USA Soccer
Well-Known Member
What is the history of this Sansui? Is it the best Integrated amplifier Sansui ever made?
SANSUI AU-A907
- Thread starter USA Soccer
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1987 - very pretty looking, and nice sounding champagne fronted amplifier... they came in several different versions - indicated by letters after the main model number.
Spec's here - http://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/sansui/au-a907.shtml
Spec's here - http://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/sansui/au-a907.shtml
Hi USA Soccer
There are a number of Sansui Amplifiers carrying the A (by which I think that you mean Alpha) 907 designation beginning with the Alpha 907 (190000Y(en),1986) and running through the 907 Alpha Limited (only 2000 units made, 410,000Y, 1994). The AU X1 was from 1979 and is listed at 210,000Y. There were also non-Alpha 907s including the D907 (1978,142000Y) which was the Japanese market version of the international AU 919. If I may generalize, the 907s were top of the line (TOTL) general production amplifiers made for the Japanese market (and so mostly 100V models that need a step down transformer for use in the US). Some had other model numbers if meant for the international market such as the AU 919. There were also special models along the way which carried the designation X, Extra, and Limited. The Alpha designation, I believe refers to the alpha-X balanced circuit which was introduced with the AU G99X/AU D907X in 1984 which characterized the newer Sansui amplifiers. The AU X1 predates the Alpha series. The 907 group is disparate in design characteristics, some use LAPT output transistors, the 907 Alpha Limited used MOS FETS. Few have compared the legendary Sansui models in one sitting. These would include the AU 111 (tube or valve amplifier as Hyperion might put it), the AU X1, the AU X1111 MOS Vintage, the AU 907 MR(X), the AU 907 NRA, and the AU 07 Anniversary.
To learn more, the two best resources of which I am aware are:
The Best of Sansui Website: http://www.sansui.us/Issues_IntvsDomestic.htm . This lists domestic versus international models but the whole website is worth checking out including
http://www.sansui.us/issues_AU111vsAL907MR.htm .
and the Japanese Audio Heritage site http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://audio-heritage.jp/&ei=t0TJSvXbFY3klAecqJySAw&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search?q=audio-heritage.jp&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en .
You have to click on Sansui, then integrated, then click on your AU model of choice.
By the way, the AU 907 Alpha Limited at only 80 Watts rms into 8 Ohms makes the AU X1 at 160 Watts sound like a kids toy radio (I can't stop kidding, this is just meant as a little joke, no provocation to Daunia 70 or any one else intended). It is, I think very hard to compare TOTL vintage amplifiers (restored, non-restored?). My advice would be to take either if offered. The trouble is that with the AU X1 you are looking at a major overhaul that requires replacement of all black flag capacitors as well as other work, while the later Sansuis will work great for a few more years but the service manual are, for the most part, unobtainable. I suspect that the service manual for the Alpha 907 might be easier to come by that that for the Alpha 907 limited.
Regards
Marc
There are a number of Sansui Amplifiers carrying the A (by which I think that you mean Alpha) 907 designation beginning with the Alpha 907 (190000Y(en),1986) and running through the 907 Alpha Limited (only 2000 units made, 410,000Y, 1994). The AU X1 was from 1979 and is listed at 210,000Y. There were also non-Alpha 907s including the D907 (1978,142000Y) which was the Japanese market version of the international AU 919. If I may generalize, the 907s were top of the line (TOTL) general production amplifiers made for the Japanese market (and so mostly 100V models that need a step down transformer for use in the US). Some had other model numbers if meant for the international market such as the AU 919. There were also special models along the way which carried the designation X, Extra, and Limited. The Alpha designation, I believe refers to the alpha-X balanced circuit which was introduced with the AU G99X/AU D907X in 1984 which characterized the newer Sansui amplifiers. The AU X1 predates the Alpha series. The 907 group is disparate in design characteristics, some use LAPT output transistors, the 907 Alpha Limited used MOS FETS. Few have compared the legendary Sansui models in one sitting. These would include the AU 111 (tube or valve amplifier as Hyperion might put it), the AU X1, the AU X1111 MOS Vintage, the AU 907 MR(X), the AU 907 NRA, and the AU 07 Anniversary.
To learn more, the two best resources of which I am aware are:
The Best of Sansui Website: http://www.sansui.us/Issues_IntvsDomestic.htm . This lists domestic versus international models but the whole website is worth checking out including
http://www.sansui.us/issues_AU111vsAL907MR.htm .
and the Japanese Audio Heritage site http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://audio-heritage.jp/&ei=t0TJSvXbFY3klAecqJySAw&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search?q=audio-heritage.jp&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en .
You have to click on Sansui, then integrated, then click on your AU model of choice.
By the way, the AU 907 Alpha Limited at only 80 Watts rms into 8 Ohms makes the AU X1 at 160 Watts sound like a kids toy radio (I can't stop kidding, this is just meant as a little joke, no provocation to Daunia 70 or any one else intended). It is, I think very hard to compare TOTL vintage amplifiers (restored, non-restored?). My advice would be to take either if offered. The trouble is that with the AU X1 you are looking at a major overhaul that requires replacement of all black flag capacitors as well as other work, while the later Sansuis will work great for a few more years but the service manual are, for the most part, unobtainable. I suspect that the service manual for the Alpha 907 might be easier to come by that that for the Alpha 907 limited.
Regards
Marc
Last edited:
USA Soccer
Well-Known Member
The last one went for more than 2K!
If it is the one that just sold on eBay, I would be most interested in how that turns out. I follow Sansui amplifiers listed on the Japanese site Yahoo.jp and I can tell you that the pictures for that amplifier are identical to one that was sold recently on that site. Also, the types of listings of that seller, i.e. Sansui and Accuphase gear with some used clothes thrown in and his general location, are most suggestive of a well known scammer. I'm not sure how he does it. I suspect that he has various eBay aliases and uses them to bid on his items to get the price up, to rescue them if the price is not not high enough, or sell to himself to up his seller rating. None the less, a mint AU Alpha 907 Limited would go for about 220,000 to 300,000 Yen (about 1800 to 2400 dollars), especially if the seller says that it was gone over by Aqua Audio, and then you have approximately $250 to $300 in shipping to get it to the US. If he delivers, it is worth it. My theory was that he would build up a positive rating then go for the big kill with something like the 907, then disappear. How he can get away with anything like this with the new eBay Buyer Protection is beyond me. Of course, if the buyer goes for the cheap shipping fee, and the amplifier arrives trashed in shipping and was perhaps trashed before shipping (i.e. damaged to begin with but listed as mint) then perhaps he can somehow get away with it with insurance settling. This is the part I haven't yet figured out.
Regards
Marc
Regards
Marc
I thought that I would end this thread by mentioning that the listings of this seller which included the AU alpha 907 Limited, and the AU X11 discussed in another thread whose ID was something like shundamoore11 have all mysteriously disappeared from eBay, completed sales and all including a Sansui CD player (917?) which I bid on and which "sold" for $810. At least Henry Louis has Jamaicagirl (or something like that) an alias for another old eBay identity who was selling for her "Poppi" to comfort him, as well as his son who was selling for him in this latest listing.
Marc
Marc
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