SANSUI XR-Q11 - top of the line model

[chanwengchoy]

SANSUI XR-Q11 - top of the line model
Hi,

Does anyone come across the XR-Q11? Comments ?
This model has a price tag of 680USD which is higher
than the popular Sansui SR-929 - 580USD. :dunno:

Albert Chan

[BeatleFred]

Hi Albert:

Thanks for posting- thats a nice TT. The computerized track selection feature it has reminds me of the BSR Accutrac turntable which were made in that same time period. (A distinctive product a little ahead of its time) A few Accutrac turntables appear on Ebay from time to time- I could be tempted to get one of those! (Especially if it includes that cool robot head shaped remote device) Ive mainly focused my attention on Sansui amps, receivers, and tuners. Not as much on some of their other products like turntables. But now that you have brought attention to this nice model, I'll be sure and make note of it when I look thru my collection of audio mag backissues. For now, I do see that in Directory Issue of Audio magazine from October 1979, the XR-Q9 is listed at $500 and SR-929 at $530. In the Oct 80 issue, the XR-Q11 is listed at $650 followed by the XR-Q9, FR-Q5, FR-D4, FR-D3 and P-50.

A 1981 Buyers Guide I have has this to say about the XR-Q11 in a mini-review:

"The top of Sansui's line features computerized, programmable control of the tonearm plus some of the best wow & flutter figures we've seen. Front panel switches let you punch up a sequence of selections: 3-1-4-2-7 or whatever order you wish. The tonearm then plays the tracks on the record in the order youve selected. Unlike such units of the past, the XR-Q11 has a wealth of basic engineering built into it, too. A dual -head magnetic sensing system reads and corrects speeds with an accuracy five times greater than conventional systems according to Sansui. This in part explains the 0.015% wow & flutter spec and takes advantage of Sansui's Optimum Pivot Point technology which suspends the arm at the point where its least likely to transfer vibrations. A high density base provides still further protection against feedback through the arm. This is one terrific product, especially if the programmable feature turns you on."

Regards, B/F.

[car67]

Hi Albert,

Long time no hear! I don't know anything about the XRQ11 but it does look nice. Prefer manual tt's myself - less things to go wrong :).
Do you still have the MA-7 set? I still haven't found one yet.

Been really busy with work but hope to see more of you and Fred here.

cheers
Jack

[chanwengchoy]

Jack,

Nice to hear from you here. By the way, my MA-7 has been sold to USA off Ebay. Another piece seen on Ebay was priced at 350USD recently. Hope you will find one soon.

You finally bought Sansui GX-5II audio rack on ebay. Did you encounter problem with the transport ?

Cheers :p:

[BeatleFred]

Hi Jack:

If you're looking for an MA-7, I'd suggest making contributions to a dedicated Savings fund for it:) Very few of them are ever seen for sale Online, so any that might turn up, say on Ebay, you can be sure there will be bidders and the price will quickly consume what you have in that Savings fund for it. Its a nice unit and unique, like the AX-7 is, but for the pricetag they go for, the MA-7 is not an essential piece to have in a hi fi system. I'd snag one if I could and the price was reasonble but I think they are bit over-the-top in the Price dept. I guess its their rarity that adds to the Price. Fortunately, the AX-7 is much more reasonable in cost, and THAT device definitely is a handy unit to have in simplifying the interconnections in a hi fi sytem setup.

As for Racks: The GX-77 I have is much more solidly built than the other I have, or rather had, the GX-60. The GX-60 is smaller and came out a few years later in the 80's. For whatever reason, that unit just didnt fit together very solidly when I assembled it- I'd often have to push the side panels inward because the screws would start sticking out. Not a big deal because it was very inexpensive to buy,and I just used it mainly for storing various things. Then recently, I decided to move it and set it up for my senior-citizen father to use so that he could listen to a little music at times. Doesnt have wheels on the bottom, so when I had to move it to get at some extension cords behind it, I could feel the screws werent grabbing onto the side shelves that strongly and they felt a bit flimsy. But I thought being my father's stuff was just very basic and light, it woudl be ok. Well, all it took was for the cat to jump on it and the whole rack right there and then just totally collapsed! :) I heard a loud crash upstairs which alarmed me, so I ran up there to see what happened. And I saw the whole rack just completely in a shambles. I'm sure it gave my cat quite a scare too! :)

Regards, B/F.

