Sansui Serial Number Database Update

[JimEGR]

... 90% or more of the serial numbers posted each month come from a small group of guys "harvesting" serial numbers from the internet...

Cheers to the entire crew! A phenomenal and invaluable historical project.

Is this kind of dedication and thoroughness present with other hi-fi manufacturer collector groups? A quick Google search for Pioneer - who I would expect to have an enthusiastic following - didn't produce much...

 

[LBPete]

Thanks Pete for this detailed explanation.
Of course my interest comes from my recent purchase of a BA 202, BA 303 and CA 303. This is again an amazing compilation, I repeat myself but I'm very admirative of the work you all done here !

Maybe a little oservation that will help updating a bit the base on this last one as the serial database shows 3 reported from 1973, 6 from 1967 and one from 1968 but there is only one year specified in years of manufacturing (1967) ...

Maybe worth crosschecking databases could help getting them more accurate.

I have no plans to update those "orphan" files in digital docs. It would be a huge task with over 1,500 models in the database. The report I publish each month has the complete range of all the serial numbers we have on file. If you are curious about any particular model, just look through the serial numbers in the report.

- Pete

 

[sae-7125]

au-719 [ 229100021 ] 120v usa repair/recap (10000uf now 22000uf, ntc installed)
au-717 [ 228023927 ] 120v usa repair/recap (15000uf now 22000uf, ntc pending)

 

[samsag]

Thanks a lot for this great project!
Please add my 8080, EU version:

8080,826030569,samsag

 

[thermocouple]

Nice, you can add,
G-5070, 829090285, thermocouple

 

[LBPete]

au-719 [ 229100021 ] 120v usa repair/recap (10000uf now 22000uf, ntc installed)
au-717 [ 228023927 ] 120v usa repair/recap (15000uf now 22000uf, ntc pending)

Thanks, I'll put them in. As a side note, the purpose of the database is to document production. I don't try to track ownership or modifications. I do try to track factory production changes. Also in the future please use this format:

AU-719,229100021,sae-7125,120v usa
AU-717,228023927,sae-7125,120v usa

I upload hundreds of serial numbers each month and they all need to be in this format to automate the upload process. Also, I'm assuming that your reference to 120v USA is indicating a single voltage North American model rather than a multi-voltage general export model. I've added that detail as a note. The commas are important. They indicate to the program to skip to the next field.

Thanks a lot for this great project!
Please add my 8080, EU version:

8080,826030569,samsag

Welcome to AudioKarma Exclusively Sansui! Thanks for making your first post a serial number! You indicate its an EU model. Can you post a picture of the ID plate on the back of the receiver? I would like to see if it is a dedicated 220/240v model or a multi-voltage general export model

- Pete

 

[LBPete]

Nice, you can add,
G-5070, 829090285, thermocouple

Interesting, I'm not familiar with a G-5070 model. Is it a G-5700 by chance?

- Pete

 

[sae-7125]

As a side note, the purpose of the database is to document production. I don't try to track ownership or modifications. I do try to track factory production changes. Also in the future please use this format:

my error for not abiding by the established syntax for data entry, sorry about that.

i specified 120v due to the multi-voltage jumper on each unit. jumper location was uniquely different, 717 has 2 simple screws holding the model tag onto a plastic cap which covered the voltage jumper (easy to access). whereas the 719 required removal of the bottom plate (more difficult). there is at least one "120v" sticker on the top cover side panel of the 717, i should have taken a photo since its easier than typing loads of text.

even though your database logs the basic info, the forum logs any and all extra data which can be found via various internet search engines. if the new/next owner of the models i worked on were to search for their serial number, your database thread will be at (or near) the top of the search result list.

thank you for posting the exact parameters required for your database, a reminder for not only myself.

 

[LBPete]

i specified 120v due to the multi-voltage jumper on each unit. jumper location was uniquely different, 717 has 2 simple screws holding the model tag onto a plastic cap which covered the voltage jumper (easy to access). whereas the 719 required removal of the bottom plate (more difficult). there is at least one "120v" sticker on the top cover side panel of the 717, i should have taken a photo since its easier than typing loads of text.

If I understand you, these are both multi-voltage General Export models set to 117v from the factory as denoted by the 117v stickers.

