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Sansui AU 819 vs Sansui AU X711

kleinbus

kleinbus

New Member
Dear friends, some time ago I decided to upgrade my Sansui AU-717 amplifier to an AU-819. The decision was mainly due to the clarity of the sound thanks to DD-DC technology, but the unit I was looking at sold before I had the money, and I was disappointed... As you know, the 819 is a rare piece of equipment, especially in South America. The thing is, I've been offered an AU-X711. I've read its specifications and it seems interesting: low distortion (0.008), a good damping factor (150), and, well, 100W of power at 8 ohms. I'd like to hear the experience and opinion of someone familiar with this unit and find out if the AU-819 is actually superior to the AU-X711 or inferior...

Thanks a lot
 
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I have Sansui AU D707 ( 819 ) and AU a607 ( X701).

You won't regret either of them.

Au 819 is little brother of 919 and X711 is from first generation alpha. Both are great amplifiers. And both are one below the TOTL integrated amps of their lineups.

AU 819 is late 70s Sansui design, face matched with super recognizable AU 717 so if you like that 25 kg piece of over engineered Japanese audio it's for you.

whereas X711 is alpha after all. I find 819 is brighter and have more authority and my x701 ( a607 ) is very clinical and precise. Take your pick, you can't go wrong with either of them,
 
The AU-819 has a different sound presentation to the AU-X711. They are both very fine amplifiers, the '819 sounds pleasing and full, but lacking in resolution compared to the '711. The '711 is a Sansui Alpha design, and some say revealing of source input. It was one of the first of a long line of highly regarded Sansui amplifiers. The AU-819 is the lower powered brother of the groundbreaking (at the time) AU-919. I have an AU-919, and have restored an AU-X711, overall I preferred the '711, but that's just me. You won't be dissappointed with the '711, but how long will you have to wait for another '819 or '919 to come up for sale. ;)

Update
My post above pretty much echoes the views posted by another member in your duplicate thread.
 
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Dear friends, I was too late for the AU-819 :( Just a few hours before I was going to close the deal, it had already been sold... I was already sitting on the edge, sad and hurt because it was an almost certain sale and it was my absolute favorite, but I activated my plan B and finally bought the Sansui AU-X711 amplifier. It's truly in excellent condition, and aesthetically it's very different from my old AU-717 amplifier. Although I couldn't listen to it at high volume (my wife had a headache when I got home), comparing the sound made me understand what they call a "sweet" sound... (characteristic of the 717 and other contemporary models). There's more definition, and perhaps a more clinical sound, although that adjective is hard for me to define. I'm happy and hope to hear it roar today. I like high volume, but I also think that perhaps I should replace some components, and before pushing it too hard and waiting for it to fail, I would appreciate the opinion of those who own this same machine or its Japanese equivalent, the Alpha. I sold my TU-717 tuner, and although I was thinking of replacing it with something newer and cheaper... guess what... I've noticed a TU-711 tuner, and now I want it! It's stuck in my head, but at the same time, I know it's also a unicorn, so I'm already looking for it... I'd love to hear your comments, advice, and even your applause. I still don't know what I missed about the 717, besides its sleek, minimalist aesthetic and solid construction. I'll get used to the square plastic buttons!

Pd. My loudspekers are Bose 901 series IV... What do you think about these for the X711?

Cheers from Chile, Southamerica.
1000240440.jpg
 
You have a magnificent amplifier. I have both a restored AU-919 and a X911DG. I believe that the X711 is pretty much identical to the X911 but without the DAC and the problematic motor and gear switching apparatus. There is only one thing wrong with the X711….its faceplate shows smudges too easily. While the 919 is a formidable amplifier and I love it, what you have is the newer technology X-balanced amp, in other words an Alpha, that is light enough to lift without hurting yourself. Your trade-off was between the beauty/nostalgia and build of an older looking Sansui and sound quality in the X711 which, I believe, is arguably better and certainly no worse.

