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What would be the 'best' Sansui amplifier for sound quality?

I have had some amplifiers in the Sansui brand, about those I feel more musical the AUD-11 of the early 80s. Even the AUD-9 has the same bagde.

The AUD819 (of 1978 or so) is very good and musical too but with a little emphasis in the mid-high frequencies.

The new series AU-Alpha have a different sound, for example I have had the AUalpha607L-extra. For hearing it for some minutes it is OK but I feel it with a emphasis in the high frequencies which are not easily controlable by the tone controls. I sold this amp to a man who are using it in a big place, he needs more high frequency.
 
Great discussion, many good choices, alot of considerations to take into account, for example, AU-X1 is quite an amplifier, but it has issues with instability (oscillation), the D11 II (over-senstive protection circuit, etc), some folks like the early 70's era (AU-9500), others such as myself- the latter 70's... so its not easy to narrow it down, as well as making comparisons between models that can vary in wattage and $ price. My # 1 pick which has it all in terms of Power, Sound, Design, Reliability, etc: Sansui BA-5000.
 
ps: other good choices:

B-2302-C-2302 (if you can afford it, :)

B-2301/C-2301

BA-F1/CA-F1

BA-3000/2000-CA-2000

AU-919/717 (clean that glue!)

AU-11000-a/9900

AU-D11/D9

AU-7900/7700...

G-9000 (33k & 22k)...6000

9090DB..7070

G-9700...7700 (tuner ic chip concern)

Tube: AU-111
 
ausgeflippt said:
I'm a little late to this party, but...
My review at long last of Sansui amps after 5 years of collecting, listening and lurking is too long to post here (2800 words), so I uploaded a pdf to my cat's website at
http://wagthecat.com/suisaga.htm
This method also allows me to tinker with it.
Items discussed: G-9000, CA/BA-3000, CA/BA-F1, AU-11000/(A), AU-919, AU/TU-717, AU-D11 II, AU-555A, TU-9900, TU-666, etc.
Click on "The Sansui Saga" for the text; and on "Central Command" for a photo of the Command Center.
Thanks for everyone's help with this.
Click to expand...

an enjoyable read, thanks for sharing your Sansui experience :thmbsp:
 
I know the thread is old, but I have some interesting information I would like to add.

Just for some background, I've owned my fair of share of Sansui:
5050, G4700, G7000, G8000, G9000, G9000db, G22000, AU9500/TU9500, AU999, AU111, TU717, TU9900, B2301, SR838...have I forgot one?
-->hopefully it gives some contrast to the next comments...

"I love Sansui..." and <yup> I sold them all a while ago. I went to a darker place...I bought a Luxman L503s (new generation) and I found that my love affair just could not match the new Luxman sound...it was elegant, smooth, easy to listen to at any volume with tone flat...Best of all, it was engaging and life-like. Shortly, the great Limited Edition Lux would be bested.

The other month I came across a B2105 Vintage Mos on ebay at 3:30am (don't ask). I did my quick research, I was right, this was the FINAL Mosfet Amplifer for Sansui in 1999 and a rare beast indeed. So, a empty wallet later and the 90 pound masterpiece arrives.

Floored was the best way to describe it. Copper chassis, matched mos-fets, every screw COPPER...buss-bars-->COPPER...the feet, you guessed it --COPPER, but--white leather on the bottom! High end connections, balanced (& fixed inputs), massive MASSIVE transformer, high end caps, Swiss volume control. This amplifier was (most certainly) it would seem what you would have expected for the $5,000 price tag it once owned.

Now for the fun part.

I had no pre-amplifiers left--all sold. What to do? What to do? --(embarrassed but true) I used my headphone jack on my IPAD to run it and I nearly fell off my couch. The sound was stunning, and all through a ?IPAD?

Now it's connect to the pre-out on a new Denon 100 Anniversary Integrated (PA-A100) and running in direct mode to by-pass all the controls and it sounds even better. Did I mention that Denon sounds pretty damm good itself?

The sound is like fine wine and diamonds. I mean, you feel like getting dressed up to put your favorite cd in. It is accurate, but not sterile. It is engaging-quick-but delicate. It is smooth and very easy to listen to. I can say it takes the best of what I found in Sansui before and raised it about 10 notches. To me, it is the ultimate in Sansui...AND, I've owned some of the very best.

The soundstage is big, but not overdone--the little things seem to be bigger & sweeter. The reverb of a guitar, the plinking of the piano's keys, the gentle breath before Dianna Krall starts her next notes. All of this, but NOT too analytical.

It's a, in my opinion, a near perfect blend of everything I've heard--and, I've owned alot of stuff from MAC, Bryston, Parasound...tubes galore, and so on.

I think they did something really well. They made one last attempt to prove that Sansui was a Audio Legacy.

It runs class A, it gets hot. That's the only downside...so, I use a fan to keep it's precious Mos-fets in check.

If you ever find one, buy it! The final mos-fet amps are something else. The power sections on them are the same as the very rare Vintage Integrated (AUX111) from what I understand. Now, the next most difficult thing to do will be to find (one day) it's matching pre-amplifer, the C-2105...good luck with that I say!

Sansui made some great stuff, too bad they are now a thing of the past.

JGP
 
Hello!
As I read your entries on the best Sansui do not understand what is the best?

The most accurate is playing AU-alpha 907DR
The most similar (and appreciated) to the legend AU AU-111 is alpha 907MR (MRX is truncated rule! - She had an American version of the model filtration Inventory KX!))
AU-07 in my opinion is playing unevenly. AU-alpha 907NRA playing too hard and forcefully.

