Sansui SP-3500 - An AK'er Gift and Restoration Project

[onwardjames]

Right before I offered up my MINT SP2500's to my sister (whose kids destroyed them completely, I mean COMPLETELY) I had noticed the sweet midrange of these much-maligned speakers. Especially with vinyl and a warm amp.

Happy for ya, Biggles! :thmbsp:

 

[drbiggles]

Thank you sir! I was quite pleased with myself that over this extended period of time I still had all the screws to get them back together. And? I didn't end up putting a hole through any of the drivers. That right there is a feat within itself.

Now I need another pair, or a model that's close. I've got a Sansui QRX-6001 Quad Receiver that will be here in a week and a half. I'll just have to make do with the 4 Rectilinear III's until I can find another pair of Sansui's.

Biggles

 

[mtlmn1971]

Very nice Biggles!! I love my 3500's. I think they sound amazing as they are but now I just may have to give some thought into a recap. I'm still on the lookout for a tube amp. Have them paired with the Kenwood KA 7002 and it's a great combination. You really did a great job on those. Very Impressed as always.

 

[Copa1934]

Thank you sir! I was quite pleased with myself that over this extended period of time I still had all the screws to get them back together. And? I didn't end up putting a hole through any of the drivers. That right there is a feat within itself.

Now I need another pair, or a model that's close. I've got a Sansui QRX-6001 Quad Receiver that will be here in a week and a half. I'll just have to make do with the 4 Rectilinear III's until I can find another pair of Sansui's.

Biggles

First, nice work.

After your little warm hearted review and using a warmer "tube" amp, I'm thinking of doing the same. I've been keeping an eye for a tube amp but finding anything reasonably priced around here is next to impossible.

However, when you mentioned the Sansui I remembered my Kenny Quad that I picked up a couple months back, and remembered how warm it sounded with some Transaudio (aka Pacific Stereo house brand) speakers, that maybe that receiver would be just the right match of my 3500 speakers. Thankfully the worst part for me is just the recap. Some day.

Nice to hear you're happy with them.

 

[drbiggles]

Very nice Biggles!! I love my 3500's. I think they sound amazing as they are but now I just may have to give some thought into a recap. I'm still on the lookout for a tube amp. Have them paired with the Kenwood KA 7002 and it's a great combination. You really did a great job on those. Very Impressed as always.

Sheeyuh! These rigs rely so darned heavily on the highs and mids, not installing new capacitors is insane. It really cleaned things up considerably, at least for this pair. It's easy too, crossovers fall right out the back of the enclosure. Bam, done. Just like that.

Biggles

 

[drbiggles]

First, nice work.

After your little warm hearted review and using a warmer "tube" amp, I'm thinking of doing the same. I've been keeping an eye for a tube amp but finding anything reasonably priced around here is next to impossible.

However, when you mentioned the Sansui I remembered my Kenny Quad that I picked up a couple months back, and remembered how warm it sounded with some Transaudio (aka Pacific Stereo house brand) speakers, that maybe that receiver would be just the right match of my 3500 speakers. Thankfully the worst part for me is just the recap. Some day.

Nice to hear you're happy with them.

One can find an "affordable" tube amp, but you have to restore it yourself. And even then it doesn't fall into any normal human beings definition of affordable. You gotta really want it, really really. I say try the Kenwood rig and see what that does. I'll betcha it does just fine.

Once I figured out how to separate the crossover circuit board from the back plastic cover, both crossovers took a total of maybe 45 minutes to do. I did need to use a vibrating, cutting tool to remove the old capacitors though.

Biggles

 

[GD70]

Nailed it.

Been a long time, eh? Since we last talked, I've done a major hillbilly redo of my work area/garage. I was given a huge 6 x 3 steel/formica top workbench with many steel drawers. I have 360 degree access to it, very nice. Then I rearranged a lot of stuff and was able to setup a listening/test area for speakers/equipment. This is what you see in the image above. In the back holding the amps/receivers is an early Curtis Mathis tube powered stereo console with a hole for a TV (original, unmolested and untested). Life is getting better here.

All that coupled with the fact I have no work for today, this kid got to work on audio projects after work yesterday. I was able to get the second Sansui SP-3500 enclosure recapped and buttoned up. The first enclosure's crossover was rattlin', got the caps glued back down. About an hour ago I got stuff moved around enough and was able to jack in the Scott 222c and an ipod loaded with The Buena Vista Club.

