Sansui SR-525???

allthingswwb

allthingswwb

Member
Any love out there for Sansui DR-525 TT?

I recently upgraded my Edifier R128OT glorified computer monitor speakers for a Yamaha CR 1020, a set of Q Acoustics 3020i, and a Nice Acoustech PL-200 II powered subwoofer. And I bought a really stunning new hand built record console.

Long story short, I have spent a lot of money recently on audio upgrades. I was going to wait a year or two to upgrade my Audio Technica AT-LP 120. But this Sansui came up for local sale when I was looking at options for a direct drive replacement in the future. They're asking 250 with a red ortofon cartridge on it. That seems like a really good deal for a TT I have a pretty good hunch would be a big upgrade. But I can find very few testimonials about this particular table online. I was hoping maybe I could find some guidance here.
 
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allthingswwb said:
Any love out there for Sansui DR-525 TT?

I recently upgraded my Edifier R128OT glorified computer monitor speakers for a Yamaha CR 1020, a set of Q Acoustics 3020i, and a Nice Acoustech PL-200 II powered subwoofer. And I bought a really stunning new hand built record console.

Long story short, I have spent a lot of money recently on audio upgrades. I was going to wait a year or two to upgrade my Audio Technica AT-LP 120. But this Sansui came up for local sale when I was looking at options for a direct drive replacement in the future. They're asking 250 with a red ortofon cartridge on it. That seems like a really good deal for a TT I have a pretty good hunch would be a big upgrade. But I can find very few testimonials about this particular table online. I was hoping maybe I could find some guidance here.
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*SR 525
 
Fantastic table! My main table is an RP6 which I only use on my cleanest records and when I have time to really focus on the music.

SR-525 with Shure M97XE is what gets used for my casual listening. I'm surprised consistently at just how competent this table is. All I did was lube the motor and de-oxit the controls and it is super solid.

In person you will realize how heavy duty the thing is...

AT-LP120 wont hold a candle! Make sure it has the lateral balance and anti-skate weight. As for price check Ebay sold, seems on the high end bir if it is clean and works great...

I love mine, but I got mine from a dumpster!
 
The old direct drive Sansui turntables are pretty solid if all of the parts are there. It is hard to say whether the SR 525 would be a real improvement over the AT table. I have a SR 717 that I doubt I'll ever part with.
 
Panamafred said:
Fantastic table! My main table is an RP6 which I only use on my cleanest records and when I have time to really focus on the music.

SR-525 with Shure M97XE is what gets used for my casual listening. I'm surprised consistently at just how competent this table is. All I did was lube the motor and de-oxit the controls and it is super solid.

In person you will realize how heavy duty the thing is...

AT-LP120 wont hold a candle! Make sure it has the lateral balance and anti-skate weight. As for price check Ebay sold, seems on the high end bir if it is clean and works great...

I love mine, but I got mine from a dumpster!
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A dumpster find! Wow that's awesome! I am somewhat embarrassed to say I am still pretty new to the technical side of this way of listening to music. Can you tell from this picture if it has the lateral balance and anti-skate weight? I can tell the counter weight is there. Which is the only adjustment I have ever had to master with the ATScreenshot_20190817-111257_Facebook.jpg
 
Never seen one in the wild but its siblings up the SR line are very well regarded. I would think the 525, sitting in the middle, would be an excellent daily driver.
 
I fully agree with @Panamafred
As I have several of these, I have found the SR-525 a great manual TT: Simple, reliable, sturdy and silent. And a very nice arm with knife-edge bearing.
Please note that some needed cleaning of the rpm pots at first use to get a rock solid reliable rpm count.

I cannot comment on the Ortofon Red, but can say this TT combines very well with a good cartridge so enough possibilities for future upgrades: I am running my SR-525's with a Shure M95ED (with Jico standard stylus), an AT-140LC (with original stylus) and a Shure V15-3 (with Jico SAS stylus) and they all sound wunderfull (in ascending order that is).

It is difficult to comment on prices, but a well cared for, perfect running SR-525, complete with it's lateral balance and anti-skate weight is a good investment as it will give you a lot of pleasure for many years to come. But they tend to be a bit under the radar..

Have fun
-John-
 
It looks like both the lateral and anti-skate weights are there. The dust cover looks good too. If the Ortofon 2M Red is in decent shape it's probably a good deal. What cart do you have on the AT 120?
 
sfox52 said:
It looks like both the lateral and anti-skate weights are there. The dust cover looks good too. If the Ortofon 2M Red is in decent shape it's probably a good deal. What cart do you have on the AT 120?
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Thank you! That is very helpful! I have not heard the orto red. Bit it's gotta be a step above the AT95E I have now. The platter on the Sansui has to quieter that the AT. And I can always do a cartridge upgrade. But that has to be down the line. I have to budget for other things in life too
 
Both of the cartridges can be upgraded with better stylus. You can probably sell the AT 120 & recoup near half of the cost of the Sansui. Let us know what you decide!
 
