I kept it quiet, but yesterday evening I got them, the CA-F1/BA-F1 combo.
These are fantastic products, and when new, it was reasonably priced. The construction is fenomenal. The preamp, although doesn't look very impressive on the pictures, is really a quality piece. The knobs feel sturdy. The volume knob (my limited English surfaces here, not sure how to better call them; rotary knobs, or volume pot?) is not 'loose' at all. It doesn't have the 'clicks' like on the au-919 series integrated. The tone control pots do have them though. There's a 'tone defeat' push button that's handy, aswell as 'loudness', with pronounced highs and bass to make up for the quiet listening sessions.

The Ba-F1 came with handles plus those things that's put on their rear, so to pose them vertically when you need accessing the bottom plate for repairing. What do you call them?

There's 1 problem though; the preamp makes an occasionally 'hum' that's heard trough the speakers, mostly on the midrange driver.
What can this be?
I noticed a 100/120/220/240V switch inside and it's set to 240V.
The voltage in my country is 230V. I'll see if setting it to 220V will remove the hum.

Otherwise, this preamp is very neutral, and seems to preserve the charachteristics of the power amplifier.
This I noticed hooking it up to my Yamaha B-1 (which I also got recently).

I'm VERY happy with this new combo, and it reaffirms me how Sansui was once the greatest. :)
Yamaha B-1 is a fantastic amplifier too, but look at its price new and compare that to BA-F1.

Nice score indeed!:thmbsp: Were you the highbidder on that ebay.de auction?
Wasn't it Echowars that stated that the ba/ca f1 sounded like a good SS-amp should sound like?

/Erik

Neat score! You're getting quite a collection of nice gear.

Thanks Erik, and no, I wasn't the high bidder on ebay Germany. But how high did that auction go?

It was indeed Echowars who refered to a well-tuned Ba-F1 as the reference solid state amplifier.

I brought up earlier an occasional 'hum' from my pre coming trough the speakers mostly on mid-range, but I think I found out, the problem could be the Ba-F1.

I'll have to be more sure but, does someone by any chance, have any tips, on what it could be caused by, and what I should check.
The amp looks near pristine inside so I didn't clean it.

It's an occasional 'hum' or 'zoom' noise coming from the speakers. Very occasionally, mostly when there's no music on.
The noise relatively loud too, and not tolerable for such equipment. It should be dead quiet or near so.

Neat score! You're getting quite a collection of nice gear.

Thanks Bully.

I'll possibly move to Istanbul this year and probably have less time.
So I buy now for the future as it might be more difficult then to acquire them. And I have the time now too. :)

I took a picture see below

Very pretty.

Yes indeed. One of my all time favorite SS amps.

See below for a close up to 1 of Ba-F1's meters. You can see the 'Sansui' tag on the bottom right corner.
Other equipment with meters I have are Yamaha B-1 and Onkyo M-5575 .

I also have the BA-F1/CA-F1 combo. The only complaint (if I can call it that) is that the CA-F1 is almost unnoticeable next to that big BA-F1. I can't complain about the sound, though! :D

I think those things on the back are called rear stands.

Great looking system! How would you compare the sound of the Sansui to your B-1? Also, if you have the manual, what VFET devices does the B-1 use?

Congratulations there, '15th century' lad. I can imagine you are quite thrilled to have these Sansui models that you just acquired.

I always thought it was interesting that Sansui made the CA-F1 preamp in the form of a rack mount sized shape, especially in the late 70's era when big & heavy hi fi units were still in vogue. Though I imagine what the CA-F1 lacks in height, it makes up for in depth (front-to-back size), yes? :)

I am curious about the 2 outputs on the CA-F1 - there isnt a selector switch whereby you can select both A & B outputs simultaneously (1+2, as on Sansui CA-2000), but perhaps its wired internally such that the CA-F1 can drive two amps at the same time, can anyone confirm that?

Anyway... as a special treat for you, (and also because I'm a damn nice guy), I am sharing a little something that comes from a 1980 hi fi magazine which I think you'll be interested to see (the CA-F1 was also reviewed, and maybe I'll post that as well next time-> that is, if enough people make it known to me that they are interested to see it and also: bestow lavish praise upon me to motivate me to scan it :)

B/F

Not sure if you can read it OK (text size big enough) on your computer monitor, but here's the other two pages:

last page:

I also have the BA-F1/CA-F1 combo. The only complaint (if I can call it that) is that the CA-F1 is almost unnoticeable next to that big BA-F1. I can't complain about the sound, though! :D

I think those things on the back are called rear stands.

