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Recommendations on professional restoration of an AU-919

Tobin Vigil

Tobin Vigil

New Member
Hello. I live in Norman OK and recently found a super clean bone stock AU-919. I was thrilled and absolutely love the sound. I'm not an experienced listener but of the 4 other amps I have around it sounds the best hands down. It runs cool and has zero issues. I like it better than a friends 9090 and even his 9500. He didn't like the 919 as much. Different strokes. Sorry gang I don't have the vocabulary to say why I like it better. I do feel that it produces a soundstage that is superior to anything I have. So, after some more research, I got paranoid about losing it to the "black flag" failure. I'm looking for a pro to give it an overhaul. I know this is a DIY forum but I'm out of my league. Thanks gang!

Tobin
 
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Great amp. Hopefully someone near you will respond. If you are willing to ship it, I'm sure there are folks here that could handle it.

Rob
 
I own an AU-919 that works fine, but I had an AU-7700 that had a solder break on the I/O board. The soldering for this repair is rather tricky so though I usually do my own repairs I gave it a shot with this guy on Ebay. The guy specializes in AU-919s but I sent my AU-7700 to him and within a week it was back working perfectly. If you want to give him a try, go to Ebay and search for "Sansui AU-919 Repair Service with Warranty". You will come up with his auction. With shipping it's close to 400 bucks for a 919, not cheap but less than most. The 5500 cost me about 300 bucks, probably stupid money for the value of the amp, but I have owned the amp since 1975, so it was more for sentimental reasons. The 919 is far more valuable so the repair cost may not be economically silly.
 
It would be interesting to see what the gent on ebay would charge for a full restoration of the 919, addressing all of the known weak-spots. His listings seem to refer to repair work/servicing, as opposed to a strip-down and rebuild. Be sure to ask for a full run-down of exactly what he will and won't replace. I'd be very interested to see the list/BOM for such work.
 
Like I have said before, if you do your homework and can supply an experienced tech with new parts and all the documentation, you can save yourself some real coin.
 
I've had a couple of nibbles. I'm not sure it's proper to mention on here who and at what prices. Thanks for the replies gang.

Curious. Is there a modern amp that has a similar sound characteristic? I've been auditioning all of the amps that I can. I'm certainly going to have the AU-919 brought up to spec. I'm just curios what makes it so special to my ears. Anyone else come across an amp that they thought sounded similar?

I understand that this hobby it totally subjective, but I've demoed a few McIntosh, Cambridge Audio, Yamahas, and a host of others so far. None of which I felt captured the emotion of the music. Especially in the vocals.
A buddy is going to let me borrow a Rotel RMB-1095 that he says will shine bi-wired to my B&W 803s. He also has some McIntosh and Krell gear to let me take home. I'm really excited to audition this stuff at home.
 
Let us know how they compare. My experience with the amp is that it is very neutral. If it's working properly, then blame the sound problem on something else. Build your system around the 919. There are a few good techs here on the KARMA. "ECHOWARS" is one of the best. He will NOT overcharge. You will have to be patient though. He IS worth it.
Here is another one that seems good. http://audiokarma.org/forums/index....ration-and-upgrade-of-a-sansui-au-919.698011/
 
Hello
consider that recap is a long job and the black flag (mica) capacitors cost a lot of money,
even removing glue is not so easy.
they are money well spent,because the sound Sansui au 919 and 717 gives enormous satisfaction.

This amp gives strong emotions

CHeers Luciano
 
I know the AU-919 is a different amp, but here are the components I removed from my AU-717. A lot of work but well worth the trouble. If done right, the bill will probably be pretty substantial.

20180208_184205.jpg
 
lbcgav said:
I know the AU-919 is a different amp, but here are the components I removed from my AU-717. A lot of work but well worth the trouble. If done right, the bill will probably be pretty substantial.

View attachment 1110329
Click to expand...

..of course!!
Sansui au 717 What do I know does not have condensers in mica (black Flag).
I await the capacitors for sansui au 919
This costs around $ 150 for Recap....I do by myself
 
Paul Hovenga at Many Moons Audio in Tulsa has a very good reputation for restoration work and is an AK subscriber and sponsor. Drive to Tulsa, get a Goldies burger and drop off your amp. I own one, fully restored, and love it. I would not run an AU-919 with the black flags in it, given the difficulty/impossibility of replacing the outputs should it go into oscillation.
 
I'm very far from him...
I will replace the capacitors by myself, it is not easy, it takes a lot of patience. but I will do it
 
I concur with Spark1. Paul does really very good work. Then take a side trip to Muskogee and check out the land locked WWII Submarine (ex USS BATFISH) there.
 
it would be nice...
4 years ago they were in USA for honeymoon.
In the meantime I am divorced and the sansui still lives: D
 
Yeah , black flags out.
Corrosive adhesive out
New elytics
Clean everything up.
Not sure if these suffer from the notorious noisy transistors .
New heat sink compound
I think people who know these hit the important parts.
Also clearly not a first time project .
10 pounds of sh*t in a 5 pound container.
Perhaps the best sui of the era
 
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