Just a little Sansui speaker story:
SP-2000 ($1000 back in 1970 dollars, $6,097.56 in 2014 dollars - they weren't cheap!) and AS-100 speakers work for me.
I've never cared what anyone has ever said about Sansui's speakers... if you find the right pair they do sound really nice. AND... they have AlNiCo magnets. And anyone who says there isn't any difference between AlNiCo and Ferrit magnets... well, they ain't old timers! lol. And they didn't hang out at many concerts in the old days. AlNiCo magnets sound luxurious, warm, and lifelike. It's a 'feeling' in your ears and 'soul'. AlNiCo is the only way to go for me, forever.
I've read somewhere (can't remember exactly where) that Sansui's Engineers, from like 1968 to 1972 (or so) would design their speaker systems to specification, and then after that had been completed, they would 'tinker' with the electronics, coils, etc., and 'adjust' the 'spec prelim design' to make the speakers sound
'lifelike' (which is the key word). To me, they sound very 'lifelike' and that's what I really like about early Sansui speakers. They sound 'real' in a home setting at medium and low volumn. And they play plenty loud enough too if you want them too, but I rarely play speakers loud, never really. And no surround rot!
Are there better speakers, of course there are, especially the newer designs ($$$). Are there worse new speakers, absolutely for sure, no doubt about it. Sansui's speakers sound just fine when you find the right pair. Just need to find a pair that have been 'used, and used a lot... but not abused' (and get lucky too). I mean, they are 45 years old. That's like 153+ years old in people years! LOL. (Figured it out one day after a bunch of calculations: 3.5 X speakers age = people years. That's primarily for the caps.)
My SP-2000 still have the original caps. Imagine that. 45 years old and I'm not touching them. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Why mess with a great sounding pair of speakers? Do they sound factory? Probably not... but they sure sound pretty darn good 'as is'. Everyone likes the sound. I do have a second NOS pair in the original packaging but they sound really bad. I don't know why, maybe wasted caps from non-usage, but that's ok with me: spare parts and Brand New factory fresh cabinets! I will restore the crossovers someday and play with them. If all else fails, I still got the brand new cabs for a swap with the pair I'm using now. Cool. Only paid $75 for them. But my working cabs look 95% now so no hurry at all.
Now, my AS-100 speakers (3 each). They only have one cap for the tweet. They sound like pure Sansui 'Magic'. I'm not touching those either. I'm just not messing with 'Sansui Magic'!
IF all I ever had was my AS-100 speakers, that would be fine for me. Up against the SP-2000s in sound quality - they sure do hold their own. And only 23" high box cabinets too. Got my minty pair for $9.98 at the GW. Walked in and there they were, sitting on the floor. $9.98.
Anyway: SP-2000 and AS-100 speakers sound fine to me.
Do they sound as good as JBL 4344s? Maybe not that good! haha.
:thmbsp:
