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Replacement for a Sansui AU-999 amplifier?

drbranch

drbranch

Super Member
I dropped this beloved amplifier off at a repair shop in Minneapolis a year ago. For awhile I kept in contact with the shop’s resident repair man, but I could tell he was getting frustrated either from my calls every month or longer or he was frustrated with the project. Now no return calls or answers so I‘be given it up for a loss. There is a great sadness but I realize that old amps don’t live forever.
It’s not like I don’t have others to replace it, but this was going to be the centerpiece of my new and future listening room. My question is: what is a modern equivalent that I can replace it with?
My love of the Sansui was that it had beautiful power, two separate tape inputs, and two phono inputs. Whatever you can suggest would be helpful. Speakers will be Klipsch La Scala AL5s and original KLH model 5s. The room measures about 1,000 sq ft and has cathedral ceilings. The floor is bamboo flooring.
Thank you in advance.
 
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This is considered a fairly straightforward amp to work on. Well spaced components and extensively documented rebuilds on AK. Your likely familiar with the multiple threads on improving the 999 in the Sansui forum. Retrieve it and bring to someone else.
I dig the look of this amp.
 
First line of the OP is
"I dropped this beloved amplifier off at a repair shop in Minneapolis a year ago."
His location under his name is Michigan

It might be a bit of bother to retrieve it.
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely think he should not just give in.
But it might take a costly(?) road trip if the shop that has it will not return calls which may mean having it shipped back is not possible at this point.

At this point, I wonder if naming the shop might enable an AK'er local to the shop to stop by. See if it's even open for business, if yes maybe make a polite inquiry about the OP's amp.

And realistically, at what point does it become fiscally not worth the effort?
 
Update: after a phone call to the shop in January, I finally got the repair guy to give me a call back. I got the same old excuses he gave me almost a year ago (been busy setting up new turntables for shop clients, etc.) and was promised he was taking the whole month of March to work on my amp and two other projects. My next phone call will be next week to verify the veracity of his statement. I will keep you up to date.
 
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And thanks to @goodolpg for noticing my travel needs. I was living in Duluth at the time and would frequent Minneapolis looking for old equipment (one of my favorite finds was a Pioneer PL-41 which I refurbished thanks to AK but AFTER I had dropped off the amp). I’m mostly self-taught in regards to repairs and am still learning so instead of practicing on this beloved amp, I took it to a shop I loved so much. In the process, I have been accumulating down and out pieces and working on them from time to time with limited success, but I keep trying.
Thank you for all the support.
 
drbranch said:
Update: after a phone call to the shop in January, I finally got the repair guy to give me a call back. I got the same old excuses he gave me almost a year ago (been busy setting up new turntables for shop clients, etc.) and was promised he was taking the whole month of March to work on my amp and two other projects. My next phone call will be next week to verify the veracity of his statement. I will keep you up to date.
Click to expand...

I hope you get it back and it's working as it should.
 
Final post: yes, I got it back but after a month that warm Sansui sound was gone and the right channel was essentially a wash. I did use it awhile as a preamp but that ultimately was unsatisfactory. The repair guy: he took off for a Scandinavian country with his wife and was never heard from again.

But the good news is that @painttoad has restored it and I am picking it up in a few weeks. Many thanks to @painttoad.
 
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