You did well, no need for regrets except for the smudging. Keep a rag and some cleaning solution close by. I might get to the tuner issue in an other post.
 
Continuing…

I can’t get to it right now, I can if it matters, but I have either the TU-X701 or the TU-X711. The X701 and X711 are virtually the same tuner. You can check out:

Tuner Information Center - Sansui Tuners

Reviews and photos of vintage stereo tuners, including Kenwood, Sansui, Pioneer, McIntosh, Yamaha, Accuphase, Onkyo, Denon, Rotel, Technics, Tandberg, Magnum Dynalab. Ceramic filter modifications.
www.fmtunerinfo.com www.fmtunerinfo.com

They rank highly in the FM Tuner Info ratings. I live in the country, don’t have or really want an outdoor antenna, and reception is problematic. I do best with rabbit ears. If I had better reception it might be different, but the TU-X is not in my rotation. I use a modded TU-919 and TU-717. I don’t think that getting one of these X units will improve your listening experience.

Cheers.

Marc
 
What about the Japanese versions of the tuners?
Do they work well, or do they have another FM frequency band?
If so, can that configuration be modified?

Dear Marc @mjs1 , I greatly appreciate your comments and advice.
 
The Japanese tuners have a different frequency band and are really not worth bothering with. I have the X711. I had it checked out within the past few years. It didn’t need any restoration but would not give me decent reception where I live. I am sure it would have done better with an outdoor antenna but I don’t want one and will likely never use the X711. My best tuners are the modded 919 and 717. While the 919 is the more expensive of the two, it has the annoying tune lock feature for which Punker X, the moderator of the AK tuner forum, installed an on/off disabling switch. It is my main tuner. To be honest my modified 717 sounds almost as good if not as good.

Humorously, you are pursuing madness. If looks matter that much you could look at the above tuner site and pick an other highly rated Sansui digital tuner with a look similar to the Xs. By the way, I too shared this madness but, thanks to an intervention from my loving family, I am now on medication.
 
Marc, let me get this straight, you have a TU-X711???? One day you'll sell it to me, although I also think that by then I'll have gotten over it too, and maybe I'll be collecting German vacuum cleaners...
For now, I'm going to enjoy my recent acquisition, the AU-X711. I'll listen to my favorite songs and some Dua Lipa tracks to get my wife involved!

I'll leave a question open...
How can I find out what year my amplifier was manufactured if I have the serial number?

Thanks
 
Yes, I do have a TU-X711. This, however, is not a place to discuss sales. No offense intended and I hope taken. I am sure you will enjoy your AU-X711. As for determining the year of manufacture, this from the FAQ (frequently asked questions) section at the top of this forum:

  • FAQ 15: How do I tell what year my Sansui equipment was manufactured?
Easy! The serial numbers on most Sansui equipment follows a standard;

FF Y MM ####

where FF = a Factory Assembly Line number
Y = last digit of the year of manufacture (you need to know the first year a unit was built - see the Sansui Database reports)
MM = the month of build where 01 = January and 12 = December

The remaining 3 or 4 digits are sequentially applied on the line in sequence.

Example:

AU-999 Serial Number is: 222010985

Manufacturing line #: 22
Year: 1972 (first year for the AU-999 was 1969)
Month: January
Serial component: 0985

I am getting on in age and will begin thinning my collection soon and will likely use Bartertown and eBay but that will require more energy than I am capable of at present. I don’t want to burden my family with my large collection. A member who saw one of my postings reached out to me in a DM about a specific item and this started me moving in that direction.

A thread on what I would keep until I am too feeble or senile to work the on/off switches might someday be of interest.

Happy listening.

Marc
 
Funny that you should mention German vacuum cleaners. I collect them as well. Let me mention to begin with that nothing here is for sale.

