Sansui 7000 thoughts?

[Scott Muni]

Got a line on a 7000. Price is fair, below ebay prices. Would this be a worthwhile unit to restore? Owner claims everything works, is there anything to pay particular attention to? I plan on removing the cover for a look see.

 

[stereofun]

Check out this thread by @MIJ_Pioneer

 

[MIJ_Pioneer]

Got a line on a 7000. Price is fair, below ebay prices. Would this be a worthwhile unit to restore? Owner claims everything works, is there anything to pay particular attention to? I plan on removing the cover for a look see.

Very worthwhile to restore, if you plan on doing one I would highly recommend it. However, if you simply want to just go home and plug it in / listen to it then I wouldn't blame you for passing it up. If it hasn't had a switch / pot cleaning since 1972 it is overdue, be prepared to turn a few screws on it. It may have some noisy transistors. I found it to be rather boring prior to a restoration. Afterwards it came alive and is one of the best sounding amps I have heard (comparing to 70's Pioneer / Sansui). @stereofun really pushed the envelope with getting the best out of the lows and highs with his contribution to the thread he linked.

Keep an eye out for any obvious monkey business but most (every?) semiconductors on that unit is replaceable I believe. You may have to get the KSA1845s of the popular auction site. Restore cost was about $200 for parts from Mouser. Let us know if you have any questions about it.

 

[Sansuiman]

Certainly worth a restoration, and will need one at it's present age. The 7000 was Sansui's last and most powerful cap coupled receiver. Not too many are seen around, and it looks like they probably had limited distribution.

It has been suggested in the past that they were sold only in US military exchanges, but no definitve proof of that has yet been produced, so far as I know. Either way, they are fairly rare compared to other models of the same timeframe.

 

[MIJ_Pioneer]

Interesting bit of info regarding the 7000 back in the day it was introduced:

Did you know that a 5000 (pre 5000x) cost more than a 1000a (tube reciever) and AU-111 (tube integrated) amp? Check those prices now days...

The 7000 beat the 5000x price the following year, coming in at a smooth $201 USD in 71/72. Listed as their top of the line.

1969 prices:



1971/1972:

 

[Scott Muni]

Drove over to check it out. Guy had it set up to demo, sounded ok. No antenna, so no way to check tuner. Wood case in great shape, removed and took a peak. Some minor corrosion on the chassis, lots of dust and spider webs.
Face plate and knobs covered in what appears to be cigg smoke. (YUCK) All lights working. Had service label from 1999. This guy buys records, and this was part of a buyout. Had no history on it. He did have original box and there was a EP label on the case.
I made an offer well below his "firm" price, but he wouldn't budge. I just didn't get the right vibes about it.
It's on craigslist in jersey shore if interested.
The search continues...

 

[markd51]

Better luck next time. I had one, mint condition, a friend gave it to me for my mother. She had it about 17 years, not a problem. I sold it in New Mexico before I left to a young kid for $225. I do regret selling it for that price, probably was easily worth double that, but that's how NM was (Cheaper than Sh%t), everybody wanted diamonds for peanut prices.

Those were units sold to Military PX's, not found in audio stores. Comparable to the Eight Deluxe. Very nice unit!

 

[silvernutsaq]

My thoughts on the Sansui 7000? I sold it too cheap without realizing what a gem of a receiver it was!

 

[LBPete]

Interesting bit of info regarding the 7000 back in the day it was introduced:

Did you know that a 5000 (pre 5000x) cost more than a 1000a (tube receiver) and AU-111 (tube integrated) amp? Check those prices now days...

The 7000 beat the 5000x price the following year, coming in at a smooth $201 USD in 71/72. Listed as their top of the line.

1969 prices:

View attachment 2278214

1971/1972:

View attachment 2278217

To put it in perspective the $154 AU-111 is $1,143 in 2021 dollars and the $195 5000 would be $1,448 today.

- Pete

 

[archibael]

This thread is making me greedy to complete my set of low-to-high end models in this time frame. I have an 800, 2000X, 5000X... seems like I should round it out with a 7000...

 

[archibael]

Also: I really do appreciate the posting of these price lists and catalog entries. Not only does it make me feel less bad about buying a 50 year old receiver at exorbitant prices ("Yes, but in 1970 dollars I just got a hell of a bargain!") but it helps me to figure out which model turntable is contemporary for a (somewhat) matched set.

 

[GyroTuner]

1969 prices:

View attachment 2278214

1971/1972:

View attachment 2278217

Thank you for posting 1969 price list. AU-777 and its successors, the 777A and 777D, get my vote for favorite audio component of all-time. Interesting it was just $25 less than AU-111 and same price as 800 receiver.

I would love to see the 777 or 777A reproduced, just the way it was, today. Any guesses as to how many multiples of $129 the price would be? It would likely be higher than inflation index would predict.