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Starter amp for the Sansui curious...

Engel

Engel

Active Member
So I keep reading about how great Sansui amps are and have become curious enough to maybe try one out. What's a good model to look out for? Let's say budget under $1000 (Australian) for argument's sake. (That's about US$750)

Bit of background, I currently run a Luxman L85V into an old pair of Goodmans speakers (Mezzo Twin Kit). Mainly turntable and CD sources. Not looking to get rid of the Luxman, more just keen to try something different. Listen mainly to jazz and rock from the 60s and 70s. I'm based in Australia.

In general, what would a Sansui give me that the Luxman maybe doesn't? From what I understand the best Sansui stuff was from the 70s and quality took a dip by the mid-80s?

Cheers
 
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I would avoid the later black face A series equipment for sure, lots of power but not up to par in sound quality. The AU series seems to get real good reviews and still lots of power. Might look at an AU-717?
 
Engel said:
From what I understand the best Sansui stuff was from the 70s and quality took a dip by the mid-80s?
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That's a big can 'o worms that you've opened there! Hehe ;)

Some of the 80s stuff isn't that great, but Sansui continued to make some very nice gear throughout that period, offering greater clarity and resolution vs the older Sansuis of the 70s. The sound (less warm) is not to everyone's tastes, but I must say, if you want something that sounds noticeably different re: clarity and sound staging vs the Luxman, and still has a lovely organic sound to it, don't discount the top-end 80s Sansuis.
 
@pete_mac gives some good advice. For integrated amps, stick to models having the "AU" prefix. Sansui did a line of lesser rack stuff from 1980 onward until about 1988 that had single letter prefixes (A for integrated amp, B for power amp*, C for preamp*, R for receiver and T for tuner) all of which is pretty...average (at best).

I will add a caveat (note the asterisks above): the B and C power and pre lineups were bifurcated from about 1983. Model numbers C.and B-2101,2102, 2201, 2301, 2302 (and a handful of other rare and estoric models) are excellent. C and B 55/77, and 1000/3000 were the lower cost, mass market stuff.

Back to integrated amps, the X balanced and later Alpha series models are probably where you want to focus, if you want something in the same general class of amp as the Luxman. If you are looking for a more vintage, classic Sansui sound, there are many possibilities: AU-777A (or 777D Japan market version), AU-9900(A), the AU-717 is a true masterpiece of the mid 1970's, and of course the AU-919 and AU-X1 closing out the decade and starting the 80's with quite a statement indeed.

Those latter two marked a more notable change in discipline by Sansui, further towards purist audio ideals, by dispensing with tone controls and offering a means to bypass the control amp entirely for minimal coloring/undue influence on the sound. Tone controls eventually returned as a standard feature after a brief hiatus, but Sansui kept striving for ever greater levels of accuracy and technical excellence.
 
All good advice I’d add if you want a vintage and affordable options the au-222, au-505 and au-555a are affordable entry points and more common in Australia than some of the other models suggested above which are more high end however as mentioned as you get the au-xxxx digit or later 717 style amps the sound does change a lot from these
 
All the above advice is from folks much more experienced than me in the ways of San and Sui, so I'll limit myself to "welcome"!!

And for what it's worth, I started my Sansui journey last year with a well-cared-for AU-4900 that I was lucky to find for under half your budget. It's modest but I love it!

Cheers, Rob
 
That's all fantastic advice. Thank you! I've had made Luxman such a long time that I'm keen to try something new but not wanting to sell the Luxman. I think I'm going to run a few Sansui alerts on my local sales websites and hope something pops up. Other than that, there is an excellent vintage stereo shop not far from me and he might get something in to listen to.

ignoramustot said:
All the above advice is from folks much more experienced than me in the ways of San and Sui, so I'll limit myself to "welcome"!!

And for what it's worth, I started my Sansui journey last year with a well-cared-for AU-4900 that I was lucky to find for under half your budget. It's modest but I love it!

Cheers, Rob
Click to expand...

That sounds ideal as a way to dip the toe. Have the wife approval factor to consider too :) in terms of looks.
 
Indeed, do not overlook the smaller models, some real gems to be found there. Since you are presently using a Luxman amp, advice in my firet post focused mostly on the top liine models. Also, not being familiar with the Goodmans speakers you referenced, I've no idea what you power requirements are. Most I'd suggested above are in the 80-160wpc range.

The AU-4400 is another interesting possibility, being a lower-middle model it is only 20WPC, but gets high marks from those who own it (I had one years ago that I foolishly sold off with its matching tuner. One other thing sets it apart: it is a silver front panel with white legends, a very unusual look for Sansui; the overhwelming majority of their amps were black, save for a smattering of silver among the cheaper models in 80-84 and then the move away from black to champaign color for the Alpha series amps in the 90's.
 
