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Wow - Sansui AU-717

btol

btol

Well-Known Member
Hi There,

So I picked up a Sansui AU-717 for $230 today. Met the seller in front of my office building at the end of the day and lugged the beast back on public transportation across the Bay Bridge from SF to Oakland. I have read all the great reviews and all I can say is that I'm not disappointed.

Note, all of the following is IMO.

I have a pair of Klipsch Forte I's with the ALK crossover mod and have been listening to a Heathkit AA-32 tube integrated for the past year. I find that the Sansui is nearly as warm but I'm really enjoying the cleaner and more neutral flavor. Detail is definitely there and it's got the 3 dimensionality thing going on, although, it's just a little less "out in the room."

It does alot of things I'm not used to hearing; having come from low-level vintage Marantz and Pioneer receivers and then the Heathkit. There's alot of impact. It's bass is weightier and punchier. It's the first time I've noticed the music as sounding fast. Never experienced that before.

It's also more power than I'll ever need with the Forte's. The volume is at 5 clicks right now and I have the Squeezebox Classic running MOG at 86% volume. It's been great listening while I recuperated from carrying this thing across the bay.

Some things I've listented to so far on SB Classic/MOG:

Bill Withers, Menagerie
Aaron Neville, Hercules
Amadou & Mariam, Folila
Black Prairie, A Tear in the Eye Is a Wound in the Heart
Bombino, Nomad

What I've listened to on vinyl through the phono section (sounds excellent and just as satisfying as the Heathkit with a Yaqin MS-22B phono pre):

Cat Power, the Greatest

Here's some pics of the AU-717 in my setup. Looks awkwardly big to me right now cuz the Heathkit was tiny but I'm sure I'll be OK. I am REALLY happy with this thing and excited to get it checked out/fixed up down the road.
 

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I had a similar combo for several months, AU-717 with Klipsch Heresy II speakers. It sounded great, but I found the Klipsch speakers a little bright with that amp - my ears were fatigued quickly, so I sold the speakers and kept the amp for another few years with a variety of speakers that all sounded very good. You are obviously vintage-minded, so you might try a few other pairs of speakers to compare.
 
Junknewbian said:
I had a similar combo for several months, AU-717 with Klipsch Heresy II speakers. It sounded great, but I found the Klipsch speakers a little bright with that amp - my ears were fatigued quickly, so I sold the speakers and kept the amp for another few years with a variety of speakers that all sounded very good. You are obviously vintage-minded, so you might try a few other pairs of speakers to compare.
Click to expand...

This sounds almost exactly like my experience with an AU-717 and a pair of Forte 2's. I've since moved on from both but I have a Sansui AU-X701 now that serves for bedroom duty and is everything the 717 was and more.
 
I think that's where the ALK xo's have come in huge for me. They smooth out the shrillness that some find with vintage Klipsch. I found them to be a real big upgrade soundwise. At first, I missed that forwardness/brightness/whatever but I now find my Forte's to be more detailed, textured, and non-fatiguing. No affiliation here, but definitely worth checking out Al's xo's if a vintage Klipsch fan.
 
The AU-717 is bad ass, Congrats!!! here's hoping your backs OK after lugging that beast on the BART.
 
Thanks Dswankey. I'm pretty happy wih the unit. Actually took it on a transbay bus over the bridge because it brings me closer to my apartment than BART but I like your Bay Area transit knowledge!

Junknewbian, as far as new speakers, it's very tempting now that I have the wattage to explore beyond highly efficient speakers. I was actually thinking about Boston Acoustic A150's but I'm committed to my modded Forte's. Really like the sound of them plus I really shouldn't have spent the $230 for this amp anyway. Always an option for down the road, though I think my next cash outlay will be to get the AU-717 gone over and recapped.

Did more listening last night and continue to be impresed. Stayed up way too late but it was worth it.
 
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btol said:
Thanks Dswankey. I'm pretty happy wih the unit. Actually took it on a transbay bus over the bridge because it brings me closer to my apartment than BART but I like your Bay Area transit knowledge!
Click to expand...

I used to live in Piedmont, thus my knowledge. PM me with your email addy and I can send you some manuals, instructions etc; via pdf if you're interested.

Did you pop her open yet? if not you should take a peek the build quality is sweet.
 
Great buy, btw, glad you're happy with it. After restoration it should be even more reliable and nice-sounding.

Was this the one on CL that had the rack handles? I thought it might have been since that CL ad is now down, but your pics don't show the rack handles, so just curious.
 
Thanks, cap! You're welcome over for a listen if the mood ever strikes you. You're right that this isn't the one from CL.
That one appeared to be in rougher shape with the Sansui emblem having fallen off among other things. Plus, seller was firm on $250. The one I got was listed on the 'bay, with bidding starting at $270. Listing closed without any bidders so when I saw the unit was in Redwood City, I PMed the seller with anoffer of $230.
 
Nice! Thanks. I see vintage gear on CL in Oakland area from time to time. If I get inspired to buy something and make the drive up there, maybe I'll see if you're around at the time.

Glad you're enjoying the 717. I have 2 Sansuis (receivers) and like them both!
 
Nice, Dswankey. I live by the Grand Lake Theater. Are you still in the Bay Area?

Haven't opened her yet...and almost don't want to bother. It was super clean when I got it. Guy apparently worked for Dolby so he knows his audio and seems to have taken care of his stuff. He bought a fancy schmancy AVR so he just wasn't using the Sui any more. But I do find the idea of taking a look inside appealing just so I can geek out on the beefy internals.

Oh, PM coming.
 
btol said:
Nice, Dswankey. I live by the Grand Lake Theater. Are you still in the Bay Area?
Click to expand...

That was many years ago, I live out east now

btol said:
Haven't opened her yet...and almost don't want to bother. But I do find the idea of taking a look inside appealing just so I can geek out on the beefy internals.
Click to expand...

Def take a look under the hood you won't be disappointed.
 
Another evening with the AU 717 and modded Fortes. Didn't have a chance to look inside the unit but I am loving this thing. I'd call it a really satisfying listening experience except for the fact that instead of being satisfied, I keep wanting more! Is it 5 o'clock yet?
 
just wait till you get to the re-cap....she opens right up. May i suggest panasonic fc and fm caps, they are my go too caps on all repairs and reso jobs. The sansui will more than likely need a couple resistors due to glue of death eating away at them but thats a easy repair. These are fantastic units and easy to maintain/service.
 
That's what I was hoping to hear! How much would you say the parts would run me for a complete recap and whatever else you think should be done to a unit this old?
 
btol said:
That's what I was hoping to hear! How much would you say the parts would run me for a complete recap and whatever else you think should be done to a unit this old?
Click to expand...

Off the top of my head, the following should be done for any AU-717 (I'm sure I will forget something!)


All electrolytic capacitors (including the 4 x filter caps if this amp is a 'keeper')
VD1212 diodes replaced with 2 x series'd 1N4148 diodes
All fuse resistors replaced
All trimpots replaced with Bourns equivalents
All transistors reseated with fresh thermal paste
All controls cleaned and lubricated, especially the pesky connected/separated switch on the rear panel.

You can go further with a new relay and relay driver transistor, and new diodes and transistors here and there too.

The 4 x filter caps definitely bump up the parts cost (eg. you're looking at $100 for 4 x 15000uf 63V Nichicon Gold Tunes from partsconnexion). The rest of the parts should be no more than $50.
 
Hey, thanks for that info Pete. That's helpful. Won't be doing the work myself but gives me an idea of how much I'll need to spend excluding the tech's fees. Time to start saving up!

Thanks for the complement ranf. I see you're in Santa Cruz. That reminds me of another one of my audio adventures. Drove down to SC and back during rush hour one evening to pick up the Fortes that I'm now using. Just like lugging the AU 717 home on the bus, a big PIA but so worth it - esp at the price I paid for the Fortes.
 
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