Sansui Studio vs Professional series

[johnNL]

Dear AK Strictly Sansui members.

I have been wondering for some time now, how the Sansui studio series and professional series are to be viewed in comparison to each other.

For those who don't know what I am talking about; the 'studio line' amplifiers and associated tuners, tape decks, equalisers and the likes are the fully black ones, the 717, 919 and X1 being -for as far as I know- the most famous ones.
The 'profesional line' are the black faced ones, with usually silver knobs. Amplifiers being the integrated AU-11000 and 20000, and pre- main combo's like the ca/ba-3000 as well.

I know these amplifiers were being manufactured and sold at the same time, from seeing them in the same brochures. But it never really became clear to me why there were these two series and what -if any- different philosopies were behind them. Other then studio pointing to studio use.

Were the 'professional' devices intended for 'on the road' use? From what I can think of this would seem like a plausible theory, were it not that I've never seen this professional series equiped with rack handles, which they probably would have had if they were indeed meant for mobile use.

Anyway, if there's anyone who can tell me something about this, it would probably be someone on these forums. Any imput (even if it's just philisophical like my own thinking) is apreciated!

 

[Hyperion]

I don't think they were ever intended to be taken out 'on the road', as I don't think they were built for that kind of punishment. More for fixed installation in home, studio, or other professional environments. But obviously appealing to the general public by looking chunky and butch, big power meters and those shiny metal knobs meant for serious amplification. If you had one of the professional series at home, my goodness that meant you were a professional!

 

[Overundr1]

Interesting query, imho labeled as professional to induce the prospective buyer to feel the huge $$$ outlay made him (or her) a professional audiophile.
example --- Pioneer sa9500 vrs Pioneeer spec 1 and 2 combo
Sansui AU9900a vrs CA3000/BA 3000 combo

All in the 70's marking scheme of things

and btw I sold the pioneer gear mentioned above and kept the Sansui, (of course this IS the Sansui forum after all)

-Lee

 

[johnNL]

I found out yesterday the CA/BA combo's from this era are the 'definition series'. leaving just the integrated amplifiers and their tuners in the 'prefessional series'.
Also it seems these series are built to power 4 ohm speakers, where the studio series is often labeled as 8 ohm or more. Although from what I've read here and experienced myself the studio amps are more than capable of driving 4 ohm speakers.
So is it really just marketing? That would be disappointing to me, and not "sansui-like" in my mind...

 

[Overundr1]

I have been elbows deep in all the Sansui gear you mentioned and quite frankly the AU-919 was the most complex of them all followed by the sheer component count in the CA3000. Nothing internally to indicate professional vrs definition design whether from a mechanical or electrical viewpoint i.e. board composition, material thickness etc.

 

[2-ch]

In 1977-78 was the silver knobs and the totaly black ones sold at the same time.
The end of silver knobs was 1977. So the black one are a later model. Sold from 77/78- until 1980.
I guess Sansui did not throw the old stock away in december 77 so some were sold later.
Thats what i think.

And all manufacturer had fancy names for their things. Makes it feel brand new