• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Sansui AU-X1 - how would it compare to modern preamps? (restoration)

J

jolson

New Member
Hi, I posted a few days ago. I just purchased a Sansui AU-X1 for very inexpensively locally.... but it is missing an internal part. Luckily, a guy about 40 miles from me has the parts, and is being very helpful.

I have the opportunity to fully restore the Sansui AU-X1.

My question is.......... I don't collect Sansui, and I am not sold on having a rare AU-X1.... but, if I do restore it, will it likely sound as good or better than a much more modern higher end integrated amp?

I have a Plinius 9200 integrated.... I love it, but curious, if any of you know.... should I put the money into the Sansui restoration, especially if it might sound better than my Plinius????

Thoughts?
 
Register to hide this ad
I have an AU-X1 fully restored (by me) - it has a sound that is different to all my other Sansui's and other amps (other than Sansui - not many) that I have heard. The MM phono stage is particularly good, and I can only guess a similar performance from the MC Phono as well (no MC cartridge here).

Overall, it really is very good indeed, Sansui designed it and built it to be the best at the time, I have no idea how it would compare to your Plinius, only you can know that.

However, it really depends on the thoroughness of the restore, and maybe also if it still has original output transistors - many think this is a key consideration.
 
Last edited:
I would say better than most modern stuff with the exception of stuff like "PASS", "MARK LEVINSON", DARTZEEL, and maybe a couple of others. It would be interesting to hear the difference between "LUXMAN" or "ACCUPHASE" to a 919 or X1.
 
I would say that the X1 can reproduce with ease the sound stage and positioning of the music. While other equipment I have also does this with ref material when you start to run less than perfect the other equipment struggles. I have never heard a Plinius, so I cannot compare. My new amp is a Rouge Sphinx which I love, the X1 out powers it and will continue to make less then ref material sound better. My other equipment I have is a Pioneer for the HT which is 3rd from the top of the line and many a time want to leave the thing at the end of the driveway "FREE". Sansui AU-717 that is on the bench now with a lot of listening time in so far. Kenwood KA-1000, the same era as the Sansui stuff. Its got the power and is only 80% recapped, the Rogue bets it hands down.

If you got the X1 cheap, I would recap/de-glue and put it up against your other equipment with your speakers/room/music type and truly compare the units over several weeks. If its not better sell it. I consider mine a family member!
 
Bigdrive said:
I would say that the X1 can reproduce with ease the sound stage and positioning of the music. While other equipment I have also does this with ref material when you start to run less than perfect the other equipment struggles. I have never heard a Plinius, so I cannot compare. My new amp is a Rouge Sphinx which I love, the X1 out powers it and will continue to make less then ref material sound better. My other equipment I have is a Pioneer for the HT which is 3rd from the top of the line and many a time want to leave the thing at the end of the driveway "FREE". Sansui AU-717 that is on the bench now with a lot of listening time in so far. Kenwood KA-1000, the same era as the Sansui stuff. Its got the power and is only 80% recapped, the Rogue bets it hands down.

If you got the X1 cheap, I would recap/de-glue and put it up against your other equipment with your speakers/room/music type and truly compare the units over several weeks. If its not better sell it. I consider mine a family member!
Click to expand...
Are you saying that you like your X1 the most? Better than the Rouge?
 
ghamilton said:
I would say better than most modern stuff with the exception of stuff like "PASS", "MARK LEVINSON", DARTZEEL, and maybe a couple of others. It would be interesting to hear the difference between "LUXMAN" or "ACCUPHASE" to a 919 or X1.
Click to expand...

I rate most vintage gear above the Mark Levinson and similar gear, even if those are technically better, as I can't live without tone controls. The hogwash marketing from those companies in the 90s, that tone controls are unnecessary if you amp sounds good, is one of the worst things to happen in the industry IMO. (yes, I understand how tone controls affect phase as a function of frequency. No, I don't care when I put on an album that has no bass or head drilling treble).
 
Last edited:
Get the X1 going and have a good listen to it!! As you can see from my sig, I have some reasonably high end gear, and the X1 can rival my C33/MC2205 combo.
If I ever have the opportunity to own an X1, I most certainly will.
 
smurfer77 said:
I rate most vintage gear above the Mark Levinson and similar gear, even if those are technically better, as I can't live without tone controls. The hogwash marketing from those companies in the 90s, that tone controls are unnecessary if you amp sounds good, is one of the worst things to happen in the industry IMO. (yes, I understand how tone controls affect phase as a function of frequency. No, I don't care when I put on an album that has no bass or head drilling treble).
Click to expand...
So you believe that a properly working 919 or X1 would out perform the new No 585 Levinson integrated?
 
Yes, I like the X1 the best. I reread the OPS question after I posted, and he is actually asking about the preamp, if I understand it. The 717's power supply and both drivers are completed and I did X1 preamp out to 717 amp in. It sounded wonderful. Could have been more bass than the X1, but I don't know for sure as A/B was not possible and volume settings were only rough. Bottom line......

I agree with Kevzep, get it going.
 
Bigdrive said:
Yes, I like the X1 the best. I reread the OPS question after I posted, and he is actually asking about the preamp, if I understand it. The 717's power supply and both drivers are completed and I did X1 preamp out to 717 amp in. It sounded wonderful. Could have been more bass than the X1, but I don't know for sure as A/B was not possible and volume settings were only rough. Bottom line......

I agree with Kevzep, get it going.
Click to expand...
By getting it going I guess you mean up to spec?
 
ghamilton said:
So you believe that a properly working 919 or X1 would out perform the new No 585 Levinson integrated?
Click to expand...

"Outperform" is open to interpretation. If your metric is noise and linearity I'm sure the ML 585 performs impeccably on paper and sounds great, but for me the metric is listening pleasure and the 585 will sound poor (to me) on tracks/albums that (IMO) lack bass or have too much treble, due to lack of tone controls to correct the source content. Back in the day, when I followed the ML no tone controls philosophy (or had little choice because that is all my hifi shop stocked), the lack of tone controls enforced me to listen only to source content that sounded great without tone controls.... next thing you know your main library consists of boring chesky records CDs... I'm sure I'm not the only one who has been up that path and back again.

Long story short, I would take pretty much any decent performing preamp over that 585 ML, but that's maybe a personal stance. With regard to the specific models, they are both good performers, but whether or not that beat the 585 or any other preamp is, at this level of quality, likely to be a matter of personal taste unless you really want to rely on spec and graphs.
 
Last edited:
I read in the X1 brochure that it was built to take a paroblic equalizer. This suggests preamp out/equalizer and amp in. I have tried this on this amp and it does not work, but if mine had a fault, then X1 as designed would be in the game. This disregards phasing and other issues. But we are back to his original question, how does it work as a preamp against todays equipment and that would be X1 preamp out, equalizer of his liking, and then to a amp, no?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom