Sansui. The Flatest Sounding Solid State?

[Elliot Thompson]

Hello Everyone! :)


I always felt Sansui amplifiers/receivers always sounded flat even
when your tone controls are on volume 11.

Does Sansui offers the flattest sounding solid state amplifiers/receivers in the market?

Elliot

[michael w]

It could be that Sansui designs their tone controls properly, giving only minimal cut or boost, ie. subtle adjustment, instead of the gross adjustment offered by other brands.

The other thing to remember is that even when set to the "zero" position most tone controls are still in circuit and colour the sound.

Some brands have a tone off switch or take the tone controls out of circuit when zeroed.


My main amp doesn't have tone controls but does have 11 LED indicators to show volume.


:D


Regards,

[Pat S.]

Hey Guys,

Based on the few Sansui models I have owned as well as some older reviews I have read, Sansui really knew how to design their tone curcuits. For example, I have an AU-D11II integrated that has excellent tone controls, the best I've ever encountered. As Michael posted, the bass and treble controls are very subtle and natural sounding. When the lows or highs are adjusted, the midrange remains virtually unaltered. This has been confirmed by review specs.

I actually don't ever use these controls, good as they are. I prefer my amp to operate completely "flat". Most Sansui's were designed so that the EQ circuitry remains out of the signal path unless the user depresses the "tone" switch. Pioneers of this vintage also have this feature, although I feel that their tone curcuits are generally inferior to Sansui's. Of course, this observation is only based on a comparasson of the few Pioneer and Sansui models I have owned.

Regards,
Pat

[Elliot Thompson]

Originally posted by Pat S.
Hey Guys,

When the lows or highs are adjusted, the midrange remains virtually unaltered. This has been confirmed by review specs.


Pat


That's very intresting.

You wouldn't happen to know at what frequency the tone controls take effect?

[Pat S.]

Testing...

[Pat S.]

Elliot,

Please ignore my previous post. Earlier, I wasn't able to post a reply, so I wanted to test things out before I typed another one.

Anyway, I only have internet access at work right now and those reviews are at home. I'll try to remember to bring them in so I can relay that info. to you.

Regards,

Pat

[1420-1503]

The high quality 'subtle' tone controls are also present on the Ca-F1 preamp I recently got, aswell as on the mighty AU-919.
Those on the AU-717 are different; in that they effect the sound more aggressively. If you don't really know better, you might think this is a good thing (like I did).
My au-x1111 lacks the classic bass and treble tone-controls. Instead it offers you a push-button to give more 'presence'.

[THOR]

Definetely not, as an owner of a G-7700 and an AU-G77X and a few Pioneer, Kenwood, Technics, and Marantz pieces I can say my Luxman gear sounds the flattest of the bunch. I remember when I first heard a Pioneer receiver I had to look cuz it sounded like the bass was all the way up.

[WhiteSE]

Definetely not, as an owner of a G-7700 and an AU-G77X and a few Pioneer, Kenwood, Technics, and Marantz pieces I can say my Luxman gear sounds the flattest of the bunch. I remember when I first heard a Pioneer receiver I had to look cuz it sounded like the bass was all the way up.


Thats because the Luxmans are thinner... :D

[RocknRoll]

Sansui actually put much thought in the design of the tone controls. They have a patent for the midrange control - This patent is from 1975 and I am pretty sure was used on the 7070-9090DB.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a tone control circuit, and more particularly to a tone control circuit so improved as to prevent high-frequency tones from being affected when middle-frequency tones are controlled.

-SNIP-

As mentioned above, the tone control circuit of this invention has such an arrangement as substantially prevents the input current and feedback current reproducing high-frequency tones from being conducted through the middle-frequency tone-controlling variable resistor, thereby little changing the high-frequency tones when the middle-frequency tone-controlling resistor is controlled

[bully]

I'll float the suggestion that Yamaha gear is very natural, neutral sounding.
I liked the sound of my old G-9700, so I do know what you're talking about.

