This thread made me think of something funny:
how can a preamp with
no tone controls
< 0.0005 % THD
0.003 % Cross modulation distortion
sound different from another preamp with
no tone controls
< 0.003 % THD
0.003 % Cross modulation distortion
?
I can't offer much in the way of comparative analysis, but will say you have a remarkable collection of rarities there. Especially the 2105 combo, which I would not split up under any circumstances. If you find it doesn't meet your needs in terms of sound and performance, then they should be sold off together as a matched set.
The C-2301 is in a class of it's own, and it would be a really tough call to get rid of it, in my opinion. I'd sooner keep it, and mate it to a capable power amp (of which toy already have a couple of good options), or just bite the bullet and get a B-2301 to go with it. But I recognize you are trying to pare things down, and also want to settle on gear that isn't physically difficult to handle, if the need arises. That makes the B-2301 kind of a non-starter.
The AU-X1111MV is another model in it's own class, but I can understand if you aren't as enamored of the MOSFET sound. And being an integrated amp, it is still something of a compromise over separates, even as good as it is.
The sum of it's parts and a little bit of magic?
>>>cough<<<<. You have a B-209??!Thank you all for the replies. I’ll get back to this thread with my thoughts when I have a chance later in the day.
Just some random comments.
As for the AI slop, it is interesting but I won’t make decisions based on it. For example, despite what it says, the Renaissance 90s, unlike some other Infinities, are not difficult to drive.
I would love to match the C-2301 with a B-2301l but I am afraid that my collecting days are over. I won’t part with it and use it with my B-209.
Marc
He certainly has a fantastic collection of Sansui gear. I find that the alphas that I have all sound quite sophisticated and every bit the equal of modern versions by other manufacturers (for instance, the Yamaha A-S1200, the Luxman L-505/507 lines - which have gotten CRAZY expensive at north of $6000 just to get into the entry level model. (Haven’t heard the very modern Accuphases, so can’t say). The B/C2301 is the best combo I have heard. Period. But I have a Yamaha B-2x/C-2 in the offing soon, and these are serious pieces - so we will see.I'd maintain that of the collection, the B-209 is probably the one I'd most recommend keeping. Since you seem to enjoy the sound of it (I know I do), that should be an easy decision to make. I'm a little surprised to hear you weren't overly impressed with the AU-111G. I've not had the opportunity to hear one, but I'd have thought it more noteworthy than you've described it.
I will say I haven't been overwhelmed by the Alphas I've heard. Objectively, they sounded very good. But they aren't really to my taste, which clearly favors "old school" Sansui quite heavily. My first move in Sansui was the 5000 receiver. All else that I've acquired (and kept) since then has been influenced by that being my first contact with the brand. I do very much enjoy their tube amps; AU-111, AU-70, Q-3535 and B-209 are all part of my collection.
I have a B-2301 (non-L) and other than the enormous headroom provided by it being a 300WPC amp, the signature if it's sound isn't head and shoulders above it's contemporaries (and I own an AU-G99X and two B-2101) by comparison. Maybe I lack the golden ear to truly appreciate the subtleties it can deliver, but that has been my honest finding.
And then there's the fact that I really enjoy a lot of the older, lower power amps immensely. BA-100 and 150 have become amongst my very favorites amongst the solid state gear I own, and I frequently find myself favoring them, or one of the numerous cap coupled receivers I own, for my primary listening setups.
My point in all of this is just to reinforce that one needn't feel obligated to hold onto the ultra high end rarities, if one finds themselves quite satisfied with gear of "lesser specs". For now, I keep mine, as I do enjoy changing things up with some regularity. But I can also understand wanting to thin the herd. The amount of gear I've collected has become something of a liability, much as I'm loathe to admit that. Mostly for the amount of space it consumes, in my case.