Thanks Grumpy. Rear stands, logically :rolleyes:

Have you ever opened your ca-F1? It has large electronic boards hiding all the components so you can't see the transformer. Because it's a sealed design it looked still like new inside. There's the same voltave switch like the au-919 inside too.

By the way, back in 1980, when I had pimples on my 16 year old face and braces on my teeth, there were still black-and-white photos in hi fi magazines, as was the case with the BA-F1 :)

B/F

Great looking system! How would you compare the sound of the Sansui to your B-1? Also, if you have the manual, what VFET devices does the B-1 use?

That's an interesting comparison as the Yammie is a totally different design. Taking a glance inside the lid only confirms that.
It has 3 transformers on the front which are totally sealed and you cannot see, similar to BA-5000. This is called a 'transformer coupled design' I think. The BA-5000 at least, is such a design.

I don't have the manual but when I'll get it I'll take a look and tell you. :)
I found the following site has a nice page devoted to the B-1:
http://www.thevintageknob.org/VFET/B1/B1.html

By the way, back in 1980, when I had pimples on my 16 year old face and braces on my teeth, there were still black-and-white photos in hi fi magazines, as was the case with the BA-F1 :)

B/F

Thanks alot B/F. I'll read that after I replied all the posts!

1420- you are still awake??!! What time is it in Belgium?, shouldnt you be asleep? Isnt it like 5:30am by you? :)

B/F

Great looking system! How would you compare the sound of the Sansui to your B-1? Also, if you have the manual, what VFET devices does the B-1 use?

Because I gave the Yamaha to my dad I'll have to take my Sansui over there and test them on the same system.
The Yamaha completely blew the Onkyo M series power amp out of the water (and its not a toy either, its a serous amp), it just doesn't compare. It didn't blow my Sansui out of anywhere :D BUT when I first heard the Yamaha with the CD-X701i cd player connected to it directly, I was very impressed. The sound was so good I got worried a preamp would tone it done. The volume controls on the Yammie only allow you to listen loudly so I really needed one. The tried my father's Harman Kardon Signature 2.6 or so, pre, which totally toned the yammie down :(. It took all the life out of it. The Signature pre is designed for multi channel but has analog stereo capability and supports dual transformers for each channel.
It's when I connected the CA-F1 preamp that I realised how neutral it is!! Thearically it shouldn't sound as flat as when you connect a source directly to the amp but I didn't hear any noticeable decreased sound quality.

I didn't tell you much here on the difference between Yamaha B-1 and Sansui. But just let it known for now that the Yammie has a very detailed, flat, dynamic sound.
When I find out more, I'll post it. I have to say though, I've never owned an amp so weighty as the B-1, rivalling my au-x1111. (especially with the controller amp). The case just where the transformers are located is just impressive! You can kick it and won't hear any hollow sound. Like its made from stone.

1420- you are still awake??!! What time is it in Belgium?, shouldnt you be asleep? Isnt it like 5:30am by you? :)

B/F

5:30 exactly. I just woke up man. Can't a brother wake up in peace anymore?? :-)

Congratulations there, '15th century' lad. I can imagine you are quite thrilled to have these Sansui models that you just acquired.

I always thought it was interesting that Sansui made the CA-F1 preamp in the form of a rack mount sized shape, especially in the late 70's era when big & heavy hi fi units were still in vogue. Though I imagine what the CA-F1 lacks in height, it makes up for in depth (front-to-back size), yes? :)

I am curious about the 2 outputs on the CA-F1 - there isnt a selector switch whereby you can select both A & B outputs simultaneously (1+2, as on Sansui CA-2000), but perhaps its wired internally such that the CA-F1 can drive two amps at the same time, can anyone confirm that?

Anyway... as a special treat for you, (and also because I'm a damn nice guy), I am sharing a little something that comes from a 1980 hi fi magazine which I think you'll be interested to see (the CA-F1 was also reviewed, and maybe I'll post that as well next time-> that is, if enough people make it known to me that they are interested to see it and also: bestow lavish praise upon me to motivate me to scan it :)

B/F

B/F, if you check out some of the competition's pre's from that era you'll see they're similarly shaped. I think the big pre's were more in vogue earlier in the 70's but I might be wrong.
Anyway as you might not believe me, here's some concrete examples of end 70's rack mount shaped pre's :) :

1978 Yamaha C-2a
http://page.freett.com/knisi/c-2a.jpg

1977 Ｌｏ-Ｄ　ＨＣＡ-９０００
http://page.freett.com/knisi/hca-9000.jpg

1977 Ｖｉｃｔｏｒ　Ｐ-３０３０
http://page.freett.com/knisi/p-3030.jpg

I'm also curious if the ca-F1 can handle 2 amplifiers at the same time, which would make bi-amping possible.
Still having dual outputs even if not mergable is very handy.
I'll let you know as soon as I know the answer if someone else didn't already.

