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Question about Sansui AU-919 phono stage

B

bebopdeluxe

Well-Known Member
Hello everyone. After a LONG layoff, I am back listening to my rig - which means I am back to AK!

A question - I have an Echo Wars rebuilt (looks like he is not around these days) Sansui AU-919, with which I have always used a separate phono stage. As part of shaking the cobwebs out of the system, I discovered that my Wright Sound WPP-200 is not powering up (I am getting replacement tubes for the power stage - fingers crossed), so in the meantime I have finally plugged into the AU-919's phono stage. For now, I am using a Sanyo TP-1020 turntable (my backup, as I also am having issues with my Music Hall MMF-7 turntable's cueing level - aarrgghh!), with a new Denon DL-110 HOMC cartridge.

So the issue is this - there are two settings on the Phono 1 input for the 919 - for MM and MC. When I put the selector on Phono 1 MC, I only get music out of one channel, but when I use the Phono 1 MM, I hear it out of both speakers. Strange.

My question - for those who know the AU-919 - is this: is the MC setting on this amp simply a step-up transformer of the audio goodness of the amp's phono stage? To be honest, on the MM setting, things sound great...so good that I may actually reconsider whether I will get another outboard phono stage if the Wright is DOA after replacing the tubes. My guess is to get a outboard phono stage that will sound better than the 919, it might cost several hundred dollars (like, a Wright Sound level pre) - yes?

Thanks for the help!
 
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The MC input is an active Head Amp, no step-up xfmr. With power off try exercising the input selector a few dozen times to see if both channels come up.

Craig
 
llwhtt said:
The MC input is an active Head Amp, no step-up xfmr. With power off try exercising the input selector a few dozen times to see if both channels come up.

Craig
Click to expand...

Just tried it. No dice.

To be honest, it sounds pretty damn good on the MM setting. Have to turn it up a bit more, but the high output of the cartridge helps.
 
The MM stage is very good in the 919. I think I know what your problem is as I just finished fixing my 919.
Put this in the sansui section for better help.
Be patient!...
 
You won’t need to use the MC section for your HOMC. They are meant to be run through a normal MM pre. The added gain of the MC section works likely be too much.
It does sound like you’ve got an issue with the MC section. I’d wait for answers here or post up in the Sansui forum for quicker results.
 
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