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Tube Pre or Tube Amp for Sansui AU 717

btol

Well-Known Member
Hi All,

I'm not in the market just now but am always thinking about possible next moves. I picked up a Sansui AU-717 a couple of months ago and I love it. It has replaced my Heathkit AA-32 tube integrated for the time being and it drives my modded Klipsch Fortes. Music seems to sound tighter, faster, snappier, and punchier.

Since the AU-717 can be used as a pre or power amp, I'd like to see what introducing some tube goodness into the mix will do.

What are your thoughts on the virtues and drawbacks of a) using a tube pre with the AU-717's power section or b) using the AU-717's preamp with a tube power amp (probably a Magnavox console pull or a lower-priced, low-wattage SET amp)? I'm specifically interested in which combination will best showcase the AU-717's speed, precision, and punch while gaining the added warmth, three-dimensionality, and slightly larger/deeper soundstage of my Heathkit AA-32.

Based off complete assumption only, my thinking is that the AU-717 pre/tube power amp combo is the way to go as using a tube pre may skew the sound too far towards the tube side of the spectrum and I'd lose that punch and precision.

B
 
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