I surely appreciate the special treat, but if its 'asking for trouble', you don't have to get the mag for me. If you have the mag there with you already you may scan it for me, as I'm sure there's been alot of people waiting for that one. are you all :yes:

Do you usually wake up at 5:30am every morning??? If so, good for you, but for me that is soooo early :yuck: As a matter of fact, I have to go to sleep now, since I have to get up early in the morning too- but not because I want to, I'd love to sleep at that time in the morning, but got to get up and go to work at the job.

B/F

That's an interesting comparison as the Yammie is a totally different design. Taking a glance inside the lid only confirms that.
It has 3 transformers on the front which are totally sealed and you cannot see, similar to BA-5000. This is called a 'transformer coupled design' I think. The BA-5000 at least, is such a design.

I don't have the manual but when I'll get it I'll take a look and tell you. :)
I found the following site has a nice page devoted to the B-1:
http://www.thevintageknob.org/VFET/B1/B1.html

Interesting that the B-1 uses only two pairs of VFET output devices for 150wpc and the B-2 uses two pairs per channel for 100wpc (although they are different device number). Makes one wonder what Yamaha may have learned between the B-1 and the time they built the B-2. If weight/watt is any indication, then the 57 pound 100wpc B-2 is probably the winner. But like you said, the Yamaha VFET is the clearest, cleanest, fastest amp I've ever owned.

And I don't understand how youse guys can lie around in bed wasting your life when they could be listening to their stereo. I'm up at 5 a.m. every morning.

The real comparison however is the listening test, and I too wonder what Yamaha may have learned between the making of the B-1 and B-2. Model B-1 with controller weights a hefty 44 kg (97 Pound) which makes it practically impossible to lift it on your own. But doesn't it tell something of the construction quality, and the components used? e.g. huge mass transformers.
The first time I heard the Yamaha I was like ,'Whaaow'! The most important thing then was to find a preamp that I could afford and that would preserve that quality. It's really a pitty B-1's volume controls don't allow to listen quietly. It's 'off' or LOUD on the minimum setting!!!
Also did you know the B-1 has just 1 output capacitor? (I hope this is what they're called)

...but if in the listening test they turn to have not much difference in sound (or the B-2 sounding better) then the B-2 is indeed better designed as the B-1 was more expensive to make.

I would not say that the B-2 sounds better, as I have not heard the B-1. I did A/B the B-2 against the MX-1000. Was pretty easy to distinguish that the B-2 was better sounding. The B-1 & B-2 are both most intereesting designs. Perhaps the additional VFET devices and whatever is due to the fact that the B-2 is direct-coupled on the output rather than x-former coupled.

sp10, who posts on AK about his B-2, has just done some significant rewiring of same and reports good results. He is in the UK. I may try some of the same.

I recall seeing a Sansui B-1 a while back on Ebay, (I think thats the correct model #) - its looks like a BA-F1 but has balanced xlr connectors which indicates the amp was meant for use in live sound reinforcement applications. Interesting that the model was never mentioned or appeared in any Sansui catalogs (atleast none that I know of). I think it was discussed here on AK when the auction was running.

B/F

I recall seeing a Sansui B-1 a while back on Ebay, (I think thats the correct model #) - its looks like a BA-F1 but has balanced xlr connectors which indicates the amp was meant for use in live sound reinforcement applications. Interesting that the model was never mentioned or appeared in any Sansui catalogs (atleast none that I know of). I think it was discussed here on AK when the auction was running.

B/F


Somekind of professional BA-F1 with xlr inputs you say? Did you by any chance save a picture of one of the auction's pictures?

I am curious about the 2 outputs on the CA-F1 - there isnt a selector switch whereby you can select both A & B outputs simultaneously (1+2, as on Sansui CA-2000), but perhaps its wired internally such that the CA-F1 can drive two amps at the same time, can anyone confirm that?

B/F

I researched this, and this is how it works:

When selector switch set to A or B:

Audio signal goes to the amplifier connected to 'A' or 'B' *only*

When selector switch set to Off :

No signal!

It's unfortunate there's no A+B capability. :(

Not sure if you can read it OK (text size big enough) on your computer monitor, but here's the other two pages:

It could be easier to read but it's ok.
btw my computer monitor is set to 1024X478, making text appear smaller, but I believe doesn't affect scanned text.

Thanks again!

think we can see that ca-f1 review now, thanks for the other one.