Thinking about a Sansui Integrated...??

[fazman]

I have and have had tonnes of gear from Marantz and Pioneer, receivers and integrated amps...
I've also had a few 9090db's and two 8080db's...

I've never had any of the Sansui integrated amps yet :scratch2:

I was kind of thinking of an AU-9900 or better yet an 11000 or 11000A.

What do these type of integrateds bring to the table that maybe some of the Marantz or Pioneers don't?

Do most of you find that they are better? If so what do you find different about them or better?

I use to love my 9090db and I really regret selling it. Do the integrateds that I've mentioned have the same "house sound" as the 9090db?

Any thoughts guys would help.

You know when you have a "quest" for a particular piece of vintage gear, you don't stop until you get it!

 

[onepixel]

I never thought Sansui as having a "house sound." I always thought it was neutral. The sound somewhere in between Marantz and Pioneer. I've have the 8080DB and 9090DB, had the AU/TU-555 from 1968 and still using the AU-DII system (1980). I've also have/had both complete receiver and integrated systems from Marantz, Pioneer and a partial from Yamaha.

In a blind test, I'd probably pick the sound of the Sansui or Yamaha first.

 

[nosirrah]

I have and have had tonnes of gear from Marantz and Pioneer, receivers and integrated amps...
I've also had a few 9090db's and two 8080db's...

I've never had any of the Sansui integrated amps yet :scratch2:

I was kind of thinking of an AU-9900 or better yet an 11000 or 11000A.

What do these type of integrateds bring to the table that maybe some of the Marantz or Pioneers don't?

Do most of you find that they are better? If so what do you find different about them or better?

I use to love my 9090db and I really regret selling it. Do the integrateds that I've mentioned have the same "house sound" as the 9090db?

Any thoughts guys would help.

You know when you have a "quest" for a particular piece of vintage gear, you don't stop until you get it!

You are the only competant judge of what you like.
I'd suggest a listen, also consider the AU 9500.
Do you have a tuner?
Casey

 

[fazman]

You are the only competant judge of what you like.
I'd suggest a listen, also consider the AU 9500.
Do you have a tuner?
Casey

Nope, no tuner (at least from Sansui...)

Yeah.. I know about me being the ultimate judge to what I like but I like to hear others opinions too. At least from people who have had multiples of different amps from different manufacturers.

Yep... AU-9500 I think would be on my list too.

 

[fazman]

I never thought Sansui as having a "house sound." I always thought it was neutral. The sound somewhere in between Marantz and Pioneer. I've have the 8080DB and 9090DB, had the AU/TU-555 from 1968 and still using the AU-DII system (1980). I've also have/had both complete receiver and integrated systems from Marantz, Pioneer and a partial from Yamaha.

In a blind test, I'd probably pick the sound of the Sansui or Yamaha first.

"house sound" is the wrong term I guess..
What I liked so dearly about my 9090db that I had was that it was so darn smooth on the top end. Maybe not as balls out in the bass as some of the Marantz units I have but there was a magic about the high end that was addictive.
Just wondering if the integrateds sound similar is all I guess I was really wondering...

 

[Yggdrasill]

I've heard a fair amount of Sansui and Marantz but haven't listened much to Pioneer.

In my experience it really matters what piece you're listening to. I have, or have had, an AU-9900, AU-717, and AU-919. They're all different. Never heard a 999 or 9500 but would love to.

I love my Marantz 2270 with its relaxing, smooth three-martini sound, but it would never supplant my AU-9900 in the living room. I think the 919 is crisper, more detailed and more dynamic than the 9900 but they both sound "good" to me. The 717 was kind of in-between the two and I liked it the least, though that's not to say it sounded bad. But I would pick the 2270 over the 717. Can't say that about the other Sansuis.

Though older, I'm a fan of the Definition/Professional series.

 

[nosirrah]

I've heard a fair amount of Sansui and Marantz but haven't listened much to Pioneer.

In my experience it really matters what piece you're listening to. I have, or have had, an AU-9900, AU-717, and AU-919. They're all different. Never heard a 999 or 9500 but would love to.

I love my Marantz 2270 with its relaxing, smooth three-martini sound, but it would never supplant my AU-9900 in the living room. I think the 919 is crisper, more detailed and more dynamic than the 9900 but they both sound "good" to me. The 717 was kind of in-between the two and I liked it the least, though that's not to say it sounded bad. But I would pick the 2270 over the 717. Can't say that about the other Sansuis.

Though older, I'm a fan of the Definition/Professional series.

I gotta agree, for me it's the depth of the mids and non brassy high notes that matter, my favorite genre is Blues, the 9500 sounds better than my BA 3000 in daily use. But the matching tuners means the TU 9900 would take a back seat to the TU 9500...that's just not going to happen.
Still, bottom line, you gotta audition with your genre, room and speakers.
Casey

 

[xoaphexox]

I am a fan of both the AU-9500 and AU-11000a. The 11000a is more rare and expensive if you use eBay as a guide. They are both great amps, in my opinion the AU-9500 has the edge looks-wise but I do like how the AU-11000a has the in/outputs on the sides.

FWIW I also found it easier to work on the 9500. Either way you end up with a gem!

