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Sansui AU-a907 limited on ebay - "pappi", "shunda" or legit?

1JGP1

1JGP1

Member
Watching an alpha 907 on the bay. Last week "shundamoore", rumored to be a peon of papi-chula (or whatever) sold one. I dropped out once I connected the dots from bidding.

A user, bigappleaudio, has the recent one up for sale within a couple days of first one being listed.
Can't help to be interested. Sansui fans would agree this unit would be one prized posession.

The "newyork" thing and rare pieces listed worries me. Pics look legit, descriptions, etc all look a bit different from the usual red flag.

Thoughts? Advice? Anyone deal with this seller before? Same gent who just sold the Sansui AU-111G we were all thinking about!

Anyone have one of these babies?

There is also a nice alpha 607 Limited listed (for Sansui die-hards), but thats in Russia. Dealing with Russia always worries me - plus been listed forever...makes you wonder!
 
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1JGP1 said:
Watching an alpha 907 on the bay. Last week "shundamoore", rumored to be a peon of papi-chula (or whatever) sold one. I dropped out once I connected the dots from bidding.

A user, bigappleaudio, has the recent one up for sale within a couple days of first one being listed.
Can't help to be interested. Sansui fans would agree this unit would be one prized posession.

The "newyork" thing and rare pieces listed worries me. Pics look legit, descriptions, etc all look a bit different from the usual red flag.

Thoughts? Advice? Anyone deal with this seller before? Same gent who just sold the Sansui AU-111G we were all thinking about!

Anyone have one of these babies?

There is also a nice alpha 607 Limited listed (for Sansui die-hards), but thats in Russia. Dealing with Russia always worries me - plus been listed forever...makes you wonder!
Click to expand...


Hi 1JGP1

I think shundamore is a scammer. Bigappleaudio probably is not. It has only been around since February of 2015 but the listings show successful sales of many vintage audio pieces and the listings are quite different than the scammer I call Henry Louis. I can make no promises though. Too bad the 111G has received no feedback. Maybe even Henry has gone ligit and is trying to dispose of his collection while he can. However, in his TU X1 listing(s) he never shows a closeup of the face so that you can see whether it is a Japanese or international model and he got negative feedback for the one he sold arriving trashed. Really, I don't think it requires that much attention to make sure that a tuner arrives safely if you are selling high end equipment. I think it was damaged before shipping. As far as the Russian amplifier, it is way overpriced. You can do much better on Yahoo.jp using Buyee for an intermediary and having Buyee do their special packing with shipping via Fedex (special request) not their standard UPS. Regards.

Marc
 
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Wow, she pulled nearly 2k.

Really, this (to me) was an ultimate. I've only seen it on the market once before in years...

I would have snapped her up if the Canadian dollar was not so horrible...My bidding stoped at 1500.
Exchange, shipping, duty, stepdown transformer, thats going to be near $3500 Canadian!

I had to just re-satisfy myself with my AU-111 and a late nigh session to get over the depression ;)
 
1JGP1, sorry I was the culprit on this one. Based on what they go for, even in Japan, I really didn't expect to prevail but put a bid in and well....

So I will let you know about the seller, so far communication has been good, shipping estimates high but if it gets to me in the same condition I will be happy.

Now hunting down a good 2-3k transformer (welcome suggestions). Will post pics on receipt.
 
I knew posting that I was kinda dooming my luck to buy it...

It sure was a beauty.

If I did not have my Luxman SQ30u to sell I would have bid up past 2k.
It was kinda an dream piece for me. Been looking for one for about 4 years...I should have stepped up more.
 
I doubt it, but If it helps, I had it saved before you posted. Had been following the seller since the AU-111g he offered. I have missed on a good number of dream pieces but have found with patience and persistence they do seem to resurface, I'll keep an eye out for you as well.

It shipped today (FedEx air) so things look legit, I will know by the end of the week..

It has been on my bucket list as well, fortunately the list is getting smaller and I am seriously running out of room.

Will post details when it lands.
 
I'd be really interested in your opinion on it, as well as - the seller.
He's had some nice stuff.

Sometimes it looks too good to be true, if you know what I mean.
 
IMG_2728.JPG IMG_2744.JPG IMG_2760.JPG IMG_2770.JPG

Well the very good news is the AU-alpha 907 Limited was received and is in as beautiful condition as the eBay pictures portrayed it. Some pics above .

Bigapple was easy very easy to deal with, communicated and packed the unit well. Lots of custom foam and a thick box (I would have double boxed it but it did not seem to have any ill effects). 3day FedEx air express saver was reliable and handled it with appropriate care.

Now the bummer, the step down transformer I purchased a VCT VT-3000j (3000w) when tested by my high quality multimeter is putting our 107v not the prescribed 100v. So I can not put it through its paces until I get a replacement. So bummed...

But damn it is purdy, I just want to HEAR it!
 
