Question or two on Sansui B-2101

[desertdog]

Hello. I have had the B-2101 for about ten years....bought it from a friend at work. Excellent shape physically and sound-wise. Currently I have it hooked up in my system running two 4ohm 15" dual voice coil woofers. (I run my AU-11000 as my main amp with a Thorens TD-165 turntable. The B-2101 is in the tape loop and runs the subs, the AU-11000 runs the main speakers, which are also home-made).
I used to work at JBL in the days of yore, so I got the speaker-making bug and all but two pair I own are home-made designs.
Soooo, my B-2101 had no pre-amp, so I bought a Audio Source "Pre One" for that purpose and an Audio Source EQ also. That is the set-up for my vinyl.
Here's my question (s): The B2101 does its job well, but I know nothing about it. It certainly appears to be from a different era (newer) than the AU-11000. Is it a keeper? Should I reverse the amps and the roles they play in this system? What are your thoughts?
I have other Sansui gear, but I am just beginning to appreaciate it all.

Thanks for your thoughts!

Desert Dog

 

[riverrat]

My understanding is that the 200wpc B-2101 and virtually identical B-2102 are regarded by many as sleepers from the twilight of the classic Sansui era, although some would argue that era ended several years earlier. I read somewhere that the power amps in this series are better built and higher quality than the pre-amps and I would agree, although my C-2101 seems to work fine.

I'm pretty sure these amps were Sansui's "X-Balanced" design, which started with the AU-D11 II and stayed through a long range of Japan-only amps.

My B-2102 got the crap beat out of it during shipping from Canada- bent corner and front plate, bottom plate bent in around all four feet, meters don't work. I have a hard time imagining the kind of treatment that produced all this damage. But it works and sounds great. I recovered some of the damages and have about $160 total into the amp and pre. The amp is too ugly for the main system and I doubt I could resell it for much, I have it in my office system of all places.

 

[Robisme]

I have a B-2102 and C-2101. I think the the C-2101 is built well enough and sounds great. I have used it with quite a few pieces.

Switch them and see.

Rob

 

[rabbit]

Here's my question (s): The B2101 does its job well, but I know nothing about it. It certainly appears to be from a different era (newer) than the AU-11000. Is it a keeper? Should I reverse the amps and the roles they play in this system? What are your thoughts?
I have other Sansui gear, but I am just beginning to appreaciate it all.

Thanks for your thoughts!

Desert Dog

The B-2101 is far superior amp to your AU-11000 which is early technology.

The B-2101 is second only to the B-2301 which is Sansui's finest amp.

However check the main filter caps in your B-2101 for venting and replace accordingly. They are 10,000uF 95V caps so it may be hard finding a suitable replacement.