My favorite is the Soniclean Whisper Jet C2 Canister. It is very good but not perfect and I am thinking of sending it off for modifications. On the third floor in the audio amphitheater the help uses the Sebo 9687 AM Airbelt Premium K3. This is a very special vacuum cleaner and, as you can see, I lean towards canisters.

For the foyer we use a simple Miele
White Star. Pick up is adequate but build quality leaves much to be desired.

IMG_3225.jpegIMG_3227.jpeg
 
kleinbus said:
but I activated my plan B and finally bought the Sansui AU-X711 amplifier.
Click to expand...

Congratulations and welcome to Club Sansui Alpha X-balanced!!

I have a restored and enhanced AU-X711 (along with other alpha 607s and 907s) and it's a lovely amp indeed, offering an up-tick in sound quality over the older Sansuis according to my ears and tastes.

Enjoy the journey!
 
I hope that you all realize that I am just making fun of myself here. “It’s just escaping on the run, it’s not aimed at anyone”.

Cheers
 
Marc
Marc, I'm convinced that you meet really nice people in these forums, people with similar dreams and problems. Please don't apologize for anything; it's very entertaining to read your posts and learn from you too. I live in a country very far south, but I buy a lot of things on eBay, and my sister-in-law receives them in New York. Then she sends them to me in Chile. Everything is more expensive and harder for me to get, but I try anyway. I was even thinking about buying a tuner in Japan... I realized how impractical that was, but I'm in no hurry. While I look for something affordable, I'll listen to more music on Tidal or Spotify... But I'll be keeping an eye on your decisions. I'm not trying to pressure you, but you're the only person in the world I know (even if it's just through text) who owns a Tu-X711...
The vacuum cleaner thing was just a joke. I was trying to say that maybe in a few years I'll be following other things besides audio systems.
Anyway, congratulations on your vacuum cleaners; the Germans put a little magic into their creations.
Sending you a hug, and it's a pleasure to meet you.
Cesar
 
Dear @pete_mac
I read your restoration post and it truly seems like a great feat considering the X711 is such a rare and unusual specimen. You're a true electronics surgeon! I'm an electronics technician, but I've never worked in the field, though I understand the concepts and intricacies, so I really appreciate the magnitude of the upgrade you undertook. I admire you! When I first heard the X711, I noticed that with the Loudness activated at a low volume, there wasn't much difference compared to not activating it (compared to the AU-717). I feel like the bass isn't emphasized much.
What are your thoughts on this observation?


Cheers

CESAR
 
Thank you Cesar. I hope you realize that I too was joking about the German vacuum cleaners although I do own the Miele. I didn’t know it was a German company.

I have no attachment to the X711 tuner and would sell it. I do love my AU-X911, which as I mentioned I think is identical to the AU-X711 except for the DAC and motorized system, and I also have the Japanese X777DG. While one if these is not in my system currently, I really love listening to these with headphones and the built in DAC streaming off an Apple Airport. Enjoy your amplifier for a while and, if you are still enthusiastic about having the tuner contact me.

I would add that my father moved to Peru from Europe in about 1927 and met my mother who was visiting relatives there and that I lived in Lima until I was 4 years old before we came to the US and that I also had relatives in Argentina so that I have some South American roots too.
 
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kleinbus said:
Dear @pete_mac
I read your restoration post and it truly seems like a great feat considering the X711 is such a rare and unusual specimen. You're a true electronics surgeon! I'm an electronics technician, but I've never worked in the field, though I understand the concepts and intricacies, so I really appreciate the magnitude of the upgrade you undertook. I admire you! When I first heard the X711, I noticed that with the Loudness activated at a low volume, there wasn't much difference compared to not activating it (compared to the AU-717). I feel like the bass isn't emphasized much.
What are your thoughts on this observation?


Cheers

CESAR
Click to expand...

Thanks Cesar - I appreciate the kind words.

The loudness function on the 711 (like most alpha x-balanced amps) offers less emphasis than the earlier Sansuis in my experience.
 
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