[BeatleFred]

:smilemad: "Flat-schmatt!" I say. Anyone who has the audacity to have the Loudness button activated when the volume is turned up should have their fetid buttocks spanked.

Such ignorance on the part of any aspiring audio enthusiast should not go unpunished. :whip:

B/F

[BeatleFred]

PS: Pat, long time no hear from! I was wondering how you were doing with the D11 II. I still have mine in the shop, the guy there stills seems to be having a hell of a time trying to fix it. Seems like the D11 II and AU-G's are prone to the flashing protector problemo'. The regular "super feed forward" D11 (w/o the impedance selector switcheroo) doesnt seem to be as touchy.

Regards,

B/F

[asynchronousman]

:smilemad: "Flat-schmatt!" I say. Anyone who has the audacity to have the Loudness button activated when the volume is turned up should have their fetid buttocks spanked.

Such ignorance on the part of any aspiring audio enthusiast should not go unpunished. :whip:

B/F

Well, you seem to have something there, although having seen your listening room on the Internet, I'd figure that. I've got a pair of 3's and a pair of 4 ways now and ZZ Top thumps well alone (that was just the FM).

My buttocks aren't fetid. They don't have much feeling left in 'em anymore though. :worried:

[john_w]

Quote from Elliot:

"You wouldn't happen to know at what frequency the tone controls take effect?"


I think most (if not all) 1970's Sansui integrateds actually have selectable roll-off frequencies for their tone controls. My au-9500 has three roll-off settings for the bass, three for the treble, and even three midrange peak/trough frequency settings. This is the most elaborate tone control I've ever seen on a Sansui - or any amp, for that matter, aside from a full-blown graphic EQ. My other amps have only bass and treble controls; no midrange. And only two frequency roll-off settings for each control.

[hmmmshai_hulud]

My AU-7700 has very elaborate tone controls that can be turned off. It has so many choices that you can not decide exactly what is perfect lol.
As far as flat sound, MARANTZ.

[Robisme]

My AU-7700 has very elaborate tone controls that can be turned off. It has so many choices that you can not decide exactly what is perfect lol.
As far as flat sound, MARANTZ.

Have your Marantz checked out. :yes:
All the Marantz units I have had were very bass heavy.
2270, 2230, 2235b, 2238b.

Sansui is the most uncolored.

Rob

[Eunomians]

Love the tone controls on my 9090. And, well, that glorious Sansui sound, too.

[eradoncic]

That's very intresting.

You wouldn't happen to know at what frequency the tone controls take effect?

AT least for the models after 1987, the tone controls are as follows:
bass: 75Hz and 150Hz +/- 5dB
treble 15kHz, also 5dB

So, it is also clear why the midrange is not affected

Cheers

[onepixel]

I think the tone control in the relative newer models (early 80s on) have a more subtle control. Where as the older models (late 60s - mid 70s) tend to have a more robust control over the tone.

[john_w]

- Edit - I just noticed I responded to this ages ago! I see this is one of those threads that somehow gets ressurected from the long-since-dead.
Oh well, at least what I entered this time has more info.

You wouldn't happen to know at what frequency the tone controls take effect?

On my AU-9500, the affected roll-off/boost frequencies are selectable for each control:

Bass - 150 Hz, 300 Hz, or 600 Hz
Mid - 750 Hz, 1.5 KHz, or 3 KHz
Treble - 2 KHz, 3.5 KHz, or 6 KHz.

On my AU-919, same deal but no mid control and only two selections per control:

Bass - 150 Hz or 300 Hz
Treble - 3 KHz or 6 KHz

The rate of increase or decrease for each is +/- 1 db per increment. Pretty subtle for '70s models. And they don't seem to distort the signal any perceptible amount. From what I've seen (granted, not anywhere near everything) Sansui seems to have been the Master of Tone Controls in the '70s.