Sansui SR-838
- Thread starter Vintagear
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Balifly
Listening
You can check the specifications here:
Sansui SR-838
http://www.vinylengine.com/library/sansui/sr-838.shtml
Technics SL-1600
http://www.vinylengine.com/library/technics/sl-1600.shtml
Micro Seiki was suppose to have designed the tone tone arm for Sansui.
Sansui SR-838
http://www.vinylengine.com/library/sansui/sr-838.shtml
Technics SL-1600
http://www.vinylengine.com/library/technics/sl-1600.shtml
Micro Seiki was suppose to have designed the tone tone arm for Sansui.
grillebilly
Empty Head
It is possibly my favorite turntable and if you can find one in nice shape you should get it. Very well built and beautiful. Heavy and quiet. Bring huge money on the auction site, many times over the Technics.
bobins08
Celebrating Life
The SL-1600 MK II is quite good (has several improvments over the MK I). I saw the 838 recently and it was beautiful, the owner sure raved about it too. I cannot tell how if it sounds better without a direct comparision. I suspect the 838 might sound better.
The Sanui is full manual so a better comparision might be with the SL 1800 MK II or the SL 1200 MK II.
The Technics has the advantage of parts availability and upgrades.
The Sansui 838 is more rare and they sell for more $$. It is quite a collectors piece IMO.
All things being equal, I would jump on the Sansui if it was working and in good shape.
The Sanui is full manual so a better comparision might be with the SL 1800 MK II or the SL 1200 MK II.
The Technics has the advantage of parts availability and upgrades.
The Sansui 838 is more rare and they sell for more $$. It is quite a collectors piece IMO.
All things being equal, I would jump on the Sansui if it was working and in good shape.
donfranquito
Active Member
:thmbsp:I have owned a SR 838 for about 5 years and have put several cartridges on it. The construction is quite impressive. The arm has VTA and the speed is amazingly stable. The 828 sounds as good as my big denon dp 59l. Only downside for me is the fully manual operation, as I am a nervous fella who doesn't sit still well and leaves platters spinning...
If not TOTL the Sansui SR-838 was damn close in their lineup. The SL-1600 was midline for Technics and not one of their TOTL tables. My guess there was a significant price difference between the two when new and it still applies today with the Sansui being sold at a premium.
analoghifi
Active Member
I had owned an SR-838 during the 80's and I thought it was a great turntable, well designed, build quality was excellent and really nothing bad to say! They had a nice piano black finish too.
The motor was fairly tough and very quiet, which I really liked. I remembered i owned a Rotel direct drive and sold it to buy the Sansui 838. If I remember right, you could actually change the ToneArm on them if you wernt happy with the factory one. the factory arm was fairly decent, and very low in mass.
The Technics Sl-1600 however, may have been considered "Mid-Line", it had better figures in WOW and Flutter, than the Sansui which isnt noticable anyways, and a lower mass tonearm (which the 1200 uses as well) then the Sansui. In the grand scheme of it all , Both are a Win and Id say the 838 for that good sound and classy looks. SL-1600 for Good sound and that futuristic 80's feel! LOL!
I had used a Sumiko Cart on that SR-838 and boy did it ever sound great!
The motor was fairly tough and very quiet, which I really liked. I remembered i owned a Rotel direct drive and sold it to buy the Sansui 838. If I remember right, you could actually change the ToneArm on them if you wernt happy with the factory one. the factory arm was fairly decent, and very low in mass.
The Technics Sl-1600 however, may have been considered "Mid-Line", it had better figures in WOW and Flutter, than the Sansui which isnt noticable anyways, and a lower mass tonearm (which the 1200 uses as well) then the Sansui. In the grand scheme of it all , Both are a Win and Id say the 838 for that good sound and classy looks. SL-1600 for Good sound and that futuristic 80's feel! LOL!
I had used a Sumiko Cart on that SR-838 and boy did it ever sound great!
I just got an 838 from goodwill, I now have a dustcover, anti-skating weight and thread, and waiting to fix a broken arm rest clamp. I need to get a pair of hinges for the dustcover, it looks like the 636/737 used the same parts per the manuals. I am looking on Ebay and hoping, any ideas?
I have an Ortofon red, and an Ortofon MC Quintet Blue (and a Cambridge phono amp MM/MC). I would appreciate your opinion, and any recommendations you may have, thx.
