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Top 5 (Sansui) Integrated Amplifiers

I have the Sansui AU-G99X X Balanced (160WPC) that was one of their flagship integrated amplifiers in 1984-1985, this piece of powerful wonder has served me well for 40 years. I dropped it in the shop for a refresh in 2013 and today still rockin.

If I ever decide to move onto the tube amp/pre-amp thing I don't think I would ever sale this, been a part of me for so long.
 
Mr D. said:
I have the Sansui AU-G99X X Balanced (160WPC) that was one of their flagship integrated amplifiers in 1984-1985, this piece of powerful wonder has served me well for 40 years. I dropped it in the shop for a refresh in 2013 and today still rockin.

If I ever decide to move onto the tube amp/pre-amp thing I don't think I would ever sale this, been a part of me for so long.
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I missed one of those (magnificent) beasts here recently....
 
I have the AU-919, AU-X1, UA-9900 and AU-417. I def think the AU-X1 is the best looking. I would really like something from the alpha series and the MOS Vintage series (with the glass front). It's quite upsetting that here in the states we never had access to the higher end units that Sansui put out on the domestic market after the AU-X1.
 
Plimpington2 said:
It's quite upsetting that here in the states we never had access to the higher end units that Sansui put out on the domestic market after the AU-X1.
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I don't think anyone did, they were all designed around 100V mains PSU's - so definitely intended for their own domestic market only. I don't know of anywhere other than Japan that uses 100V mains, and just to spice things up, half the country is 100V 50Hz and the rest is 100V 60Hz. :)

Later they relented and produced the 'X' versions of some of the Alpha's - but now they are rare and fetch a hefty premium because of this, so you can get an AU-α907MRX - which is multi-voltage.

I have a very nice AU-α907MR - that is, of course 100V, I had to jump through some hoops to get it to me half a World away, but it was worth every penny. And if I had tried to wait for an MRX, I'd still be waiting...
 
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Hyperion said:
I don't think anyone did, they were all designed around 100V mains PSU's - so definitely intended for their own domestic market only. I don't know of anywhere other than Japan that uses 100V mains, and just to spice things up, half the country is 100V 50Hz and the rest is 100V 60Hz. :)

Later they relented and produced the 'X' versions of some of the Alpha's - but now they are rare and fetch a hefty premium because of this, so you can get an AU-α907MRX - which is multi-voltage.

I have a very nice AU-α907MR - that is, of course 100V, I had to jump through some hoops to get it to me half a World away, but it was worth every penny.
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I have been spending some time looking at some of the premium stuff they put out for the domestic market for a while now. I would like to a C-2302 and a B2302. That combination is my white whale. And the AU-a907NRA. They are so pretty!!
 
Plimpington2 said:
I have the AU-919, AU-X1, UA-9900 and AU-417. I def think the AU-X1 is the best looking. I would really like something from the alpha series and the MOS Vintage series (with the glass front). It's quite upsetting that here in the states we never had access to the higher end units that Sansui put out on the domestic market after the AU-X1.
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Great collection of late 70's (ish) units! The understated mat black looks of your AU-417/AU-919/AU-X1 were defining and influential in the industry and absolutely timeless - they still look like they could be from this time period! The AU-X1 is probably my favorite solid state Sansui as far as the looks department is concerned (under the hood, too).

A glass-fronted AU-X1* MOS of some kind would the perfect compliment to your collection. Keep us posted when it happens!

(Edit: As would a later Sansui)
 
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JOMARK911 said:
Just a quick note to everyone.
G-22000 -G 33000 , has exactly the same lay out and same pre amp - amp drawing as the AU-X1 , minus the super fast outputs .
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that IS very interesting. Slowly the Sansui development history is being tied together: it makes sense they used the AU-X1 circuit in a receiver

in Hirano-San's Sansui notes, he mentioned using ideas from the X1 in the G series receivers too. Reading those I got the impression the X1 was started as an experimental development project.

Eventually I think the X1 chassis design merged with the X balanced circuit design to become the Alpha series: the 7th generation of the 07 series.

The seventh son of the seventh son. The number 7 has special significance to Sansui.
 
Took out the 555a, thinking about selling it since it's not a part of any of my systems. It looks so dang good, ended up cleaning up some crevices and hooking it up in the garage instead...
 
bolero said:
I tried to do a top 5 list, couldn't do it! too many amazing integrateds I couldn't leave out.
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I think the fun in this exercise is imposing a real or imagined limitation on the number of Sansui's one could own, and what that collection of 5 would look like. I still lean towards chronological - to capture the form factor and sound development over the years. From the cozy looking and sounding wood chassis of the early years to the metal armored weapons grade sonic lasers of the later years. I find every generation very interesting.

Edit: My list (and my current main rack setup, which also has a CA-303 preamp in there)

AU-555a
AU-717
AU-X1
AU-D11ii
AU-a907 Limited
 
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If it was a matter of choosing just one model, but not necessarily The most powerful amp or the most expensive throughout the decades,
but rather the one model that best represents Sansui for the quality/features offered at its pricepoint, and was a huge seller and extremely popular, (and influenced all the models that came after it), the award goes to the AU-717.

 
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