And brother, or sister, tubes coupled with music in the midrange makes these little 3500's come alive. I started out with the attenuators on the back in the middle, they're now on the Bright setting. I'M GETTING NO HORN BURN in my ear bones! Hairs on arms are up, hairs on legs are up, hairs on legs are up and my scalp be tinglin'.

I've listened to these rigs on 70's solid state and I liked them enough to keep them. But the horn burn was there when I pushed them with the treble up a tad, or jacked the attenuators. These were not anything near the Altec Valencia's, those gave me headaches at any level.

With the little Scott driving these formidable beasts, after a good recap, they're 14 thumbs up winners on tubes. Wow. These will cause me to spend all afternoon in and around the garage just so I can bask in their glow. I'm a happy camper today.

Biggles

Hey mang!

The garage is looking great as well as all the gear! The speakers look awesome, as I would expect with your touch! May I suggest you get some cheap carpet down in there. Will help with reflective sound, warm it up a bit.

I'm hoping to get my Scott tested this weekend, waiting for a few replacement caps to come tomorrow.

Glenn

 

[4-2-7]

Thank you sir! I was quite pleased with myself that over this extended period of time I still had all the screws to get them back together. And? I didn't end up putting a hole through any of the drivers. That right there is a feat within itself.

Now I need another pair, or a model that's close. I've got a Sansui QRX-6001 Quad Receiver that will be here in a week and a half. I'll just have to make do with the 4 Rectilinear III's until I can find another pair of Sansui's.

Biggles

:scratch2: I think I might know were two more pairs of SP-3500 are.

Come to think of it I seen two pairs of SP-9100 also.:scratch2:

Yeah the guy used to have his quad stacked in all fore corners, speaker stacked to the ceiling three high.

 

[4-2-7]

 

[4-2-7]

Oh do you see that silver face unit? It's a Sony SQD-2020

 

[drbiggles]

Hey mang!

The garage is looking great as well as all the gear! The speakers look awesome, as I would expect with your touch! May I suggest you get some cheap carpet down in there. Will help with reflective sound, warm it up a bit.

I'm hoping to get my Scott tested this weekend, waiting for a few replacement caps to come tomorrow.

Glenn

Scott? Caps? I take it you picked up a piece of tube gear?

Today was the maiden voyage of that listening area. I been thinking, short peeks on CL for free or close to free rugs. I have to be thoughtful in what I do though. During the wetter times of the year, if we have one, the water level comes right up. That concrete floor exudes moisture, constantly. I've got a nice, large dehumidifier I'm going to leave in there this coming winter. This way the equipment should be just fine.

:scratch2: I think I might know were two more pairs of SP-3500 are.

Come to think of it I seen two pairs of SP-9100 also.:scratch2:

Yeah the guy used to have his quad stacked in all fore corners, speaker stacked to the ceiling three high.

Ha, I knew if I threw out a bone you'd come by sooner or later. I believe I saw that Sony thingy when I was down there last, cain't remember what it is or does though.

I'll PM you and see if at some point in the semi-near future I can pry some of those speakers outta your hands. The upcoming QRX receiver is going to need more speakers. MORE SPEAKERS !!!! Did you hear me?

Biggles

 

[4-2-7]

Scott? Caps? I take it you picked up a piece of tube gear?

Today was the maiden voyage of that listening area. I been thinking, short peeks on CL for free or close to free rugs. I have to be thoughtful in what I do though. During the wetter times of the year, if we have one, the water level comes right up. That concrete floor exudes moisture, constantly. I've got a nice, large dehumidifier I'm going to leave in there this coming winter. This way the equipment should be just fine.



Ha, I knew if I threw out a bone you'd come by sooner or later. I believe I saw that Sony thingy when I was down there last, cain't remember what it is or does though.

I'll PM you and see if at some point in the semi-near future I can pry some of those speakers outta your hands. The upcoming QRX receiver is going to need more speakers. MORE SPEAKERS !!!! Did you hear me?

Biggles

LMAO

Well if it's like my QRX 7500 it will drive 8 of them!!

Did you buy the 6500 yet? They don't have all the decoding the 7500 and up have.

Maybe a trade? 2 for 4.. :scratch2:

 

[drbiggles]

LMAO

Well if it's like my QRX 7500 it will drive 8 of them!!

Did you buy the 6500 yet? They don't have all the decoding the 7500 and up have.

