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Upgraded binding posts on AU-217

pete_mac

pete_mac

Super Member
I recently recapped a near-mint AU-217 owned by a friend. He also wanted the push-terminal speaker connections changed to binding posts, as he has a wide variety of speaker cables with spade or banana plugs on them, and sorely wanted to use them with the Sansui.

I bought a small piece of 3mm smoked grey (tinted) perspex/plexiglas and some generic binding posts (he wasn't fussed regarding what I used... so long as it did the job!). All in all, it turned out quite neatly. With the lid fitted on the amp, you can hardly tell that the perspex is partly transparent.

I needed to drill 6 holes to mount the perspex plate, but if he ever wishes to return the amp to standard form, the screws can remain in place and it will generally look OK.

I think I will definitely do the same thing to my AU-517 and other amps in future. I much prefer the flexibility offered by binding posts vs push-terminal connectors.

au217recapnewterminalssmall.jpg


au217recaprearafter.jpg
 
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I bought it from an electronics parts shop called Jaycar in Australia. I would normally go to a perspex/plastic supplier and source an off-cut, but I needed to buy it on a Sunday. I'd imagine that there would be similar places worldwide, or you can often source small pieces via a certain on-line auction site too.
 
I've done the same tweak to my AU-517 so that I can use speaker cables with banana plugs. I only changed one of the sets of speaker connections though.

It turned out OK.

AU517andAU3174.jpg
 
Wow Pete:
Super clean install that is also 'low profile'... the terminals don't stick out the back as far as any of the other solutions I have seen and done. You have put forth more effort in your method, but gotta love the results.

Scott T.
 
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Thanks Scott.

It's not all that pretty to look at, but you never really see the back of the amp anyway.

I was tempted to go for some of the newer, 'blingier' gold plated versions which are encased in clear plastic, but they look a bit too modern on vintage gear IMHO, plus they are noticeably wider (about 19mm vs 15m) which means they sit closer together with less clearance between each binding post.
 
Hey: That's another super-clean job!. Thanks for including the thread link, which contains your parts source for those so interested.

Scott t.
 
that was my grandpas idea n i re did it after he died n moved the + to the outside n the - to the inside n covered the inside with thick old high heat vinyl just 4 extra protection on the inside of the gold plated posts
 
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pete_mac - Fantastic job on this AU217 :thmbsp: - The first time I saw speaker spring clips replaced on a Sansui was on your AU517 & 719 restoration post - Both done to high pro-standard.

This is something I may do in the future on a few AU317's I am restoring.

Edit:
Forgot to ask - Did you take any internal pic's from the back of binding posts etc?
 
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