I say this because I listened to all the old models.

Who has not listened to the new alph has no idea of ​​their value!
Bo and where? Old models like even though they have no chance with the new Alpha 907 series! I understand that few could hear the Alpha ...


AU-X1111MOS is nice but it's an old design with similar defects as the AU-alpha 907i!

By far the best are: B2302/C2302, AU-alpha 907limited!

Here is everything:

http://www.audiostereo.pl/klub-milosnikow-sansui_60891.html/page__st__1950#entry2690205

Below I present my Sansui AU-alpha907MR (I have AU-alpha 907DR - japan version)
 

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Thank-you czubsi, it is interesting to learn of that series.

I read elsewhere that after the late 1980's, no high-end Sansui amplifiers were imported in the U.S. This would explain why few here have experience with the models you mention.

The writer on this site considers the 1995 AU-ALPHA 907-MR to have reached the performance level of the 1966 AU-111 tube amp: http://www.sansui.us/issues_AU111vsAL907MR.htm But he was able to make the comparison only because he was fortunate in obtaining a single unit brought to the US for exhibition purposes.
 
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My Sansui AUX911DG and AU-X711

DonQuixote99
AU-alpha 907MR. It was created to prove that you can build a transistor plays as a lamp! 907MR = AU111!
Compare the main filter capacitor in the link and me Sansui alpha-907MR ! (U.S. and Japan model !)
 

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Ah I see, no point in lurking because there won't be anything to see (read).

Nothing to see here...... move along...... move along.....:D
 
rasenthiran said:
I wouldnt waste my time with step down transformers personally, I have a guy who winds transformers, its a very simple process for a competent transformer winding guy to change the primary windings....

kev,

does this means you need to do modification to the orginal sansui transformer?does step down transformer effects sound quality for the case of 100v?
Click to expand...

Step-down transformers we used to use in Europe, (for US equipment/appliances) not only dropped the voltage but regulated the voltage which was not so steady in the 1950s and 1960s in Europe. Post war and all that. They were issued by the housing office (my dad was in the military) and were supposed to protect american refrigerators, washing machines, HIFIs (the big consoles) etc.
 
Hello!

Take into account the time difference between the U.S., Australia and .... Polish. When you write you I sleep ...

Hyperion doubt in my knowledge? Your model for me is only 9 in order and will not change anything that you like him ...

The problem is extensive. With my English will be difficult to explain this ... But I will try.

AU-X1111 MOS Vintage (no AU-X111 Vintage MOS because it is worse))
Alpha and AU-907, AU-907i alpha, alpha AU-907L extra structures are based on the "old scheme" We call it in our "noble" because it is a very large and complex.
From model DR scheme was heavily ukrojony of unnecessary things and improved. It came out in favor of it in terms of sound quality! Added a much better part! To understand what is responsible for the exceptional quality of the Sansui need to know where are the important points! Do you think that this topology. In part, yes. However, the most important quality produce shunts jump! High-quality parts! Reading the forum you all there!AU-X1111 MOS Vintage is the best amp for the "old scheme".

But clearly stands out from the later construction of the alpha 907DR or XR, MR.
Your amplifier Hyperion is much better than the competition because it's a great design but later disappears Sansui brothers. I do not know about that because I do not have a comparison - how many of you people is that compared AU-X1111 MOS AU-alpha to 907 MR? ...

I will try to show what is worse

1) AU-X 1111 MOS Vintage - Old transformer Sansui
Alpha 907 DR / XR / MR - Tamura transformer! (I do not know a better design transformer ...)

2) AU-X 1111 MOS Vintage - the main filtration old brown HITACON
Alpha 907 DR / XR / MR - much better NICHICON Silmic Super Gold + Gold

3) AU-X 1111 MOS Vintage - Nippon capacitors AWF (old and unstable)
Alpha 907 DR / XR / MR - Silmic Elna, Elna Silmic Gold, Elna Silmic Alpha Gold - excellent conditioning and to that of high-end shunts SA and polystyrene!
 
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4) AU-X 1111 MOS Vintage - only 16 pieces RIKEN RMG and 7 polypropylene u-con
Alpha 907 DR / XR / MR - more than 80 pieces of RMG RIKEN and metallic! 36 Polypropylene u-con!

5) AU-X 1111 MOS Vintage - MOSFET transistor Toschiba (good but old transistors - today you can get the better)
Alpha 907 DR / XR / MR - excellent SANKEN LAPT 2 on copper plate - you will not find them anywhere except Sansui! 100% non-magnetic construction!

Differences to the detriment of the AU-X1111 MOS Vintage is much more, but it makes no sense to write a book here. It is understandable that defend your ...

Naming AU-X1111 MOS Vintage Sansui king is the same as saying that the dinosaurs went straight :-)

Compared to the AU-alpha 907DR is ... Emperor! AU-X1111 MOS Vintage game by a blanket as compared to the AU-alpha 907DR/KX, XR, MR, NRA!
You will understand when they listen to it!

I do not think you know (because why?) AU-X 1111 = B2102 MOS Vintage and pre section!

I hope I drew you a little about it.

Always valued Audiokarma entries for culture forum members. The only reason I decided to share with us what we know already! By lack of access to alpha 907 models until now, most know the real value of Sansui!
We have a large proportion of the your!

I greet colleagues
 
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