Sansui 7070

[KeithD]

I have this Sansui 7070 at home on a trial basis before a potential purchase. $550 asking price. I’ve already determined the stereo light is out or maybe the circuit is not turning it on. It does tune in stereo FM, so I think that is ok. Also, the power light is out. List of items the person selling did is on the tag. In my opinion the case is shot. Too many pieces missing from the case to simply recover it. The sound seems to be fine, I have not noticed any problems. Thoughts on price/value?

 

[Dswankey]

If you're not aware do some research here on AK about the dreaded "Sansui Glue" and what should be done if it hasn't already been addressed. If it hasn't and you plan on keeping it for good amount of time factor in the time and cost to address

Popular Sui, there's got to be some comps on sites such as Reverb & the Bay

 

[EastPoint]

If you're not aware do some research here on AK about the dreaded "Sansui Glue" and what should be done if it hasn't already been addressed.

The 7070 doesn’t have glue issues. $550 is a pretty fair price for a 7070 but the case is shot and I am not impressed with the work—it sounds like the tech just knows enough to be dangerous. I would pass.

 

[KeithD]

Popular Sui, there's got to be some comps on sites such as Reverb & the Bay

True, but condition is a significant factor, I think? Sold prices on e-bay range from $1200 to $300. I'm mostly curious how much cosmetic condition affects the value. The x0x0 line has vinyl covered cases up to the 9090, which got walnut veneer. The vinyl is notorious for peeling.

This isn't a receiver I need to have. I also picked up a 6060 in much better cosmetic condition that I got working with a minimal amount of effort. At first impression, the sound between the two is pretty similar to me, so I don't see that as a factor, but will do more testing.

 

[KeithD]

The 7070 doesn’t have glue issues. $550 is a pretty fair price for a 7070 but the case is shot and I am not impressed with the work—it sounds like the tech just knows enough to be dangerous. I would pass.

Thanks @EastPoint , to be honest, I pretty much had the same reaction. I have it for a couple of weeks, so I can continue doing test/comparisons.

The person who did the work generally does the minimum to get things going. He could not remember what the issue was when he got it. Sometimes he uses quality parts, but other times cheap stuff. I'll have to open it up and look further in to see what he did.

 

[ivandezande]

$400-450

 

[TomD62]

I sold one last year that was original but in beautiful cosmetic shape for $500. I would pass on this one as you state you don't really need it and you questioned the quality of the replacement parts. There are nicer ones out there if you truly desire one.

 

[visman]

I would pass on the cabinet condition alone - that really tells you about how that receiver was taken care of (and its not good)!

 

[KeithD]

Still evaluating the 7070. I cleaned the tuner and did an FM alignment. Really nice tuner - pulling in many stations that can be hard to get.

Opened up the case to look at what was done on the boards. Looks like the owner just used what he had on hand. The 150 Ω fuse resistors on the driver board were replaced with two 75 Ω resistors in series. Generic caps used in C05/06 positions, but Nichicon Fine Gold used for C01/02.



A Nichicon Muse used on F2626 for C07, and a Fine Gold used for C08 on the PS board.



Were I to purchase this, I'd be restoring the driver board and PS board anyway as a first step.

There's a non-working 7070 on ebay at the moment at auction. Watching to see what that one goes for as a price comparison. It's currently at $336 free shipping.

 

[ivandezande]

Yikes. The owner shouldn't be allowed to work on gear.

He really couldn't be bothered to replace all the fusable resistors? Let alone the glue, transistors, or the resistors he used are junk from the bulk kits...

 

[EastPoint]

I mean, this isn't AWFUL work, it's just disappointing. Kinda hilarious that he used those expensive overkill multi-turn trimmers but didn't have 150 ohm resistors.

 

[KeithD]

From what I can tell, his approach is to to fix what's broken to get a unit working and put it out for sale. If he can't fix it quickly, it usually ends up sitting on a shelf. I've bought a few units from him this way for minimal $$ that I got working. When he replaces parts he uses what he has on hand, thus why the mixed bag of quality in the 7070. Caps could be Nichicon or from a lot he bought off e-bay. He used to rely heavily on NTE, but now they're out of business. If I purchase something I prefer units that have all original parts whether in working condition or not. My Sansui Eight (not working), AU-222 (working), and 6060 (not working) all came from him along with a few pair of speakers. It's an interesting operation. I'm very cautious.

 

[bigcaddy64]

At least you know it “works” and needs a few bulbs to be 100% again.

As for the case, it’s salvageable if you want to reveener it. The bad spots can get filled with wood putty and a roll of paper backed walnut from rockler is 100 bucks. That flaking plastic film peels off easily and you can save the original “Passed” stickers to reapply to the new veneer. I’ve done it a few times and a heat gun helps.

If you can recap that thing, you can redo the veneer.

As for his work, it’s strange that he wouldn’t do the whole recap since he’s already in there but I understand. Fix what’s broken and move it on. Less is more seems to be the approach for old McIntosh stuff so it could be worse.

Who knows more? The guy doing the shotgun approach to recapping or the one that pinpoints 3-4 and has it working again.

I doubt his prices are going to go down and I haven’t met a Sansui yet that I didn’t like. Offer him a little less and see if he bites due to the cabinet condition. My first Sansui was a 7070 and I loved it.

 

[KeithD]

At least you know it “works” and needs a few bulbs to be 100% again.

As for the case, it’s salvageable if you want to reveener it. The bad spots can get filled with wood putty and a roll of paper backed walnut from rockler is 100 bucks. That flaking plastic film peels off easily and you can save the original “Passed” stickers to reapply to the new veneer. I’ve done it a few times and a heat gun helps.

If you can recap that thing, you can redo the veneer.

As for his work, it’s strange that he wouldn’t do the whole recap since he’s already in there but I understand. Fix what’s broken and move it on. Less is more seems to be the approach for old McIntosh stuff so it could be worse.

Who knows more? The guy doing the shotgun approach to recapping or the one that pinpoints 3-4 and has it working again.

I doubt his prices are going to go down and I haven’t met a Sansui yet that I didn’t like. Offer him a little less and see if he bites due to the cabinet condition. My first Sansui was a 7070 and I loved it.

I've come to the same conclusions. The case is salvageable. Watched a couple of videos of others restoring a vinyl covered case, and looks very doable, and besides I like trying something new.

The non-working one on e-bay with broken antenna holder sold for $536 with free shipping, so his price is in the ball park. Planning to offer $500. I very much doubt he'd take any less.

 

[KeithD]

Ended up doing a trade for this. I figure it cost me $400. Now planning the restoration.

 

[tyella]

I rewrapped one of these. It wasn't difficult, and was immediately pleasing!

Sansui 7070 DC offset

I dug a Sansui 7070 out of a pile of electronics at a thrift the other day. I didn't expect it to work at all, but damned if it does work...sort of. Before hooking up speakers, I measured the DC offset, and got 14 mv on the left channel and 350 on the right. I adjusted the trim pot and got the...

audiokarma.org

 

[KeithD]

I rewrapped one of these. It wasn't difficult, and was immediately pleasing!

Sansui 7070 DC offset

I dug a Sansui 7070 out of a pile of electronics at a thrift the other day. I didn't expect it to work at all, but damned if it does work...sort of. Before hooking up speakers, I measured the DC offset, and got 14 mv on the left channel and 350 on the right. I adjusted the trim pot and got the...

audiokarma.org

Thanks for the link. Just ordered some vinyl wrap from Amazon. Looks like the trickiest part will be wrapping the vinyl around the front and inside the case like the original is.