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Sansui speakers S-50 3 way - feedback?

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Onbudal

New Member
Just stumbled on this site. It seems like Nirvana or the Promised Land. But I'm here now, so it's taken a real plunge. Keeping fingers crossed, though.

Anyhow, after feedback from anyone who has listened to S-50 speakers. Speakers might or might not have to be an interim.
So have just bought Sansui speakers S-50. Very cheap. Will pick-up after Lockdown. Live in Melbourne N. sub's.
13" woofers, 85w. Max. 42?w Continuous, 94 dB/W/m
Made around 1989?? but not sure.
Brief spec. sheet and photo attached.

My amp is Sansui AU-11000 not yet running and told one channel not working. May need restoration - that's ok. Wait and see or listen. It's 100v. Will purchase either 300w or 600w Isolated Toroidal Voltage Converter.
Amp is 240 watts so the 300w Converter, which runs at a Continuous 270w., may suffice. Will confirm with supplier. So in the end, I'll have a 110 Continuous wattage amp running 42?? Continuous wattage speakers.

But more to the point, if anyone has listened to S-50 speakers I would like to hear what they think. Just keep in mind, I'm not a hifi person. Have heard only one high end sounding stereo. It sounded fantastic. It had a Sansui amp and the person who put the system together did it on a shoestring and was a buff who knew what he was doing. I'm trying to get that sound.

Feedback much appreciated.
 

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The 600 watt, rather than 300 watt, Converter, which was recommended by someone in the trade, might be best for longevity of both Converter and amp. Turning the amp on seems to draw a lot, I just read, so a Converter 2.5 times more powerful than amp's wattage (240) might be a good purchase. I'm picturing the little men - woops - I mean little persons, inside the amp and converter would be happy.
 
...and! if someone doesn't reply soon, I might start an argument with myself. I already seem to have started a conversation with myself, so an argument with myself isn't out of the question.
 
Onbudal said:
The 600 watt, rather than 300 watt, Converter, which was recommended by someone in the trade, might be best for longevity of both Converter and amp. Turning the amp on seems to draw a lot, I just read, so a Converter 2.5 times more powerful than amp's wattage (240) might be a good purchase. I'm picturing the little men - woops - I mean little persons, inside the amp and converter would be happy.
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Welcome to AK and the Sansui Addiction!

@BLAH BLAH as an esteemed and knowledgeable Melbourne Sansuist, perhaps you can help our local new friend here with some suggestions or point him to some useful information?
Thanks, Rob
 
ignoramustot said:
Welcome to AK and the Sansui Addiction!

@BLAH BLAH as an esteemed and knowledgeable Melbourne Sansuist, perhaps you can help our local new friend here with some suggestions or point him to some useful information?
Thanks, Rob
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Under no circumstances are the little persons residing in the Sui Amp to be annoyed/antagonised with an under powered electrical converter...that is a big No, No...a basic Rookie mistake...that could lead to the little persons releasing 'magic smoke' in retaliation and causing serious issues with the Amp. Appease these residing amicable little persons with the correctly sized converter...you'll know when you have achieved that cos the little persons will make the Amp sing with their golden voices...a choir of unrivaled musical magic!
 
About The S-50 speakers,they are not to common so slim chance anyone might have a experienced opinion about them. I think I would ditch the goofy small tweeter lens(louvers) myself and then just make sure all the individual drivers are working. Give them a listen yourself and see how well you like them, if the Bass is muddy then get them on stands out away from the wall,if the bass is weak either set them directly on the floor or into the corners of the room. It’s surprising how much moving the speakers around a room changes their characteristics. If there is a distortion to the sound you may need to replace the capacitors in the circuitry inside them,I think Sansui was using minimal components in the crossovers in that era but no need to replace with exotic pieces, speakers are very subjective,have confidence in your own assessment of them.
 
Yes Blah Blah. Very, very, very, very, very funny.
The little persons sound like little blighters. Will definitely appease, as you say, to avoid this "magic smoke" thing you talk about.
Mmmmmmmm (thinking about the little persons) and stroking my long, long beard. The bigger Converter it is then.
 
Thanks for the comments, HTRDoug. I think your are right that the S-50s are not very common. What they will sound like is a mystery. Anyhow, they look in very good condition and at a bargain price. The person selling said they work perfectly. Even if they are not quite the quality I'm after, I would have no problem selling them to get my money back.
 
Many of those 80's vintage Sansui speakers "looked Big", but were pretty basic, and limited. Most had only single cap crossover network for the tweeter and midrange, but large woofers could produce some Bass. I have a pair similar only with white 15" woofers, I used them for the woofers, and connected EV wolverine Crossovers, Mid horns, and tweeter horns to them (External on top). Sounded fine.
 
Thank you, Tom. It's always good to hear a first hand experience. As said, as an interim they should be fine, or possibly upgrade as you have done. Your upgrade costs $ ?
 
