Vintage Sansui Amplifiers

[Kushanava]

Hi Friends,
I have a person who is ready to sale sansui amps.
1.AU11000
2.AUG99X
Each of them is around 20-22k

He says he has every thing original (except for view changes in resistor that he replaced due to aging) and usually imports these amps from hyderabad.
I would like to understand the Sound signature (soundstage,detailing , warm or bright) of the amps.I have heard that the sansui amps can blow away any recent amps (double the prices).
I am planning to pair them with Epos m12i.Is there a way I can judge the authenticity of the amps.Is it worth getting these amps? If someone has owned these amps , I would like to know their experience...

 

[hemantwaghe]

Too expensive --and what is register ??

 

[mpw]

register nahin hemant bhai... resistor !! ( i think ).

Kushanava.. bhai.. how do you import from Hyderabad man ?

;-))

have you bought the speakers ??

hemantwaghe has good experience here to answer you.

mpw

 

[Kushanava]

Too expensive --and what is register ??

Sorry!!resistor ....
Can you let me know the expected price ?...Probably I can negotiate with the price ..but I am more concerned about the Item ..Anyway if you can let me know the expected price ...it will help me a lot ...

 

[Kushanava]

register nahin hemant bhai... resistor !! ( i think ).

Kushanava.. bhai.. how do you import from Hyderabad man ?

;-))

have you bought the speakers ??

hemantwaghe has good experience here to answer you.

mpw

I am pretty much freezed on Epos ..but I need the right amp for it..I loved sugden ..but it is too expensive ..

 

[ranjeetrain]

Generally, Sansui amps sound great. Don't expect them to be up there with modern amps, but usually they sound very nice, provided you find one with original parts (not much dated). Till 80s Sansui were one of the leaders (at least among Japanese manufacturers) in the hifi industry.

Even a few month ago, I heard a mini component system playing on the shelf of a electronic retain chain, which rendered everything pale in comparison (from likes of Sony/Samsung/LG/Philips) in terms of musicality.

 

[avidyarthy]

This ad was there same months ago in your city .... why not try speak to this gent about more details ....
SANSUI AU11000 - Kolkata - Electronics - Kankurgachhi

Partial list of the Sansui amps
SANSUI Integrated Amplifier

From whatever little I know of their history, Sansui made their BEST amps during 1979-81 ... after which the quality deteriorated.

The BEST amps in the dec order were AU-X1, AU D907 (919), AU D707 (719) ...

 

[Kushanava]

This ad was there same months ago in your city .... why not try speak to this gent about more details ....
SANSUI AU11000 - Kolkata - Electronics - Kankurgachhi

Partial list of the Sansui amps
SANSUI Integrated Amplifier

From whatever little I know of their history, Sansui made their BEST amps during 1979-81 ... after which the quality deteriorated.

The BEST amps in the dec order were AU-X1, AU D907 (919), AU D707 (719) ...

Thanks a lot ..I called up the person before creating this thread ..and it was the same person that i have referred to in the thread ..I would be definitely meeting this man but should be well prepared ..I have heard a lot of good things about the au9500 model ..they sounded similar to tubes ..but dont have any idea on these amps ..the reviews of augx99 is so so ..but au11000 doesn't have much detailed review..I like a wide soundstge and detailed but warm sound ...

 

[Kushanava]

Waiting for Comments !!!:indifferent14:

 

[corElement]

take your epos there and test it on them, I say get the au 11000 if all the controls and everything are in working order and there is balanced stable output from both channels.

One sony es amp I repaired had the right channel slightly less dynamic than the left.

 

[bhaskarcan]

Thanks a lot ..I called up the person before creating this thread ..and it was the same person that i have referred to in the thread ..I would be definitely meeting this man but should be well prepared ..I have heard a lot of good things about the au9500 model ..they sounded similar to tubes ..but dont have any idea on these amps ..the reviews of augx99 is so so ..but au11000 doesn't have much detailed review..I like a wide soundstge and detailed but warm sound ...

Hi Kushanava,

Did you visit/audition the amps? what is your experience/tech know-how regarding vintage amps? Is this the person from Bagmari named some Mr. Tapas? If so, one word of advice "keep away". You are heading for trouble. AFAIK he's been trying to sell those pieces for last two years. If you're really interested about them get your tech to check them first thoroughly. Check the sound from each channel separately. Check the functions of all the switches. I think you'll get a fair idea of the their condition.

Best regards,

Bhaskar

 

[Kushanava]

Hi Kushanava,

Did you visit/audition the amps? what is your experience/tech know-how regarding vintage amps? Is this the person from Bagmari named some Mr. Tapas? If so, one word of advice "keep away". You are heading for trouble. AFAIK he's been trying to sell those pieces for last two years. If you're really interested about them get your tech to check them first thoroughly. Check the sound from each channel separately. Check the functions of all the switches. I think you'll get a fair idea of the their condition.

Best regards,

Bhaskar

yep!!its the same person.did u meet him?if so what was ur experience..i am plaaning tp take fm tirthankar with me.

 

[bhaskarcan]

yep!!its the same person.did u meet him?if so what was ur experience..i am plaaning tp take fm tirthankar with me.

Yes, been there, seen them. That's why I wrote "keep away". No harm making a trip to his house. He has got lots of vintage staff to show off. But I doubt if he wants to sell the good working ones(i.e. his Au-9500). I somehow met the original owner of the Au-G99x. It was a faulty set. He couldn't repair it. So he exchanged that 99x with another similarly faulty Au-9500 from Mr. Tapas(of course without knowing the condition of the set). Once he realized that this 9500 is also in same condition as the G99x, he was frantically trying to sell it off at a premium of 22k on OLX/Quikr. Basically all these guys are taking advantage of the present vintage Sansui rush and trying to con people by selling their faulty sets at much high price. So be careful. Apart from his Au-11000 & Au-9500(both these are sitting on his rack) all the sets are bad IMO. The Au11000 he is trying to sell is a second set which, I think, he has to bring from someone else.