[car67]

If you're looking for an MA-7, I'd suggest making contributions to a dedicated Savings fund for it

So true Fred! I saw what Albert paid for his and choked a bit on my cornflakes! Obviously valued for their rarity and not so much for what they do to the sound of your hifi system. My attitude is a bit like yours, if I ever see one for a reasonable price I'd like it as a toy.

Albert, the rack was the older GX-5 but in mint condition with all the spare screws and other pieces still in original wrapping. Sniped for about US$45 which was a very pleasant surprise. Instead of paying over $300 air freight I got the seller to pack in three separate boxes and send using USPS surface, which was about half the cost from memory. Took a while but it all got here safely!
To me I ended up paying what I figure to be close to FOB price in US so I'm pretty happy.

Fred, what a shock about the GX-60. Guess the build quality on racks was on the decline too. I'm sure the cat had that "I wasn't me" look on his face! :) Is the GX-77 similiar to the GX-7? That's a good sized rack and very robust.

cheers

[Matt Lafayette]

Hi Albert:
I can't speak for the XRQ11 but I own a Sansui SR2050C TT which is considerably older than the XR, but I love the thing! I've had it for about a year,(Picked it up at a yard sale for $15 Canadian) and it's been bullet proof. All I added was a cart and it's never acted up since.
Gotta love Sansui!
Matt

[grumpy]

Hey Matt

Looks like you added some more marantz to your system there to. What is it a 5010 or 5020.

Grumpy

[Matt Lafayette]

That my friend is a 5020, It's actually the second Vintage piece I ever bought, (five bucks at a yard sale!) The systems dialed in for now with The 5020,
A 2238 reciever
The Sansui SR2050C TT
And two AuraAudio MM1000 speakers
Thanks for noticing.
Cheers
Matt

[BeatleFred]

Hi Jack- The extra 7 was a typo, meant to say the GX-7 is what I have. In the photo its right next to the rightside AU-X1, by the Ren 90 speaker. The stuff inside is not currently being used- just not enough room to use it at the present time. To try and use it would be a major effort because I'd have to break my back trying to get in that area and hook up speaker wires, interconnect cables etc... The most useful thing that Rack is doing for me now is that it serves as placeholder to have the Teac X-300R machine. (based on the 2 photos you saw of my system) There isnt a single inch of space left to put anything on that desk, so luckily the rack to the right of the desk is only just a litle higher in height than the desk is to keep things even, so I am able to use the X-300R and have just enough space so that my view of it isnt obstructed by the right Ren 90 speaker. I had wanted to use the top spot on the GX-7 to put my Technics SL-D2 TT on it, and get that unit in service again but- then where does the X-300R go? (Believe me I am really overloaded here in this basement) I decided to use the X-300R instead and the TT I'll just have to take out and use only for specific times that I may need it - which is probably to transfer some things I have on Vinyl onto cd.

As for the other rack- well, I am definitely not a mechanical guy. Very lame with tools. But still, putting the rack together wasnt that difficult, why it was so flimsy I dunno, maybe it was a little worn from the use by previous owner. I could sense it wasnt that sturdy as I was putting it together.

Regards, B/F.

[car67]

Hi Fred,

I take it the GX-7 is also very sturdy, like the GX-5. Makes me think that these two are the Sansui racks worth having. I've seen some of the later models here and they are nowhere near as solid. Never saw the GX-5 or 7.

I had my doubts about whether the GX-5 would hold the weight of all the gear I stacked onto it but hey, no problem. :)
The rack mounting system is pretty impressive as well as you can mount unit of ay height as long as they are the standard width and you still have the special mounting screws.

cheers

Jack