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The perfect Sansui stack?

JimEGR

JimEGR

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
This is a concept I’ve been thinking about for a while - curating the “perfect” Sansui Sound rack to focus and assemble what I find to be the most interesting sampling of Sansui gear that will fit in my main rack. An appealing and varied collection across the Sansui solid state lifespan of 1967-2000.

So here is my “perfect Sansui rack” -

AT-15L - time!
SR-838 w/SAE HOMC cart - the Steinway Sansui turntable
XP-99 w/Sansui LOMC cart - the factory AT-3100S MC cartridge is something to behold it is phenomenal
SC-5100 - a big and beautiful cassette machine not very common either

CD-a607 - peak CD build quality a little softer SQ than the 907
CD-a907 - peak CD build quality a little edgier SQ than the 607

AU-777 - the very first SS integrated some say a sound signature not achieved again until the Alpha's
AU-117- minimalist cap coupled perfection
AU-X1 - The Mighty Sansui Warhorse
AU-a607 NRA II - sounds so so sweet
AU-a607 MOS Limited - the very last SS integrated

(And I do have plans for an adjacent tube setup.)

Coolest gear ever!

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Any other Sansui Sampler setups - with pictures of course!?
 
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JimEGR said:
This is a concept I’ve been thinking about for a while - curating the “perfect” Sansui Sound rack to focus and assemble what I find to be the most interesting sampling of Sansui gear that will fit in my main rack. An appealing and varied collection across the Sansui solid state lifespan of 1967-2000.

So here is my “perfect Sansui rack” -

AT-15L
SR-838 w/SAE HOMC cart
XP-99 w/Sansui LOMC cart
SC-5100
CD-a607
CD-a907
AU-a607 MOS Limited - the very last SS integrated
AU-a607 NRA II
AU-X1
AU-117
AU-777 - the very first SS integrated

(And I do have plans for an adjacent tube setup.)

Coolest gear ever!

View attachment 3199190

Any other Sansui Sampler setups - with pictures of course!?
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Beautiful
 
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Copanel said:
I like it, but I would add au-111, au,tu-9500 and ba-5000 with ca-3000, tu-9900.
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Thanks! An AU-9500 would be a nice fit in the evolution. I’d have to bump something. Maybe the CD-a907. I like having the two CD players in for looks as well as their difference in SQ. I’m building a Sansui tube separates setup, otherwise I’d definitely have an AU-111 in there. Tuners look great, but there really isn’t much I like to listen to on radio anymore. Maybe if I put up a large antenna I could pull in something interesting. :)
 
Update with some feedback from @peterott which helped push the stack(s) nearer to perfection. The SR-737 "crown" to top the silver stack. And I will move my beloved AT-3100S cartridge over from the XP-99. Also outfitted the AU-117 with it's rack handles. The AU-117 may appear to be an odd choice, but that minimalist cap coupled sweetness has earned it's place among the other Sansui greats (to my ears). And oddly no Alpha 907's. The AU-a607 NRA II has a SQ that I am currently prefering over the AU-a907 NRA (with the Zu speakers). The AU-a607 NRA II has an exclusive to it alone dedicated toroidal on the front end, this may be what I am hearing. And then the AU-607 MOS Limited seems like the complimentary period MOS soulmate of the AU-a607 NRA II. The AU-a607 MOS Limited also tops the Sansui family tree as the final solid state Sansui ever made. So this collection's metrics are 1/3 sound quality, 1/3 looks and 1/3 history.

Long Live Sansui!

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JimEGR said:
Thanks! An AU-9500 would be a nice fit in the evolution. I’d have to bump something. Maybe the CD-a907. I like having the two CD players in for looks as well as their difference in SQ. I’m building a Sansui tube separates setup, otherwise I’d definitely have an AU-111 in there. Tuners look great, but there really isn’t much I like to listen to on radio anymore. Maybe if I put up a large antenna I could pull in something interesting. :)
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I have the au-117II and it sounds great. Tuner for appearance and be set with the amplifier. Unfortunately, I cannot use a tuner, I live in the forest and there is no signal and even if there were, there are no quality radio stations.

AU-9500 I hope you will have it someday, if you don't like the way it sounds, at least for the appearance it has to be in the rack. I appreciate him enormously from all points of view. I wanted the au-9500 so badly that I drove 3300 km for 40 hours to bring it home.
 
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Copanel said:
I have the au-117II and it sounds great. Tuner for appearance and be set with the amplifier. Unfortunately, I cannot use a tuner, I live in the forest and there is no signal and even if there were, there are no quality radio stations.

AU-9500 I hope you will have it someday, if you don't like the way it sounds, at least for the appearance it has to be in the rack. I appreciate him enormously from all points of view. I wanted the au-9500 so badly that I drove 3300 km for 40 hours to bring it home.
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That sounds like a worthy adventure! Yes the AU-9500 is one I'd really like to hear. It seems to have a very committed fanbase. And with the improvements developed by members here, is one of the greats. Not to mention how stunning it looks! A real striking design. 100% glorious Sansui!
 
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Paco LM said:
That's a beautiful rack. Wish someday i could get an Alpha series.
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Thank you @Paco LM ! And I hope you someday secure an Alpha. And you do not need to go all out on the big ones to hear and feel the excellence. The Alpha 607's are an incredible value. The AU-a607i was my first Alpha and is absolutely superb and selling for very reasonable prices. (And thanks to @pete_mac for that recommendation!)
 
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Final touches for today! Finally found the perfect home for my Sansui SL-10 Audio Lamp. Came with a white frosted lamp which I changed out to a clear incandescent (no LED's for this Sansui guy). Perfect color, compliment and tone for the evening listening sessions - a proper set and setting!

IMG_6762.jpgIMG_6761 copy.jpg
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JimEGR said:
Thank you @Paco LM ! And I hope you someday secure an Alpha. And you do not need to go all out on the big ones to hear and feel the excellence. The Alpha 607's are an incredible value. The AU-a607i was my first Alpha and is absolutely superb and selling for very reasonable prices. (And thanks @pete_mac for that recommendation!)
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Great. Thanks for the tip! I hope to get one in a not so distant future.

Meanwhile, an Au-517, arriving home next week, wil be helping to bear the wait.
 
Paco LM said:
Great. Thanks for the tip! I hope to get one in a not so distant future.

Meanwhile, an Au-517, arriving home next week, wil be helping to bear the wait.
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The AU-517 is going to be great! Dual mono excellence. Peak build quality and serviceability too.
 
JimEGR said:
Final touches for today! Finally found the perfect home for my Sansui SL-10 Audio Lamp. Came with a white frosted lamp which I changed out to a clear incandescent (no LED's for this Sansui guy). Perfect color, compliment and tone for the evening listening sessions - a proper set and setting!

View attachment 3199899View attachment 3199898
View attachment 3199897
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I've thought 'many times' about getting & using a SL-10 light too.

Nice to see someone using it like you have. Keeping it all Sansui!! :thumbsup:
 
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