Technics vs. Sansui

[scarredtaka]

It would be nice to get a larger amp, but the shipping goes way up for me as they have to ship to Alaska.

Shipping for a reciever is around 80 dollars, which totally kills the deals and great prices of the bay.

 

[yrly]

If its a lower wattage Sansui, get a 2000 or 2000A as opposed to say the 350. I have all three of them. Those 2000s are built like tanks. Good sounding too.

 

[Morden2004]

It would be nice to get a larger amp, but the shipping goes way up for me as they have to ship to Alaska.

Shipping for a reciever is around 80 dollars, which totally kills the deals and great prices of the bay.

I hear you - I'm in Canada in a far away outpost by the Bay of Fundy. Why even the FedEx and UPS drivers have to stop at the Post Office to ask were I live :yes: .

Shipping is certainly a consideration for those of us who don't live within a metropolitan area. How about an AudioKarma delivery run? It's been done before. Ask a general question in the off topic forum for any AK'ers who might be heading up to Alaska this summer and are willing to haul along a vintage receiver. You never know. Nothing ventured, ..... :scratch2:

Good luck,

Paul

PS: Also, you should consider any of our Military members who may have "other means" of delivery available to them.

 

[Kevin's Rack]

Me, I'm a Technics addict, so I obviously will be more biased towards Technics. But all is not lost. I own many different components, and out of all of them, I find my Technics' to have the greatest stereo separation and sensitivity on their tuners than any others I've had. I would also say the Technics' are easier to service when the time comes. From what I've seen, servicing some of the Sansuis are like putting square pegs in round holes. (Ie. removing ten things to access one thing.) I've only owned one Sansui, from its period of decline (1984), and I wasn't overly satisfied with it although it was decent. I find Technics' to sound brighter than other manufacturers, and they have a distinctive look which I find attractive. I would add it all up to this, although I'm partial to Technics, my other half will say either one will leave you satisfied in the end. Just thought I'd share my experiences...

 

[Tleilax]

You've obviously never tried to get to those damned 3-way rocker switches Panasonic used in the SA-X00 series!

 

[Kevin's Rack]

Point taken, if it's as hard to get to as the rockers on the SAx0x series, then I will concur. Although I will say, Technics' go back together pretty easy. Only had trouble once with a Technics which resulted in me having to re-string the tuner. I guess after doing that I've earned bragging rights... :scratch2:

 

[packrat]

It would be nice to get a larger amp, but the shipping goes way up for me as they have to ship to Alaska.

Shipping for a reciever is around 80 dollars, which totally kills the deals and great prices of the bay.

Have you looked around locally for something, or at least within Alaska? It's surprising what was sold in remote places 30 years ago, especially if the work force was male, was well paid (oil rigs, mines, etc.), and had lots of free time on their hands after work - to party . Towns near military bases are also places to look.
...but yes, shipping fees do tend to suck when you live in a beautiful place...

anyway, found this...not a Technics, or Sansui, but the price could be right???
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5775182495

and the same seller recently sold this amazing tuner!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=73382&item=5769601427&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

 

[Zeke]

No worries!

Merely as a point of inference, the brands and dates you've offered for scrutiny leave little concern that you'll end up with a decent piece. It's like the guy in 1969 who couldn't decide between a Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro or Dodge Charger: today they all look good!

 

[aystrick]

Haven't owned a Sansui but I am very pleased with my Technics 5370. It is rated at 48 wpc but has waaaay more power than I would ever use. I have it playing through Athena FS2 speakers. Speakers seem to balance the brightness of the receiver well. Nice looking Receiver.

 

[backmd]

I just got a Technics SA-925 and although it is small it is heavy as a brick with gobs of power. . .

Anyone know the 925????

I opened my Technics SA925 and looked up the specs of the stereo output amplifier chip. Apparently the output is at least 30 watts and up to 50 watts with higher source voltages and 4 ohm speaker loads.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

On sonics and build quality, Sansui wins if it's pre 1978. My 4000 is a superb, 45 watts/channel well made, fine sounding receiver. It's very well built. And it's switches and pots still are quiet and working well. Technics made some decent receivers but I repaired many with switch and pot issues.

 

[jfzea]

I have some experience with amplifiers above all of the two brands, to me a Sansui or a Yamaha has a more natural sound that a Technics amplifier.

I hear the midbass and midrange of the Technics with emphasis which makes them seem to have more power but it's not completely true. In this situation with the Technics the listening fatigue is higher.

But always depends on the model, the better way is to test the two brands and models in an A/B test and for long periods.

 

[myu701]

Yikes... a 6 year old thread, pumped back to life!



I think the early 80's Technics receivers were pretty decent, but eventually the brand decayed (just as Sansui and Marantz did). Technics did create a few legends, but on average I think Sansui did a better job all around.

 

[FlakaSeaguls]

I just got a Technics SA-925 and although it is small it is heavy as a brick with gobs of power. . .

Anyone know the 925????

I do, I do, I do, it’s my garage box. Drives a couple of paradigm titans and can really kill it at times. Just ask my neighbors.

 

[MacPhantom]

Wow, a thread from 15 years ago… what a great opportunity to shed some light into an ever-ongoing discussion!

Technics did create a few legends, but on average I think Sansui did a better job all around.

I see a lot of statements like this one, and I often cannot blame the authors—this belief is widespread particularly among our fellow U.S. citizens. The reason is simple: the Americas are receiver lands; they are so common that people refer to anything that amplifies as a "receiver", even if it does not contain a tuner.
In this respect, one has to separate between Technics equipment sold in America and elsewhere. Panasonic sold a lot of Technics receivers in the U.S., but 99% of them are completely unknown e.g. in the origin country of Japan. They simply were not sold over there (also because Japan never was a receiver land). Unfortunately, while there were some really great receivers from Technics (SA-800, 5760, 5770, 616, 818, 1010, etc.), the average was actually a bit below the integrated amp and tuner counter parts of the same price league in terms of quality. For example, the SA-80 up to SA-600 (!) have a wooden bottom plate, which is something you only find in the absolute cheapest integrated amps of the time (e.g., SU-8011 to SU-8055). Sound-wise there just is no difference; it's all psychological. But as a result of this, Technics gear was often perceived as inferior compared to others, simply due to their slightly compromised receivers that were America only.

If you take a look beyond receivers, you'll soon discover that Panasonic also made devices like this…


…and no later than now, I guess you'll agree that they really were up there with all the other brands, or perhaps beyond. Panasonic was (and still is, I believe) the biggest consumer electronics company in Japan, with more than twice the number of employees than e.g. Sony. They know very well what they are doing.
So don't be scared off by Technics receivers; if you like the looks you'll like the way they work. And if you feel like you are missing out on the quality, perhaps you want to see what's available beyond receivers.