As per me, pls don't waste your money on those Sansui's where may be only the cabinet is frm Sansui. Better take part in Pass F5 Turbo group buy and get an excellent modern amp at a lesser price(plus the satisfaction of DIY). And FYI I already have a very good Sansui(Au-719) in my main system & I have compared it side by side with Pass F5 amp(built by FM Kroyin).

So here are the facts & now it's your decision.

Regards,

Bhaskar

P.S. You can also check this thread http://www.hifivision.com/diy/29968-simple-symmetrical-amplifier-andrej-lackner.html#post418493. OP Shaan is from Kolkata, you may seek his advice on this amp directly.

 

[avidyarthy]

If time and your inclination permits, you can also put in an email to Mr. Maity ... [email protected] . He had put in aa Ad in olx some 6-8 months ago wherein he was interested to sell off his complete audio system which included a pair of Sony FS and Sansui AU9900. The Sansui was located at Barrackpore.

I don't have his telephone no. and remember him answering to the email I had sent him.

 

[Kushanava]

Good News!!! got a friend who is in Japan and is willing to get me an amplifier..he is returning next month ..so i dont have much time in hand.

Can any one help me on which stores are there in Japan (Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa, Japan) where he can get used Sansui ...

I am looking for an integrated amp under 30K ...which sansui models should I target ??

Is there any other model that can I ask him to look for..?

 

[koushik]

Hi Kusanava, why not get a Quad 306 like the one you listened to at Tirtha's place?

Why not buy your Epos and audition it at his place before you decide on Sansui?

 

[Kushanava]

Hi Kusanava, why not get a Quad 306 like the one you listened to at Tirtha's place?

Why not buy your Epos and audition it at his place before you decide on Sansui?

Hi Koushik,
Yes.I had a wonderful time listening to Tirthankar's hifi ( high five) set up last Friday..which actually have driven me towards the quad ...I am still confused between speakers or amps first ??

I am preferring Epos Epic 2 over M12i (because of soft dome twit),but the model is not available in SKS ..So i don't have the speakers ..I am looking for a powerful amp as the epic 2 has 4 ohms nominal impedance.Not sure if Quad 306 will be able to drive them ..may be Sansui can ...I am still searching for actual reviews with quad & epos epic 2 combination but none is existing in any of the forums..

It seems that you are also looking/waiting for your speakers to match with Quad 306 ...have you made a decision on the speakers?If you are still in a dilemma like me then we can plan for some demos together ..

 

[koushik]

Quad 306 has enough juice to drive even M805. They are top of the line product with high current output. Quad is very conservatively rated at 50w per ch. What is the sensitivity of the speaker you have selected?

In general first we select the speakers and then go for matching amp. But in case of us, we were very sure of the amp so we bought it first.

Although I have already bought B&W 602-S2 but I am more than interested to accompany you to the audition. I am always ready if I don't have any prior engagement. Let me know when you are planning.

 

[Kushanava]

Quad 306 has enough juice to drive even M805. They are top of the line product with high current output. Quad is very conservatively rated at 50w per ch. What is the sensitivity of the speaker you have selected?

In general first we select the speakers and then go for matching amp. But in case of us, we were very sure of the amp so we bought it first.

Although I have already bought B&W 602-S2 but I am more than interested to accompany you to the audition. I am always ready if I don't have any prior engagement. Let me know when you are planning.

Probably,my next demo might be on December, if SKS can get the Epos EPIC 2 in by then ..I would also listen to the B&W once more at tirtha's place before taking the final decision... Till now my list is

1. Epos epic 2 [specially for the soft dome replacement & 7' inch driver]
2.B&W (may be matrix 805 ..though I am little concerned on the <6 inch driver ..not sure if it can give enough ooh)

By the way , did you listen to the Epos with Quad ?If so , what are your observations?

The Epos EPIC 2 specs ..
Impedance 4 Ohm nominal
Sensitivity 90dB / 2.83V@1m

Epic 2 Bookshelf Loudspeaker | Epos Acoustics

 

[koushik]

2.B&W (may be matrix 805 ..though I am little concerned on the <6 inch driver ..not sure if it can give enough ooh)

By the way , did you listen to the Epos with Quad ?If so , what are your observations?

The Epos EPIC 2 specs ..
Impedance 4 Ohm nominal
Sensitivity 90dB / 2.83V@1m

Epic 2 Bookshelf Loudspeaker | Epos Acoustics

B&W Matrix 805
Not sure how much you know about this speakers or ever heard it or not. It is one of the best speakers ever made. The spec says-
2 dB 45 Hz-20 kHz with the BAF.
45Hz @2 dB measured in anechoic chamber will definitely go some notch below that and believe me that is enough of the low frequencies information you will need from an audio file. But with Matrix 805 there is hell lot of things that needs to be perfected - like the stands, the speaker cables and ICs etc.
The Matrix 805 is 6.5" driver NOT <6
-------

The Epos EPIC 2
90 dB is enough sensitive speaker and can easily be driven by any amp with clean 20W or more, leave Quad 306. It will drive it like crazy hyeah:
I haven't listened to Epos but Tirtha auditioned it (with other amp, not quad) and he liked it to great extend. We share very similar taste of sound signature, so I think it might impress me too.