Hey, excellent news people!! Got the amp (Sansui AU-11000) going and it's unreal. Can't believe the sounds I'm getting out of it with some very ordinary speakers Akai 1979 SW-350S 3 Way 10" Woofers, 25 constant watts . Maybe they are better than I thought. I'm hearing subtle backup voices, brushes on snare drums, very light snare drums, light tom toms, and on and on it goes having never noticed them before. The base drum is clear and on its own. And so stereo. Every instrument and voice seems to have it's own place and space. Mick's voice was genius and Bob's best of album was out of this world. I played music for 6 hours today. I couldn't stop. It was only the call of, "TEA'S READY!", that I went scampering off.

The Japanese Toroidal Converter 600watts arrived late morning. All good, except have buzz or hum when I play the turntable. Cds have no buzz at all. Will sort it later. Will get amp serviced. One speaker connector needs attention. Will replace any capacitors and trans. needing it.

Will pick up Sansui S-50 speakers when 5km restriction is lifted. It will be interesting to see if they out perform the Akai speakers. I'm hoping so. Also, have my eyes on some other Sansui speakers. Look at me! I denounced materialism not long ago and here I am accumulating. Hang on - justifying hypocrisy, I mean actions - it's all about the music!, not the equipment. Yes, of course. That will do.
Cheers.
 
Do you have the ground wire hooked up on the turntable?
I have some Akai three way 10” woofer a few years older than your,they do sound ok unless I A-B compare them to other speakers. When I just let them play I enjoy the music quite well. When comparing speakers you may initially prefer a speaker that has a dramatic component to it’s sound but extended listening the dramatic speaker may fatigue your ears.
I usually end up disliking both speakers when I do A-B comparisons….
 
Excellent HTR Doug! You fixed it. I wedged the ground wire between the back of the face and the body of the amp and perfect - no hum and no buzz at all - clean and pure. Thank you. You've saved me what could have been a lot of time and grief. If I could drop off a few beers for you I would but I think I live on another continent.

Also, took advice about positioning speakers. Have them 1/2 metre off the ground 4m. apart aimed at me 4m. away and all set up to sit and enjoy.

One thing I've noticed is the varying degree of quality of producing vinyl records. J J Cale Naturally album and Band On The Run are great recordings. Some other classic albums are not at that quality. Cds seem mostly very high quality.

I've only ever had 2 styluses for my turntable Akai AP-100C. It hasn't had a lot of use in 42 years but a new stylus might be a good idea. Took turntable apart a few weeks ago to lubricate all moving parts (except band) and Start Cut arms with WD-40. Now like new.

So my AU-11000 is working perfectly with turntable and Cds. Can't be happier. Will still get amp a service.

Thanks again, Doug. Made my day.
 
..and yes, I did eventually find the earth/ground wire spring connector :-)
Talking speakers now - managed to buy some little stingers yesterday - Sansui AA-3900 speakers Max. 40w, Constant 15?w. 8" woofers. Looking forward to hear what they sound like. I might also try them on the Akai amp to improve the sound. Though, not too hopeful there. But then again, the Akai speakers did surprise. The Akai amp might like the smaller wattage speakers. So now have 2 pair of speakers paid for but need to pick-up.

This is all very academic b/c Melbourne is in Covid19 Lockdown. It may lift 12am tomorrow night in which case I can get out there and on with the Sansui experience.
 
try to find some sp3700a's. Don't know who was involved with their inception but I feel they knew what they were doing. My favorite of all the pairs I own.
 
tonysrep said:
try to find some sp3700a's. Don't know who was involved with their inception but I feel they knew what they were doing. My favorite of all the pairs I own.
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I have some SP3200,agree that the ambient tweeters make them great speakers,but I think they may be room dependent. Had them in my living room and they blew away all other speakers,but the addition of a new puppy banished them to my small workroom,now they’re just ok. They were able to be out away from the back wall in the living room which opened them up to my non critical ears.
 
Speakers - Sansui S-50 V Sansui AA-3900 V Akai SW-350s
Surprisingly, the Akais won out mainly b/c of mid range and tweeters. S-50s lacked there. The 2 way AA-3900 just not the same as 3 ways, but still good clarity and great little speakers.

Tom B spot on above about the Sansui S-50s.

AU-11000 amp serviced and fine. Just a few capacitors and trans., and speaker connector replaced.

Where from here? Maybe sell the 3 sets of speakers above and Akai amp and buy one set of good speakers. Have in mind Yamaha NS 1000. Expensive and hard to find in Melbourne Aust.. That would leave me with AU-11000, a Sansui tuner, an Akai turn., a cd player, and a set of good speakers. Simple and left to enjoy the music!

...I would love to hire the local hall (it's away from houses) and really let the amp go, especially with some nice speakers. It would be interesting to explore what happens with the sounds with the volume opened up. And would make sure beforehand that speakers would survive. I once did it 4 times with my electric guitar and amp opened up. It was a great experience hearing all the different effects and sounds. I could also hear every little thing my fingers and plectrum were doing, and definitely! including inaccuracies.
 
Onbudal

WD-40 is not an oil and not a lubricate. Flush it out with a synthetic oil, auto is OK. I enjoyed visiting a Hi Fi store when walking around Sydney a few years ago. I feel for you with your politicians really going wild on lock downs.
Charlie
 
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