- Pete

 

[sae-7125]

these are both multi-voltage General Export models

correct.

set to 117v from the factory as denoted by the 117v stickers.

i have found 120v stickers, nothing mentioning 117v on either chassis. although if 117v is factory recommended/designed that would explain a few things with the 719.


717 voltage jumper, easy to access.


719 voltage selector, not easy to access.

i will see if i can find some photos of the voltage stickers.

 

[LBPete]

There is nothing unique about those stickers. They are quite common. 117/120 no need to split hairs. They are both General Export models like roughly 85% of all Sansui models of that era.

- Pete

 

[sae-7125]

good to know, thank you for the info.

is 117v a common voltage associated with vintage sansui? other brands from 60s and 70s sometimes refer to 110v or 115v which makes things more problematic with 120v mains that are the norm, with some households going up to 125v or 130v in rare instances.

 

[LBPete]

I've never paid that much attention to that variation. Not sure where I've seen 117V It would be a very rare case for the US line voltage to exceed 120V. There are many posts from guys that buy Japanese domestic equipment with 100v mains and want to power it on US line voltage. We very much recommend against it and encourage them to get a step down transformer.

- Pete

 

[JimEGR]

Hello Pete. Thanks again for maintaining this monumental project. I was looking through the database and noticed what I believe is an error on the year for all of the AU-α607 NRAII. They are all shown as '89 but I believe they are all '99.

 

[LBPete]

My bad, I'll fix it. By far the most time consuming part of maintaining the database is verifying the model name and assigning a "decade reference." Sansui serial numbers only use one digit to identify the year of manufacture. The database macro that decodes the manufacture date needs to know the decade of manufacture. That reference is tied to the model name.

In almost every month's upload there are models that are not in the database. These are often very obscure models. I search the internet to verify the model name and to fine some reference for year of manufacture. Often that reference is just the style of the logo and I make my best guess. The audio database which you have referenced is very reliable source that I often use for the high end models. That said, sometimes I get it wrong and I depend on the eagle eyes of AK members to set me straight. Thanks for spotting it.

I'm running the April report today and I'll include this correction.

- Pete

 

[JimEGR]

My bad, I'll fix it. By far the most time consuming part of maintaining the database is verifying the model name and assigning a "decade reference." Sansui serial numbers only use one digit to identify the year of manufacture. The database macro that decodes the manufacture date needs to know the decade of manufacture. That reference is tied to the model name.

In almost every month's upload there are models that are not in the database. These are often very obscure models. I search the internet to verify the model name and to fine some reference for year of manufacture. Often that reference is just the style of the logo and I make my best guess. The audio database which you have referenced is very reliable source that I often use for the high end models. That said, sometimes I get it wrong and I depend on the eagle eyes of AK members to set me straight. Thanks for spotting it.

I'm running the April report today and I'll include this correction.

- Pete

Thank you Pete. Big debt of gratitude for your time and stewardship. I haven't been around this forum long, but the database as a resource has already proven indispensable for my Sansui education. We are fortunate to have you, and the mission of complete and accurate archives.

 

[DB-7]

A couple of my Sansui's for you Pete

441,024092811,DB-7
AU-101,581080105,DB-7

 

[jheu02]

3000a,228072380,jheu02

 

[samsag]

Welcome to AudioKarma Exclusively Sansui! Thanks for making your first post a serial number! You indicate its an EU model. Can you post a picture of the ID plate on the back of the receiver? I would like to see if it is a dedicated 220/240v model or a multi-voltage general export model

- Pete

Hi Pete,
sorry for answering late. My 8080 (826030569) is an EU model (88550-EU). Although the plate on the back says "220V", it ist multi-voltage (100, 120, 220 and 240V) - pls. see the pics.

It had an "Europe" sticker on its left hand side:

I've peeled it off carefully, because the foil was already flaking off. My wife volunteered to give it a new veneer skin

 

[samsag]

... and there's more. A few days ago, I got a Sansui Six with SN 223050292, so I think we can congratulate it to its 50th birthday.
Also funny, on the left hand side, there is a 220V sticker:

However, the back plate and the plug make it a multi-voltage version:

Not sure about trhe 117V, but before I powered it up the first time, I've checked the plug and moved it from 220V to 240V, just to be safe, because since 2009, Middle Europe uses 230V.

Best Regards
Stefan