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Sansui au-222

rotobadger said:
So, I haven’t gotten the components to recap the 222 yet so I’m listening to it “as-is” for now.

I’m a bit embarrassed to say this but, I have over $10,000 of audio amps, preamps, etc.

And all I’ve been listening to is my $240 Sansui AU-222.

This isn’t meant to be a “humble brag” it’s just to give context.

Am I nuts?

This is like saying I have a vintage restored Porsche 911, Ferrari and and restored vintage Dodge Challenger and all I’ve been wanting to drive is a vintage Honda Accord.

Also, with the exception of the low background hiss the 222 is putting out, it sounds amazing.
Click to expand...
It is kinda of amazing. What are your thoughts of the phono section.
 
rotobadger said:
So, I haven’t gotten the components to recap the 222 yet so I’m listening to it “as-is” for now.

I’m a bit embarrassed to say this but, I have over $10,000 of audio amps, preamps, etc.

And all I’ve been listening to is my $240 Sansui AU-222.

This isn’t meant to be a “humble brag” it’s just to give context.

Am I nuts?

This is like saying I have a vintage restored Porsche 911, Ferrari and and restored vintage Dodge Challenger and all I’ve been wanting to drive is a vintage Honda Accord.

Also, with the exception of the low background hiss the 222 is putting out, it sounds amazing.
Click to expand...
Sounds like me torn between my high end stuff and my AU-101 or my BA-100 and BA-150
 
Rather than start yet another thread, I thought I’d update here on my recent 222 acquisition.

In short: I’m blown away. After another week or so with this UNRESTORED AU-222 I love it even more.

My MAC-1700 and Sansui AU-111 are starting to feel neglected.

I hate using the cliche “musicality” when referring to an amp but the 222 has it. It is incredibly engaging to listen to.

If, god forbid, it spontaneously blew up and was dead, I’d be on the search for another one the same day.

I can’t believe, after putting off buying one because I thought it would be just a neat toy to have, how good it is.

Audio is hugely subjective but, for me, going into my Klipsch La Scala, this may be the best amp I’ve owned. And I’ve owned the following, for reference:

Sansui AU111 (currently own)

Sansui AU222 (currently own)

Sansui AU777

Sansui AU555A

Sansui AU888

Sansui TA500

DBX BX3

Onkyo TX2500

Onkyo a9010

Pilot 240

Harman Kardon HK6500 (Currently own but never use)

Harman Kardon Five Twenty

Magnavox 8601 Gillespie (Currently own)

Magnavox 196-00 EL84

Magnavox 8802 6v6

Schiit Vidar

Schiit Aegir

Yamaha S301

Fisher 400

Fisher SA300b

Eico HF-86

Yamaha CR-820

Toshiba SA750

McIntosh Mac 1700 (Currently own)
 
So, I’m hunting for a nice TU-555 to go with my 222.

Which arrangement of the two do you guys prefer?

Honestly, the side by side is pretty cool looking!

(These pics are from the internet. Not my actual amp)

IMG_1339.jpegIMG_1340.jpeg
 
So, I picked up a very nice condition TU555 to match with my 222. Purchased from a fellow AK member for a really nice price (thanks Benjamin!!).

I’m still playing with placement in my system but I kinda like the side by side arrangement as opposed to stacking them. Don’t know why but I just think it looks cool that way.

Curious, what do you guys prefer? Stacked vs side by side.

IMG_1371.jpeg
 
Just recently got an AU 222. It’s a great amp. I use it with a Bluetooth receiver. Control it with an iPad. It’s in the bedroom. Listen to it in the morning while ime waking up.
Mrswakka got home yesterday, I was in the living room, still listening to it in the bedroom. Never wanted to turn it off. AU 717, 2250B, Sansui Model 8 in the living room. I’m listening to the 222 down the hall in the bedroom. :dunno:
 
bolero said:
the amp & tuner look superlative side by side

has anyone tried rewiring the 222 AUX 1 & AUX 2 inputs so they don't go through the phono circuit & are the same as TAPE ?
Click to expand...
In my opinion, there's really no point. It's the feedback loop that determines if the head amp works as a phono stage or not.
 
I thought there was an impedence difference too, or something to deal with say 2 volt CD player outputs not overloading etc?
 
Just picked up a AU-222 a couple of weeks ago. No signal when I hooked it up to the load and scope. Voltages good so I start trying to trace the signal but can't find it past the selector switch. Clean the selector switch and no change - zero output. So there I am staring at the schematic with it hooked up to the load/scope and all of a sudden I start to see some strange signal on the scope - all clipped and terrible looking. I look away for a second and then look back at the scope and the sine wave looks better and then in a few more seconds a perfect sine wave. What the heck was this? Caps reforming?

So anyway, I'm proceeding to restore it. Recapped the amplifier board with Nichicon UFG and UKT and Wima films and bump the main filter to 4700 uF. Still need to do the tone board and phono board, but I had to hook it up for a test and boy an I impressed to far. That silky smooth cap coupled sound with surprising bass authority. Can't wait to finish it up and run it on my Cornwalls.
 
Namlook said:
Just picked up a AU-222 a couple of weeks ago. No signal when I hooked it up to the load and scope. Voltages good so I start trying to trace the signal but can't find it past the selector switch. Clean the selector switch and no change - zero output. So there I am staring at the schematic with it hooked up to the load/scope and all of a sudden I start to see some strange signal on the scope - all clipped and terrible looking. I look away for a second and then look back at the scope and the sine wave looks better and then in a few more seconds a perfect sine wave. What the heck was this? Caps reforming?

So anyway, I'm proceeding to restore it. Recapped the amplifier board with Nichicon UFG and UKT and Wima films and bump the main filter to 4700 uF. Still need to do the tone board and phono board, but I had to hook it up for a test and boy an I impressed to far. That silky smooth cap coupled sound with surprising bass authority. Can't wait to finish it up and run it on my Cornwalls.
Click to expand...
Capped the tone/preamp board and this was the first filter cap on the low voltage rail. Measured 550 uF at 5.5 ohms ESR. Needless to say recapping was warranted. After capping unit was noisy with no signal. Preamp transistors TR701/702 in this unit were epoxy dome 2sc536s. Schematic calls for 2sc871s, so don't know if they were factory or changed later (there has been work done on this unit). Replaced with KSC1845 and very quiet now. Only phono equalizer amp remaining and then on to the trim pots and 3D printing an adapter plate for some banana speaker binding posts.

.AU-222 cap.jpg
 
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