I am relatively new to collecting golden era hi-fi gear, and even newer to Sansui equipment - so the more experienced folks here are better qualified to recommend equipment choices. I really like the Sansui sound, esthetic and design/engineering philosophy (currently listening to my DIY @Leestereo AU-555a and also have in the renovation queue AU-117/AU-217/AU-717 - in the market for an AU-317 and AU-517 as well).

I have also come to learn that the TOTL and higher powered pieces are not necessarily going to offer the best listening experience - lots of features and adjustability not always found in the lower powered offerings, though. But you do not need to go TOTL for the best listening experience.

Some neat history and background on Sansui -

sesshu_2.jpeg
"Sansui was founded in 1947 in Tokyo Japan. Started as a transformer manufacturer, Sansui produced various audio products for more than fifty years. In its heydays, somewhere between the late 1970’s and the mid 1980’s, Sansui was well known brand all over the world.

​
The name “Sansui” means “Mountain and Water.” The implicit appreciation of “Sansui” goes back more than thousand years to the ancient China. That was black ink drawings which depict nature, such as trees, rocks, and streams.

A Japanese Zen monk named Sesshu who was eager to learn this technique went to China that was in Ming dynasty period. After several years of visit, he came back to Japan and developed his own version of “Sansui” drawing. Sesshu tried to mix his Zen philosophy into the simplicity of “Sansui” drawing. He passed away at the age of 83 in 1503 leaving many master pieces and left fundamental influences on Japanese culture. The meaning of strength and simplicity in black and white is far beyond the level of just drawing techniques. Almost all ancient Japanese culture has been somehow influenced by this philosophy.

When the founders of the transformer company named their company as Sansui, they must have thought about the philosophy of “Sansui” drawings, and its fundamental meanings; strength and simplicity of black ink drawing on white paper for the purpose of depicting nature mixing with value of your life"

http://www.sansui.us/History.htm
 
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Sansuiman said:
@pete_mac gives some good advice. For integrated amps, stick to models having the "AU" prefix. Sansui did a line of lesser rack stuff from 1980 onward until about 1988 that had single letter prefixes (A for integrated amp, B for power amp*, C for preamp*, R for receiver and T for tuner) all of which is pretty...average (at best).

I will add a caveat (note the asterisks above): the B and C power and pre lineups were bifurcated from about 1983. Model numbers C.and B-2101,2102, 2201, 2301, 2302 (and a handful of other rare and estoric models) are excellent. C and B 55/77, and 1000/3000 were the lower cost, mass market stuff.

Back to integrated amps, the X balanced and later Alpha series models are probably where you want to focus, if you want something in the same general class of amp as the Luxman. If you are looking for a more vintage, classic Sansui sound, there are many possibilities: AU-777A (or 777D Japan market version), AU-9900(A), the AU-717 is a true masterpiece of the mid 1970's, and of course the AU-919 and AU-X1 closing out the decade and starting the 80's with quite a statement indeed.

Those latter two marked a more notable change in discipline by Sansui, further towards purist audio ideals, by dispensing with tone controls and offering a means to bypass the control amp entirely for minimal coloring/undue influence on the sound. Tone controls eventually returned as a standard feature after a brief hiatus, but Sansui kept striving for ever greater levels of accuracy and technical excellence.
Click to expand...

My AU-919 has tone controls. :)
 
@spark1, yes the 919 has tone controls (but no loudness contour) where the AU-X1 and AU-X11 have neither loundess or tone controls. I could've phrased that a bit better for clarity.
 
Hi,
Find a G Model with the WPC that you need.

Buy it as cheap as possible...

Then have it completely rebuilt by a good Tech...

And relax for the next 30 years!
DSC_6578.JPG
 
I'm totally amazed what my 331 does for such a low budget receiver. Compared to my 9090db, and au717 (currently a work in progress) if only could keep 1, the 331 would be the keeper.
 
1987 AU-X701 (100W) or you may get lucky and find a 1987 AU-X901 (130W) for that price. :thumbsup: But the word is out on them so finding one can be difficult, especially the X901. X701s can be found a bit easier. Been told both amps sound exactly the same except for the 30W power difference.

Seems ALL the guys who have the X701 absolutely love them!! When you listen to them it's like - WoW.

These 2 amps are Sansui's very first Alphas. A cross between the old sound and the new sophisticated sound. I love my X901. My amp search is over.

If you can find an X701 and it's in great shape - I'd jump on it. If you don't... it will be gone in 5 minutes, or sooner.

The other nice thing about these 2 amps is if you are lucky enough to 'find' one & get 'one', then you 'got' one! It's not really a Sansui starter amp. It's a serious 'international' amplifier with multiple voltages. :)
 
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Wow, plenty of models to look out for! Should be fun keeping an eye on the local auction sites, etc. In no rush, so hopefully something presents at some point that I like the look/sound of.
 
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