Hey thanks guys for all of your help! Alas, this SR-525 was on FB Market Place and after chatting with a woman about it, she had me call her husband before I headed out to pick it up. He let me know he sold it over a week ago and he thought she had taken it down.

So I don't know what it is, perhaps the rarity of it. But I have fallen in love with the idea of a Sansui direct drive, automatic table. There are some on the bay. I hate buying from there. Bit on the other hand, that's where I got my Yamaha CR 1020. And that turned out to be a keeper.

So here is my question, if I buy one from the bay, that says "tested and working" what could I be looking at in terms of servicing? My Yamaha was around $500 for all new capacitors. I didn't mind that because it is a great receiver and I got it for under $250 including shipping. However, I don't want to buy a used TT and have to put a lot of money into it. One of several I am thinking about on eBay is a SR-535. It would be just over $300 including shipping. It looks very well kept. Even the dust cover looks immaculate. But it is not being sold by the original owner. The guy selling it flips all sorts of vintage stuff from furniture to clothing. I asked him how the insides look and he said he doesn't know; and doesn't know how to take it apart. I can spot bulging or leaking caps and stuff. But, I cannot do the work myself. I already know the table needs a new stylus. So *if* I do but this particular table, there is already some more money I am looking at. So what are the chances this thing needs some serious work on the inside? I can install cartridges and balance tone arms. Bit that is about the extent of my expertise. And I can't afford to have anything else serviced for a while. Any advice is appreciated! Thanks for reading my long-winded post.
 
Since you are a subscriber, put a want to buy ad on bartertown. Maybe a nearby Aker has one and you could avoid shipping. That is always risky with turntables.
 
allthingswwb said:
So here is my question, if I buy one from the bay, that says "tested and working" what could I be looking at in terms of servicing? My Yamaha was around $500 for all new capacitors. I didn't mind that because it is a great receiver and I got it for under $250 including shipping. However, I don't want to buy a used TT and have to put a lot of money into it. One of several I am thinking about on eBay is a SR-535. It would be just over $300 including shipping. It looks very well kept. Even the dust cover looks immaculate. But it is not being sold by the original owner. The guy selling it flips all sorts of vintage stuff from furniture to clothing. I asked him how the insides look and he said he doesn't know; and doesn't know how to take it apart. I can spot bulging or leaking caps and stuff. But, I cannot do the work myself. I already know the table needs a new stylus. So *if* I do but this particular table, there is already some more money I am looking at. So what are the chances this thing needs some serious work on the inside? I can install cartridges and balance tone arms. Bit that is about the extent of my expertise. And I can't afford to have anything else serviced for a while. Any advice is appreciated! Thanks for reading my long-winded post.
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Ask for guarantee on the purchase.

There is no way for forum members to know what the real condition of items being offer . :rolleyes:
 
If I remember correctly, there were very few transistors or capacitors inside this turntable. I would not be worried about this aspect as long as it maintains steady speed at 33/45
 
allthingswwb said:
One of several I am thinking about on eBay is a SR-535. It would be just over $300 including shipping. It looks very well kept. Even the dust cover looks immaculate.
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Please note that the SR-535 is a very different TT compared to the SR-525:
SR-525: Manual TT, old-school chipwood base, almost no plastic parts and a very nice arm.
SR-535: Automatic TT, with plastic base (with a steel reinforcement plate inside), less sofisticated arm, most automatic parts/knobs/armbase are plastic.

As you can read in my earlier post, I like the SR-525 a lot.
I also own a SR-737 that is almost the same as the SR-535 (biggest difference is the PLL speed system) and although it is in perfect visual condition, it has a dissapointed build quality (lots of plastic, also the shiny knobs are plastic). More important it is a very troublesome TT with unreliable automatic functioning and problems with the speed accuracy.

I am not saying the SR-535 is a bad TT, just that in my opinion it is definitely not comparable with an SR-525.

Have fun
-John-
 
Had a SR-525 many years ago. Nice direct drive turntable. Was missing the anti-skating thread & weight. Used very light fishing line with a sinker, worked great! Had a Stanton 681 EEE-S cartridge. Bought it at GW for $20! Sold the turntable and cartridge, which I really regret!!
 
Ilikevinyl said:
Had a SR-525 many years ago. Nice direct drive turntable. Was missing the anti-skating thread & weight. Used very light fishing line with a sinker, worked great!
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I've had my SR-525 for about 7 years now. It required nothing but a little maintenance and a decent cartridge. It's a fine little table, and is a primary use item. .
 
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