Maybe a trade? 2 for 4.. :scratch2:

I sent off the check for the QRX-6001 yesterday, might ship tomorrow. But that's not confirmed. From the reading I've done, the 6001 has a badass encoder in it and is the least expensive in the line to have that encoder. I should be good.

You mean I give you back the 3500's and walk away with 4? Hmmmm.

Biggles

 

[GD70]

Scott? Caps? I take it you picked up a piece of tube gear?

Today was the maiden voyage of that listening area. I been thinking, short peeks on CL for free or close to free rugs. I have to be thoughtful in what I do though. During the wetter times of the year, if we have one, the water level comes right up. That concrete floor exudes moisture, constantly. I've got a nice, large dehumidifier I'm going to leave in there this coming winter. This way the equipment should be just fine.



Ha, I knew if I threw out a bone you'd come by sooner or later. I believe I saw that Sony thingy when I was down there last, cain't remember what it is or does though.

I'll PM you and see if at some point in the semi-near future I can pry some of those speakers outta your hands. The upcoming QRX receiver is going to need more speakers. MORE SPEAKERS !!!! Did you hear me?

Biggles

Got a LK-72 from a fellow AKer a month ago. Really nice shape. I've replaced the selenium rectifier and caps except for the cans, and the caps on the front panel for the tone controls. My soldering iron bumped one and melted the edge a bit so ordered a few more. I got a thread going in the tube section. Hope to get it up and running this weekend for the first sound test. I haven't powered it up yet.

With that damp floor of yours, also be on the watch out for mold on the gear. It can grow quick! Besides the dehumidifier, keep a small fan going to keep the air moving.

Glenn

 

[4-2-7]

I sent off the check for the QRX-6001 yesterday, might ship tomorrow. But that's not confirmed. From the reading I've done, the 6001 has a badass encoder in it and is the least expensive in the line to have that encoder. I should be good.

You mean I give you back the 3500's and walk away with 4? Hmmmm.

Biggles

My bad I was thinking the QRX6500 but you got the QRX6001 which is a later model and even better than the QRX7500.

 

[drbiggles]

Got a LK-72 from a fellow AKer a month ago. Really nice shape. I've replaced the selenium rectifier and caps except for the cans, and the caps on the front panel for the tone controls. My soldering iron bumped one and melted the edge a bit so ordered a few more. I got a thread going in the tube section. Hope to get it up and running this weekend for the first sound test. I haven't powered it up yet.

With that damp floor of yours, also be on the watch out for mold on the gear. It can grow quick! Besides the dehumidifier, keep a small fan going to keep the air moving.

Glenn

Congratulations on the LK-72, that's an amazing rig.

Yessir, I had a fan going last winter. That saved my butt. Although, it wasn't a very wet winter, so I think I dodged a bullet there. But between this dehumidifier and the fan, I should be good to go. I'll keep an eye on things, I'm back there nearly every day rain or shine.

Biggles

 

[drbiggles]

My bad I was thinking the QRX6500 but you got the QRX6001 which is a later model and even better than the QRX7500.

That right there is GREAT news! Yay me.

Biggles

 

[doctorolds]

Great job on the Sui's Bigg's! I bet that you are glad to have that project out of the way and you can now enjoy them both visually and musically.

 

[drbiggles]

Great job on the Sui's Bigg's! I bet that you are glad to have that project out of the way and you can now enjoy them both visually and musically.

Thank you and yeah, huh. Am rotating in the ADC-18's today, going to see if I can get them tuned down in the bass department. I filled them up with fiberglass, need to remove maybe half or more. Inaudible liquifaction of the floor is fun, but my mid-bass went away. Then? The Super 12 project, I'm busy.

Biggles

 

[drbiggles]

Hooyah baby! My oldest boy and I headed out earlier today and paid 4-2-7 a visit. We had a great time listening to LP's, talking shop. After an hour and a half we loaded up my Speaker Wagon and headed home.

I scored me a second set of Sansui SP-3500's! They're fully functional, but do need some attention. The cloth surrounds are popping off, so they'll need to be taken care of. Once that's taken care of, am going to set them up next to my other pair of 3500's and see what difference old versus new caps sound like. After a week or so, I'll be replacing those caps as well. POW, just like that.

I will, at some point in the future, be stripping them down to bare veneer and redoing the finish. But dangit man, I need to get back to work on my Wharfedale Super 12 project before I die. Ya know.

A grand day out and high adventure here, perfection. And a huge thank you to 4-2-7 for being such a gracious host and Candy Man to my newest fanatical devotion.

xo, Biggles