Sansui 2000x vs Sansui 6060

[Gang-Twanger]

Check out the readings from an unrestored 3300-

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=287389

That link is cool. Those are insane numbers for the Sansui. It also makes me wonder about the Pioneer stuff. I mean, a 15 watt drop for a supposed 50w receiver? That's a lot (especially when the 3300 didn't budge). And regarding the caps, are they saying that Pioneer underbuilt the powersupply (on that model)? It doesn't matter. Pioneer's always been a 3rd or 4th choice for me anyway, and I still like a lot of their stuff. I'm just wondering about this particular model.

I was sure that 3300 was closer to the wattage of my 4000. It seemed strange that a 28w receiver would have 3 speaker sets while the 40w 2000x would only have two. Plus, the 45w 4000 has three sets as well, so that made more sense. That 3300 sounds like a sweet receiver. Sweet and sturdy. And I bet the tuner is awesome on it. I had several people tell me that the early '70's Sansuis had the best-sounding tuner sections.

 

[Gang-Twanger]

I never owned a 6060 but I had a 7070 until a buddy talked me into selling it to him. I also had a 2000x until another buddy talked me into selling it to him recently (I must be a soft touch). Both were nice receivers but then I love all the vintage stuff from that era, especially the Sansui's. Unless someone's owned them and done sound comparisons with other gear, it may be difficult for them to fully appreciate the "warm sound" of the Sansui's of that era.

Incidentally, because I port so much stuff from my computer through my receivers anymore, I liked the tuner blackout feature of the 2000x as well. Fortunately, my HK930 has that feature too.

Want to sell your HK930 to me?

It's funny you mention the blackout feature. People either love it or hate it. I hate it for the same reason you love it - We both listen to lots of music files on our computer. The thing is, I think the 2000x looks so-damn-pretty with those lights a' glowin', and I want it to look like that whenever it's on. I don't listen to much radio at all - I hate it now. It's mostly stuff on my external hard drives. And to me, something's missing when those lights are off - as if the unit's turned-off, or dead, or the lights just aren't working. Something. I love those green lights, and I don't want to have to listen to some crappy, corporate radio station just to see 'em. It should be a bypassable feature, IMO. That's my one gripe. It isn't like that with the later units like the 7979 and 9090, is it? I bet not.

 

[Zvezda]

I listen to a lot of music through the computer as well--i have an apple router with audio out connected to the Tape 2 input on the 3300. If the input selector is set to FM or AM, the lights stay on when you select either of the tape loops. It only turns off if you're selecting AUX or either one of the Phono stages...which is just fine with me, as I have my blu-ray player running into AUX. I like having the dial off when I'm watching a movie.

As far as the tuner goes--yes, it's really good. I have it hooked up to a folded dipole that I made to be tuned to the center of the FM band and I can receive NPR in Stereo where my old BPC Yamaha wouldn't even get much of a mono signal.

 

[Gang-Twanger]

I have the 2000x and 890db and a 9090db and the 2000x is a warmer sounding unit.I did a head to head comparison with the 9090db and the x sounded every bit as good until the power of the db took over.They are all great units but the x is perfect for driving smaller inefficient speakers to very nice levels.I happen to like how the lights blackout when in phono or aux mode.My x unit will stay with me forever.

I love hearing this stuff. It just gushes me up inside.

You mention the 9090db eventually-sounding better once the power takes over.... The level where it takes over is probably beyond my maximum listening volume anyway (Apartment), so that's very-good news. And I'm gradually-liking the looks of the 2000x a lot more and the 9090db a lot less (I get caught-up in all the cool features like power meters and dolby encoder/decoders). I'll admit that the 9090db is one sexy beast of audio gear, but the longer I stare at the the cool, flowing lines of the 2000x, the more I start to hate the squarish, boxy, modern look of the 9090.

 

[RCA Jack]

Want to sell your HK930 to me?

It's funny you mention the blackout feature. People either love it or hate it. I hate it for the same reason you love it - We both listen to lots of music files on our computer. The thing is, I think the 2000x looks so-damn-pretty with those lights a' glowin', and I want it to look like that whenever it's on. I don't listen to much radio at all - I hate it now. It's mostly stuff on my external hard drives. And to me, something's missing when those lights are off - as if the unit's turned-off, or dead, or the lights just aren't working. Something. I love those green lights, and I don't want to have to listen to some crappy, corporate radio station just to see 'em. It should be a bypassable feature, IMO. That's my one gripe. It isn't like that with the later units like the 7979 and 9090, is it? I bet not.

I like your passion for those little green lights. Believe me, I completely understand your love for the warm glow of an analog tuner dial. Digital displays just can't replicate it. And you're right, the later Sansui models like the X0X0 and G series did not include this feature, so maybe customers at that time voiced their dislike of this feature.