Congratulations. Not only is it beautiful and pristine but you got a great deal. I think that you can get away with a 1500w transformer if that helps. At 75 lb that amplifier is not easy to move around. You now have three of my favorite Sansui integrated amplifiers: the alpha907 limited, the 20000, and the 111. I have never heard the AU 111. Given the theory that the intended evolution in the solid state amplifiers was towards the sound of the 111, I'd be interested in your comparisons. You just need one more amp, the 907 NRA or MR so that you can compare the sound of an alpha MOS model to that of an alpha LAPT model. Regards.

Marc
 
She is a beast to move around. I wanted the larger transformer for piece of mind (bigger is better), very hard to find one not made in China. Pretty disappointing to have a variance like I found in a new piece of equipment, gives me little confidence in their quality control. I will look for a better alternative. My AU-111 is in for a full restoration so I can't offer the comparison you asked for Marc. I love my AU-20000 and my BA-5k even more. The build quality on the alpha907 limited is off the charts, much is solid copper, the transformer is monstrous and then there are those beautiful wood bookends (birdseye maple no less). The theory on the no tone controls, as I understand it, is technology is so pure they are uncalled for. I can't render an opinion on that yet....

IMG_2738.JPG
 
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Having had the good fortune to have one of these in for a check over recently, I can only say that I am sure that you will love the sound!!! (I certainly did)

Congrats on a great purchase!!!!

Cheers

John
 
Getting back to the original question, shundamoore(24) has now metamorphosized into jazzmine_rose(6) on eBay. Same pictures in each listing for the Sansui AU-X11. Shundamoore's is listed as "sold" to y***2(125) on November 23d and never got feedback, and can be found with the advanced search item under completed sales (item # 201467172465). Jazzmine_roses' listing just went up today (item #151906266236). Shundamore is still listed as an active seller although there are no items for sale listed. Shundamoore's 907 Limited sold on November 24th to 5***1(12) as opposed to craggd's which was sold on the 27th and shipped, if I can go by location listings) from New Jersey to NorCal and, of course, has arrived. Craggd has not yet left his feedback but I am watching both sellers for feedback. Jazzmine_rose is a reincarnation of jamaicagirl who was selling for her "pappi" and, if I recall, in earlier listings shundamoore was selling for his father. I tried to report all of this to eBay but was thwarted by their contact procedure and the bottom line is I don't think that they care. Profit must be high enough to cover their losses even with the eBay guarantee so why should they bother with the extra expense of checking out reports of fraud. So (I can't resist this), beware, be-e-e-e-ware.

Marc
 
Nice bit of detective work Marc, everyone needs to be aware of these identity switches. :thumbsup:
 
As reported Bigappleaudio was a perfectly legitimate seller in all my interactions. He communicated timely, accommodated my request to use FedEx for shipping, shipped quickly, packed well (interestingly was in a box from Hifi-do with custom fitted foam). He rebated me $50 from the original shipping quote after shipment, contacted me yesterday after I told him it arrived safely and told me he had found the original owners manual and warranty card and would be sending it on. When asked how he acquired the amp he said he got it from a "local collector" who had bought out a hifi store in Japan and was finally letting go of a large collection of equipment. I got the sense this may be the source of much of his equipment he is listing. The only reason I have not left very positive feedback is that I have not had the opportunity to run the amp though a thorough testing until I get a proper step-down (separate thread on this). I will post all future comments on my amp in a new posting.
 
There were three lines of integrated amplifiers at the end. Tube (or valve as Hyperion might say), MOS FET transistor based, and LAPT transistor based. The latter lineage was an extension of their solid state line based on fast transistors initially developed for the AU 919 and AU X1. The claim has been made that the design goal with the two solid state lines was to replicate the sound of the AU 111 tube integrated. The best information sources for Sansui models are The Best of Sansui site

http://www.sansui.us/Issues_IntvsDomestic.htm and Audio Heritage Japan

http://audio-heritage.jp/SANSUI/amp/index.html (use Google Tranlate, I was unsuccessful in loading the link to the translation).

The AU alpha 907 Limited was the last TOTL MOS FET. Its companion piece in the bigapple audio auction the AU 111 G Vintage was the last tube integrated. The last TOTL LAPT integrated was the alpha 907 NRA. Listed specifications are as follows (year, RMS Power, listed original cost in yen, and weight in kg). We have the 907 Limited (1994, 410000Y, 80W, 34kg), the 907 NRA (1998, 300000Y, 160W, 33kg), and making a guess based on what is available for the AU 111 Vintage and 111G Vintage (2001, greater than 440,000Y, 40W, 26kg.) The 111G and 907 Limited were limited production models with only 100, and 2000 units made respectively (200 for the 111 Vintage). The 907 NRA was a regular production model. The Limiteds used "better" and definitely heavier materials. For me the mystery is the 07 Anniversary (1996, 450000Y, 90W, 34kg). This and the 907 Limited were probably the heaviest integrateds produced with a production run for the 07 of 1000 units. It was LAPT based, and did win the component of the year award (as did the 907 Limited) in the Japanese Stereo magazine but aside from "Limited" production standards only some one who owns one could tell us of its special niche in the Sansui pantheon. Regards.

Marc
 
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