 

[dr*audio]

I have both the AU-9900 and a AU-11000A. I don't hear any sound difference between the 2 models. They do have a very sweet top end and much more solid and controlled bass than the 9090 or 9090dB. Better, more uncolored sound in every way. It sounds so good it makes you want to crank up the volume to get more of it.

 

[vinylisfinal]

i just love the sound of sansui! my most used set-up revolves around the au-999/tu-999 components. great highs and mids... plenty of bottom with the right speakers as well....

 

[TurboBuick.]

I have had the AU 7700, AU 9000, AU 11000, AU9500, 9090DB, G 9000, G 8000 and the AU6900.
The AU6900 i still have the rest i do not.
I like the AU6900 sound and when i had it paired up as a pre with a BA3000 it was uncomplainable.
The AU9900 and AU11000 i did not care for because they seemed to lack bottom end especially without having a loudness switch!
Same goes for the CA3000.....no loudness switch which makes a big differance for me anyhow!
I miss my BA3000 and TU9900 but needed money so they had to go.
I have been thinking about trying the AU919, AU717 which i have never heard.

 

[reggaenaut]

I have had the AU 7700, AU 9000, AU 11000, AU9500, 9090DB, G 9000, G 8000 and the AU6900.
The AU6900 i still have the rest i do not.
I like the AU6900 sound and when i had it paired up as a pre with a BA3000 it was uncomplainable.
The AU9900 and AU11000 i did not care for because they seemed to lack bottom end especially without having a loudness switch!
Same goes for the CA3000.....no loudness switch which makes a big differance for me anyhow!
I miss my BA3000 and TU9900 but needed money so they had to go.
I have been thinking about trying the AU919, AU717 which i have never heard.

The AU919 does not have a loudness switch.

 

[Yggdrasill]

I have had the AU 7700, AU 9000, AU 11000, AU9500, 9090DB, G 9000, G 8000 and the AU6900.
The AU6900 i still have the rest i do not.
I like the AU6900 sound and when i had it paired up as a pre with a BA3000 it was uncomplainable.
The AU9900 and AU11000 i did not care for because they seemed to lack bottom end especially without having a loudness switch!
Same goes for the CA3000.....no loudness switch which makes a big differance for me anyhow!
I miss my BA3000 and TU9900 but needed money so they had to go.
I have been thinking about trying the AU919, AU717 which i have never heard.

That is so interesting. I wonder if there is much variation among units of the same model? One thing I can't say about my stock AU-9900 is that it lacks bottom end, but then the speakers I'm using deliver great low frequency response. Compared to a nice Yamaha M-4 the 9900 definitely had more bottom and a fuller sound, though the Yammie was sparkly.

As for the loudness switch, I'm wondering whether that can't be compensated for by using the tone controls...:scratch2:

 

[dr*audio]

Some people like boomy bass. Others like well controlled bass. The 9090 receiver has, to me, boomy bass. The AU-9900 and AU-11000 have well controlled bass, which I prefer. It's just a matter of preference.

 

[marantzfan]

You know, Sansui made great gear AFTER the 70's too. I have owned a 990, 9090DB, Eight, G-9000, G-901DB, AU-717/TU-717, BA-3000/CA-3000/TU-9900and I now own an AU-X901.

To my ears, the AU-X901 trumps ALL of the above, even the seperates. :yes:

 

[fazman]

You guys are giving me a lot to consider... Thanks for this.

I think what I might set my goal on is finding a nice AU-9500...

If I like the sound of this then I might go for bigger power. Although I don't really need a tonne of power as I have some Pioneer SPEC gear to take care of that when I feel the need for it.

I'm looking for something that I can listen to all day without any complaints, has good power output and a nice bottom end.

I have some other gear that fits that description but nothing from Sansui yet.

I did some research on the 9500 and that is one fine looking machine! :yes:

I don't use tone controls or loudness buttons so that is a non issue for me.

I think this is the one that I might hunt down if I can...

Wish me luck!

 

[motorstereo]

I would also highly recommend the au9500. I had one and sold it after owning it for a few years. I regretted it almost from the time I sold it so I picked up another one recently. This integrated will fit your criterea for sure. One thing to keep in mind is that you might want to look for one locally as these are very heavy units and will be expensive to ship. It's too bad that you don't use the tone controls or the loudness. The 9500 has a useful loudness contour and lots of tone control knobs to fiddle with. Good luck

 

[xoaphexox]

You won't be disappointed with the AU-9500 and it has quite robust tone controls and the loudness switch. Personally I prefer the tone controls over the loudness switch in the 9500 as I feel it overaccentuates the high frequencies a bit and things get a bit too piercing for my young hears. YMMV

 

[charles64]

Sansui Integrated Amps

I don't know about a Sansui "House Sound" as there are so many variables such as speakers,room acoustics,etc. to consider,but I find my AU-717 has a definite "Sweet Spot" and although it has lots of Headroom it maintains a very Neutral Sound - even when set to minimum volume in tone defeat my AU-717 never fails to impress.

 

[lha1992]

You know, Sansui made great gear AFTER the 70's too. I have owned a 990, 9090DB, Eight, G-9000, G-901DB, AU-717/TU-717, BA-3000/CA-3000/TU-9900and I now own an AU-X901.

To my ears, the AU-X901 trumps ALL of the above, even the seperates. :yes:

I have to agree with Anthony about this, the AU-X901 trumps all the Sansuis I've heard.

Plus, look into the AU-X11000 MOS