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Talk me out of a 8080 or 9090 please :-)

redondo2018

redondo2018

Active Member
Ok, so I've been thinking about getting an 8080 or 9090 (or hopefully a 990) but I'm also wondering if I really need to... my current receivers are:

Mac 4100 (mint in condition and functionality) - 1/2 of main system.
Sansui 5000x (slight crackling on power up sometimes, otherwise good) - in office
Sansui 2000a - not using
Sansui QR-4500 (visibly mint, something screwy in power/caps)
Sony STR-6055 - driving garage setup
Sony STR-6036a - channel issues
HK TA600 - not using

The Mc is obviously in the same league (and the only one of the above that I paid near market price for) and I have the early Sansui's for "the sound" - am I really missing anything by not having an 8080/9090? I'd likely have to swap it out for one of my existing receivers (no more rooms to put it in). I have read some old threads on this topic already, but interested in opinions considering my current situation/stable.

(also, yes, I have a separates set up as well as the other half of my main system, but not the discussion I'm looking for here).

Thanks!
 
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I have a 9090db. Complete rebuild including pinning the dolby board. It's my least used Sansui, it's big, it gets hot, constant issues with dirty pots and switches. It's a PIA to work on.
On the plus side, It has the sansui sound and looks cool at nite, but I can get that with my smaller amps like the AU 222, 555A and 331 receiver.
I don't play loud music so it's kinda of a waste here.
 
Lol!

Well there ya go :)

But if you get a non dB you might have less issues. I have an 8080dB I'm about to resurrect, will let you know how that goes.
 
crv00 said:
Sell some stuff before considering getting something else. You'll feel less burdened in the long run.

Also, do you use the radio a lot? If not, what is a receiver buying you vs. an integrated? Just the look?
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no, just NPR once and awhile, so guess so on the look... also, I have NOT had good luck with integrated amps so far - the couple that I've bought have ended up with a serious / unfixable problems, but I guess I've been unlucky. I mean, there are plenty of good looking integrated amps out there...
 
I kind of feel like maybe people back in the day didn't push their receivers nearly as hard as integrated? (which makes sense) receivers seem to have held up better, but I guess lots of stuff can be recapped...
 
The 9090 is unreliable, switches constantly need cleaning, a pain to work on, and in my opinion does not sound that good. If you want the Sansui sound, get a Model 8 Deluxe. Much better build quality, better design, better sound, excellent tuner. Or get a G-8000 or G-9000.
 
The prices on 9090's are crazy high. There's no telling if they will continue to go up. Non working models are going for what nice ones went for 5 years ago.
I had a 9090 and a 9090db and cashed out. Kept the Eight. That's just me, I'm over collecting gear and now just focus on listening.
 
If you really want a receiver, I agree w/grillebilly, grab a single digit series. A Six, Seven, Eight or Eight D. I had a 9090, kept the Seven. The 9090 is nice, but the Seven sounded better to me. IMO/E. I am also hanging onto the ones that sound better to me, and the rest are gone. No more collecting. Now tube stuff, ha that’s a different story!;)
 
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redondo2018 said:
I kind of feel like maybe people back in the day didn't push their receivers nearly as hard as integrated? (which makes sense) receivers seem to have held up better, but I guess lots of stuff can be recapped...
Click to expand...
I don't really have that experience with integrated amps vs receivers. I thought people often bought monster receivers because they wanted just that.

Also, I have no real desire to ever work on a receiver, but I've done a lot of work on Sansui, NAD, Naim, Quad, etc. integrated amps, preamps and amps. Big receivers tend to be so complicated inside! I don't even really want to work on my TU-717 tuner, much less a tune with an integrated amp built in!

I think of having a tuner built in to an amp as not being so different from the old all-in-ones with 8-tracks or turntables built in. I prefer to keep sources separate from amplification for simplicity but that's just my take.
 
