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Sansui AU-717 phono section vs. AU-317 ?

Donald&Lydia

Donald&Lydia

Member
Hello everyone ,
I recently purchased an Onkyo M-504 power amp that i have been running through my Sansui AU-717 pre-ins. I love the phono section on the 717 and am considering buying a AU-317 to use as a pre-amp for the onkyo ( i want my AU-717 system back ). I have not heard an au-317 and am wondering if anyone has any direct comparison knowledge of the AU-717 vs. 317 phono sections.
My thinking is if they are comparable then the AU-317 is a rather inexpensive way to get the sound i am looking for out of a preamp without buying , testing a bunch of preamps. I have a recapped NAD 1130 that i have run the Onkyo through and it sounded good but it just didnt do it for me like the Sansui does.
Any opinions would be appreciated20180621_115253.jpg
 
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It depends how critical you are with your phono listening. The AU-317 would be adequate, but it has a different design phono amp which is less sophisticated than the AU-717. I have listened to both the AU-717 (I have one) and an AU-317 (I have restored two) but not one after the other.

A cheaper alternative to the AU-717 might be the AU-517 - the phono amp section for each being identical as far as I can make out.
 
Question for OP: is the Onkyo M-504 really better sounding in the power amp section than the Sansui AU-717 etc or it is aesthetic (those big meters) or you need the power of the Onkyo for your speakers?
 
smurfer77 said:
Question for OP: is the Onkyo M-504 really better sounding in the power amp section than the Sansui AU-717 etc or it is aesthetic (those big meters) or you need the power of the Onkyo for your speakers?
Click to expand...
Its not that the onkyo is better sounding , i prefer the Au-717 , its just that when i received the Onkyo i did not have a preamp to use with it and the Sansui was close and convenient. My sansui rack goes through my Klipsch cornwalls or Pioneer HPM-150s so the 85 watts the Au-717 puts out is more than enough power , can get to ear bleeding levels LOL. I have 7 pair of speakers that i am rotating in and out of use between different systems , all of which are pretty efficient. ( pioneer hpm-150s , hpm-100s , Altec A-7 , Klipsch cornwalls , Mitsubishi DS-50cs , Diatone DS-35B mkii , Polk monitor 10a )
I would love to find a Sansui CA-2000 , 3000 , CA-F1 at a reasonable price but i fear those days are gone.
Hyperion said:
It depends how critical you are with your phono listening. The AU-317 would be adequate, but it has a different design phono amp which is less sophisticated than the AU-717. I have listened to both the AU-717 (I have one) and an AU-317 (I have restored two) but not one after the other.

A cheaper alternative to the AU-717 might be the AU-517 - the phono amp section for each being identical as far as I can make out.
Click to expand...
Hyperion said:
It depends how critical you are with your phono listening. The AU-317 would be adequate, but it has a different design phono amp which is less sophisticated than the AU-717. I have listened to both the AU-717 (I have one) and an AU-317 (I have restored two) but not one after the other.

A cheaper alternative to the AU-717 might be the AU-517 - the phono amp section for each being identical as far as I can make out.
Click to expand...
Thanks Hyperion , I will be looking into finding a 517. I do listen primarily to vinyl so if the pre is the same as the 717 i should be happy
 
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