 

[Gang-Twanger]

I like your passion for those little green lights. Believe me, I completely understand your love for the warm glow of an analog tuner dial. Digital displays just can't replicate it. And you're right, the later Sansui models like the X0X0 and G series did not include this feature, so maybe customers at that time voiced their dislike of this feature.

I figured as much. Plus, I didn't recall anybody with one of the later models mentioning such a "feature".

 

[superdog]

One thing that was failed to mention was the outstanding tuner on the 2000x.

 

[cp2buy]

Been silent on this thread but I have got to say my 2000x and a pair of pioneer cs 99a's speakers will make you think the band/vocalist is in the room. you can actualy hear the singer breath. If i was not addicted to he power of my pioneer sa 9800 amp this would be my main unit.

 

[Gang-Twanger]

My experience with them is the 2000X sounds wonderful. The 6060s were good but just lacking a little something and also problem prone. Seemed to me the 7070 was a huge step up from both in power.

This was the post that clinched it for me (And prisoners' posts before that were already swaying me - But when I hear things like "lacking" and "problem-prone", I start to get nervous - I didn't hear ANYTHING like that about the 2000x). I know now that I made the right choice - especially after reading other threads and all the great things that people were saying about the 2000x.

 

[Gang-Twanger]

One thing that was failed to mention was the outstanding tuner on the 2000x.

I actually thought I HAD mentioned that somewhere, but maybe not. Still, I already knew that the early '70's Sansui receivers had one of, if not the best tuner sections of the era. That's one of the things that convinced me to buy the 4000. People were talking about doing head-to-head-to-head comparisons with Marantz, McIntosh, and others and saying that they not only liked the overall sound the best, but that they also thought it had the best tuner. I'd be using that one right now, but like I mentioned before, it got bounced around during shipping and arrived with only one channel working. But the 2000x that I just bought is much-cleaner-looking - Definitely-owned by a non-smoker. I emailed back and forth with the seller (who has been VERY-helpful and courteous thus far) because I wanted to take whatever precautions I could to insure that this wasn't a repeat of my 4000 purchase. I'm so-afraid of having anything shipped these days. I feel like I'm playing roullette without the ball. At least my neighbor and her kleptomaniac grandson aren't living here anymore. New neighbors are much-easier to deal with (Plus, they have a really-cute, really-cool dog that I've totally-fallen for). These neighbors I would trust to do the right thing if a package of mine got delivered to their door instead of mine. I even have a key to their place (in case the dog started barking while they were out, or if they got stuck somewhere and couldn't make it back in time to let the dog out, or even if I ran out of milk and needed to borrow some of theirs. Much-better than the last family that was here.

 

[Gang-Twanger]

Been silent on this thread but I have got to say my 2000x and a pair of pioneer cs 99a's speakers will make you think the band/vocalist is in the room. you can actualy hear the singer breath. If i was not addicted to he power of my pioneer sa 9800 amp this would be my main unit.

That's one of the bonuses of living in a smaller place - I don't need all that power. And those high-powered receivers are always so-much-more-expensive. I love the looks of the 9090db, but I wouldn't have a use for one - My main speakers are rated at only 50w per channel.

I love how back in the early '70's audio companies were concentrating on sound quality above all else instead of trying to build the biggest, baddest, most-powerful receiver in Kabukiville. I don't have the room for all that power - I could never fully-enjoy it. And I don't feel like having to choose the right pair of power-hungry speakers. HPM100's aren't my thing. And the build quality was just as good on the low-powered, early '70's models as it was for the big-daddy, powerhouse receivers that were to come later. The inside of the 2000x is built like a tank, and apparently is designed to be easy to work on - Good thing for me. And from what I heard, I can drop the load to 6 or 4ohms and still retain the clean headroom, like with a typical high-current amplifier. It's like getting an 80w per channel receiver instead of a 40-watter. All that and still only a 70w draw from the wall outlet. Very-cool.

 

[Gang-Twanger]

I am listening to my 9090 with a tube buffer, ipod and KLH 5's and it sounds absolutely amazing. Like I am in the room with the musicians or in the control room listening to the mix.

Bass is fat, but balanced mids and highs where they should be. Sounds very musical.

It is hard for me to describe sound. I hope this is helpful!

This was posted on the first page. While it's too-much power for my needs (which is why I was considering the 40w per channel 6060 at the time), I DO like how he's going for a balance between two different eras and maybe trying to find a halfway-point between the two. Perhaps the 9090 wasn't warm-enough to work well with the KLH's - I assume that's why he uses the tube buffer. Still, I do have to wonder how the 5's would have sounded with an earlier model Sansui.

Wait a minute.... Wouldn't the 9090 be way-too-much power for the KLH 5's? I thought those were smaller speakers from back in the days of the warmer, lower-powered receivers (I didn't think they were power-hungry speakers).... Am I wrong here? Is there a newer Model 5 series that handles much-more power? I'll have to look at the specs for the KLH's and see - Maybe I got them confused with other speakers.