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I think you may be better served getting the 5000X restored, than getting a 8080/9090DB. I own (and enjoy) the 9090DB, but ultimately it is one of those models where it is more about the look and ego stroking of owning one, than the sound. It sounds decent, with tons of headroom, but there are other Sansui receivers and integrateds that sound better to me.

if you are really after a non capacitor coupled model to test out it's somewhat different sonic signature, then there are better candidates than the 9090DB, based on reliability issues and cost to value ratio. I highly doubt I'd buy one now at what the prices are, the only reason I have them is that they've been in my collection for over 20 years and cost me a small fraction of today's asking prices.

Yes, they are big and flashy, and that is much of the appeal. If you can get over that angle, you will gain an appreciation for the more understated models that work well and sound great without constant aggravation introduced by the design (and signal path) complexities of something like a 9090DB.

The G9000 is nearly as difficult to work on, and again iit is heavily worshipped for it's aesthetics . It's sound it arguably better (that itself being rather subjective) than the 9090DB, but still has a complex signal path with many opportunities for drop outs and distortion caused by flaky switches relays, etc. Most people naturally gravitate to the top end models, because they are attention getters, but one needs to prioritize whether they are more concerned with that, or with the sound and how much one enjoys listening to it.
 
This is so very personal, which series sounds best, recommendation makes no sense without knowing where the sound taste lies with the person asking for it.
 
Sansuiman said:
I think you may be better served getting the 5000X restored, than getting a 8080/9090DB. I own (and enjoy) the 9090DB, but ultimately it is one of those models where it is more about the look and ego stroking of owning one, than the sound. It sounds decent, with tons of headroom, but there are other Sansui receivers and integrateds that sound better to me.

if you are really after a non capacitor coupled model to test out it's somewhat different sonic signature, then there are better candidates than the 9090DB, based on reliability issues and cost to value ratio. I highly doubt I'd buy one now at what the prices are, the only reason I have them is that they've been in my collection for over 20 years and cost me a small fraction of today's asking prices.

Yes, they are big and flashy, and that is much of the appeal. If you can get over that angle, you will gain an appreciation for the more understated models that work well and sound great without constant aggravation introduced by the design (and signal path) complexities of something like a 9090DB.

The G9000 is nearly as difficult to work on, and again iit is heavily worshipped for it's aesthetics . It's sound it arguably better (that itself being rather subjective) than the 9090DB, but still has a complex signal path with many opportunities for drop outs and distortion caused by flaky switches relays, etc. Most people naturally gravitate to the top end models, because they are attention getters, but one needs to prioritize whether they are more concerned with that, or with the sound and how much one enjoys listening to it.
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TBH, I kind of expected someone to suggest just sticking with the 5000x - it certainly is up there with the best $35 I've spend on any gear. It is a daily driver in my office, it just has that weird cracking sometimes, but it usually goes away after a few minutes, probably any easy fix if I knew where it was coming from...
 
CrSens said:
This is so very personal, which series sounds best, recommendation makes no sense without knowing where the sound taste lies with the person asking for it.
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I listen to all kinds of music, mostly LPs, tend to fall into the warmer side of things, but appreciate detail + warmth. more interested in correct bass than booming bass usually
 
crv00 said:
I don't really have that experience with integrated amps vs receivers. I thought people often bought monster receivers because they wanted just that.

Also, I have no real desire to ever work on a receiver, but I've done a lot of work on Sansui, NAD, Naim, Quad, etc. integrated amps, preamps and amps. Big receivers tend to be so complicated inside! I don't even really want to work on my TU-717 tuner, much less a receiver.

Finally, I think of having a tuner built in to an amp as not being so different from all-in-ones with 8-tracks or turntables built in. I prefer to keep sources separate from amplification for simplicity but that's just my bias.
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Yeah, I get that, like I said, I think I've just been unlucky + maybe getting the wrong integrated pieces...
 
grillebilly said:
The prices on 9090's are crazy high. There's no telling if they will continue to go up. Non working models are going for what nice ones went for 5 years ago.
I had a 9090 and a 9090db and cashed out. Kept the Eight. That's just me, I'm over collecting gear and now just focus on listening.
Click to expand...
Anyone ever heard an Eight vs 5000x or similar?
 
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