Sansui 1000a or Sansui 500ea

wweigle

Active Member
I have both a Sansui 1000a or Sansui 500ea. Both are one the future project list and are all original, so they need work. Looking for opinions on which I should keep. Thanks for the suggestions!
 
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Thanks for the responses. I guess my next question is why 1000a over 500ea. Is it the power, or the output tube compliment 7591a vs 6bm8 (ecl82), or are the are features the 1000a has over the 500ea. I know the nos 7591a tubes can be pricey. I'm currently running amplifier with four 6bq5 (el84) output tubes (two per channel) that seems to have all the power I need to operate my speakers at the volumes I use it at. I figured the 1000a was likely the best option, and it appears that there is alot more info available regarding rebuilding, and upgrading on the forum, and the net in general. Again thanks for the responses, any additional info you can provide would also be greatly appreciated.
 
The 1000A uses better output tubes and is more perfected than the other. There are plenty of parts 1000A's out there if you need a part,and least but not last ---the iron is something to have. (transformers)
I listen to mine more than my Pioneer 1250.
 
6BM8 is a 'flea' of a tube plus not inexpensive in match quads either.
 
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Definitely the 1000A. That being said, if it was a 500A (no "E") it would be a much harder choice.
 
Make sure that the output transformers are both good in the 1000A , before you start restoring it , they are known for having open output transformers and hard to find replacement due to their size .
 
What Mark said. I had two 1000As, one had already had an OPT replaced, and each chassis had one dead OPT. The older ones with the block lettering are more likely to have failed, in my observations. Now I have one 1000A with a good set of transformers awaiting a recap.
 
Here are the photos of the 1000a. Thanks again everyone for the imput.
 

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Nice and clean. I also think it is a rather late model since it has four bias pots which allows you to bias each 7591 output tube. I guess it has been said before but at least replace every gray capacitor under that chassis. Those ELNA capacitors are always leaky, especially the .3µFD coupling capacitors that go to the grid of the output tube. They leak and will upset your bias, possibly killing the output tube(s) and/or output transformer(s).

My 1000A had extra resistors tacked in parallel with the ones around the bias pot. I am sure that the "technician" was trying to get more bias to the output tube instead of fixing the problem; replacing the leaky coupling capacitor.

Nice addition to your collection I am sure.
 
At least one of the power resistors has been replaced. One is a 600/6k 30W dual that's been replaced. The one behind that is original. What is that resistor laying down in the middle of the chassis for. 1st time I've seen one like that there in the 1000A. Is it a factory add on?

Larry
 
The 6BM8 is a dandy sounding little tube and still held in very high respect by the Japanese audiophiles. I certainly wouldn't write off the "500" (I say this as a guy with a 1000A in the basement).
 
Yes, It appears that one of the 600/6k 30w resisters were replaced, and a sloppy job I must add. I plan on addressing that at some point. The the large white resistor lying down appears to be factory and is actually two 8 ohm resistors built into one. A quick look indicates three of the wires appear to connect at different points on the headphone jack, and one to speaker on/off switch. Found a schematic I never noticed on the underside of the cover, don't know how I missed that. It will take some kind of magnifier to make it at all useful for someone with my short range vision. Thanks again everyone.
 

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At least one of the power resistors has been replaced. One is a 600/6k 30W dual that's been replaced. The one behind that is original. What is that resistor laying down in the middle of the chassis for. 1st time I've seen one like that there in the 1000A. Is it a factory add on?

Larry

No --I have seen several with the resistor on the top laying on its side --especially on the later models. Must have been one of the several revisions to the 1000A.
 
Found out that they are the Headphone 8ohm 10W resistors. Apparently allows you to turn of the speaker switch and they act like a dummy load. Me'? I'd put a pair of the 50W dummy load metal cased resistors in instead of these. Those 10W resistors in my '66 get really hot underneath. I'm considering putting them on top and insulting the connection pins.
 
I have both a Sansui 1000a or Sansui 500ea. Both are one the future project list and are all original, so they need work. Looking for opinions on which I should keep. Thanks for the suggestions!

I can't speak to the 500ea, having never heard one, but as someone who recently had a Sansui 1000A restored and retubed, I can say there have been no disappointments, but only much wow factor. I'm pretty much an SS guy and didn't have any preconceived ideas about the 1000A. I'd planned to make it my shop unit. But within an hour of listening to it out there, it got moved to the main listening room.

I had bought it in great cosmetic condition 20 years earlier, with the idea to restore it. If I'd known how good it would be, I'd have done the restoration a couple of decades sooner.
 
Oh yeah, it's a DEFINATE sleeper! I got mine from the original owner who bought it in mid 66, with a TEAC 4000, and some Custom Cabinet Coral Speakers. I have the 1000A and the speakers. Unfortunately one of them was shot from itinerant rodents. But the other works fine. I have to find a replacement driver.

Mine needed a total recap, about 70% of the tubes, and some resistors. But the sound from it was well worth the effort. I still have it, and it's one of my 3 top favorite receivers.

Larry
 
I know this is an old thread, but no one mentioned that EA suffix Sansui products were made for the European market where 240 volts is the standard wall plug rating.

I found this out when I found a 1000ea on Ebay recently. I researched it because I had heard of 1000 & 1000a, but never heard of a 1000ea.
 
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