amp, and 1dB is the smallest increment the human ear can discerne ( from what I have read )

I believe someone said the tuner in the 8080DB is based on the TU517?

but the TU-7700 is no slouch, with 4 gangs. I think it is similar to the TU-7900 which closely followed (?)


so I made a poll

I have to admit, I much prefer he looks of the AU/TU-7700. and the control layout

otherwise they have similar features ( 2xphono input, tuner, aux, 2xtape inputs, splittable preamp/poweramp etc )

Any technical analysis/data is welcome!

cheers
 
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I have used both,but if its come in to my personal preference,I vote au 7700 for the sound quality,not sure about the tuner tu 7700
 
wow 6:3 separates vs receiver, so far

I will do an A/B once I get the 8080DB and AU-7700 restored
 
I vote Separates. As an example, the Damping Factor of separates is almost always better than receivers of similar output power. Likewise, many other specs of separates tend to be better than receivers.
 
(one quiet vote from the back of the room for the 8080) I can't make a personal comparison but the 8080db I had could power almost anything and the tuner had some good pull, maybe not separates level but it was no slouch. The phono in was pretty clean from what I remember.
 
I have a bone stock 8080DB, other than a couple re soldered dial lamp connections. Hooked up to LaScalas and love the sound. :) AL
 
8080db is almost the same as the 9090db. Great reviews on both.

+1 vote for the 8080db

Heres my mint 8080db.

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The main problem here is that the 8080dB and 9090dB are trouble prone. The Dolby board has primitive feedthrus that connect the 2 sides of the board and they go open and intermittant. There are about 30 of them and you have to take the board out, remove the selector switch, and solder a wire through each feedthru to fix it. There are also flat flexible cables that connect the Dolby board and selector board and they go bad and have to be replaced. There are other problem areas as well. When you get all that done it still doesn't sound as good as an AU-7700, and the tuner isn't as good as the TU-7700. There are other Sansui receivers that are much better, like the Model 8 Deluxe and G-8000 / G-9000.
 
Haven't had one issue with mine...... yet [emoji33] will need to do the mods though.

I totally agree with you on the Gx000 series. I have a G8000 and it just sounds so much nicer than the x0x0db's imo and the built quality doesn't even compare too.
 
one deficit of the AU-7700 ( and all the AU's with the top mounted in/output RCA's ) is they need to be resoldered periodically, inside the unit....as the stress flexes & breaks the connection

and it's not that easy to get in there
 
I've restored a TU-7900. I've seen Both the TU-7700 and TU-7900 build quality as well as the circuitry for the AU-7700. I'd take the 8080db after restoration any day.
 
wow currently it's 50:17 in favour of the AU/TU


still waiting on my 8080DB to come back home from a tuneup...then to be fair I should get the AU-7700 tuned up as well :scratch2:
 
Checking in here, I see it ended up 54:17 in favor of AU/TU-7700

Since I posted this thread, I discovered the 8080db uses the TU-7900 circuit for it's FM tuner. Look in the service manuals: they're the same circuit boards. So it's funny to read all those negative tuner comments?

The tuner's power regulator is funky though, and I plan to improve the heat dissipation with some of the ideas ppl have posted on the forum.
 
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