AU-D11II sound vs. the earlier Sansui amps

morphcat

morphcat

Member
Rainy Saturday in Austin (thanks - we really need it) so I'm doing some serious listening and just plain loving my AU-D11II. It is extremely "clean" sounding and throws an incredible soundstage - at all volume levels. I'm very curious though how the sound would compare to some of the other Sansui amps - like the AU-919, etc. It seems to my ears that Sansui went to great lengths to make the AU-D11II the type of amp that adds absolutely nothing to the actual sound of whatever you feed into it. Just very clean, clear power. The only negative I have found from this is it is very revealing - poor recordings sound really poor, and good ones sound, well - really, really good.

I read somewhere that the engineers at Sansui actually tried to make their earlier SS amps sound more "tube like" and developed a signature "Sansui sound". So, I'm just real curious if I'm missing something. My AU-317 has what I would describe as a "thicker" more grungy sound - in a good way. My guess is the 717, 919, etc. also add little bit but do it even better.

At some point I'll make the plunge and get one so I can compare myself. But I'm real curious if any of you can add anything to this. Maybe recommend another Sansui integrated that best represents what the AU-D11II is not. Thanks.........
 
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I don't have any experience with your amp, but early examples of the "Sansui Sound" would include AU 555, AU 7900, 5900, AU 999, AU 888, AU 7500, AU 9500.
Receivers, the 7070,8080,9090 or db models, 771, 881, 4000, 5000X,. 2000X.
There are more, I have all these, or have had them.
I would suggest you audition any of the above, with your choice of speakers to see if they are what you seek...Use the music you prefer, some units are better suited to some genres, to my ear there are no better blues programs than those heard on my old AU 999/TU 999 set. Classic rock, and vocals on a BA3000/CA3000 are hard to beat.
Listen to an AU 9500, to me it's the top of the heap for the sound we know as Sansui.
All of this is only one guys opinion, I'm sure many will disagree.
Casey:music:
 
thanks Casey - interesting point about how different types of music might be sound with different amps. My D11 sounds "best" with Jazz. I sat and listened to Tommy by the Who last night and found myself messing with the tone controls and loudness switch quite a bit until I had it dialed right in. Same goes when I listen to blues. Jazz is usually just loudness and tone switch off.

I've been real curious about the AU-9500. Guess I'll be on the hunt......
 
Man -now i"m REALLY curious. I'm new at this, but just had a feeling the D11II was different. Regardless, if you have not had a chance to really listen to one I would highly recommend it. It might not have the "Sansui sound" but it really is fantastic in my opinion. Since taking the plunge last year, I have had a chance to listen to several more "high end" amps (not Sansui) and it is the best I've found for my ears to date. Can't wait to hear some of the other Sansui gear you guys talk about......
 
Amps

morphcat said:
Man -now i"m REALLY curious. I'm new at this, but just had a feeling the D11II was different. Regardless, if you have not had a chance to really listen to one I would highly recommend it. It might not have the "Sansui sound" but it really is fantastic in my opinion. Since taking the plunge last year, I have had a chance to listen to several more "high end" amps (not Sansui) and it is the best I've found for my ears to date. Can't wait to hear some of the other Sansui gear you guys talk about......
Click to expand...

It's out there, waiting.....
C
 
morphcat said:
Man -now i"m REALLY curious. I'm new at this, but just had a feeling the D11II was different. Regardless, if you have not had a chance to really listen to one I would highly recommend it. It might not have the "Sansui sound" but it really is fantastic in my opinion. Since taking the plunge last year, I have had a chance to listen to several more "high end" amps (not Sansui) and it is the best I've found for my ears to date. Can't wait to hear some of the other Sansui gear you guys talk about......
Click to expand...

I was bidding on one on Ebay a few months ago, same seller had a AU 719 listed at the same time; got that one for $200 (no problems noted in the listing). His AU D-11 Mk II went for $213 with a scratchy left channel noted when adjusting the volume. I had read about the many bias and offset adjustments, the copper on the inside, the gold platted RCA jacks, and was ready to take a plunge, but lost it by $5.00 and won the 719 instead. I'm very happy with the 719, but I'm sure the D11 has got to be good, when its all tuned up.

Regards-
 
The AUD11ll may not have the same build quality as some other brick ****house amps of prior vintage, but IMHO, it's the best of anything I own...My collection includes 8 Deluxe, 7, AU719 & 919, 9090 and 9090DB for Sansui....I won't get into my other brands, but to my ears, still beats them all...I'll have it restored some day by one of the good guys here. I've read that it's a tricky amp, but when on spec....well, there ya go...
 
morphcat said:
I'm very curious though how the sound would compare to some of the other Sansui amps - like the AU-919, etc. It seems to my ears that Sansui went to great lengths to make the AU-D11II the type of amp that adds absolutely nothing to the actual sound of whatever you feed into it. Just very clean, clear power.

and

My guess is the 717, 919, etc. also add little bit but do it even better.
Click to expand...
The 717 and 919 are different sounding and although they look very similar are not the same design. With the 919 and G series receivers Sansui changed their signature sound and moved towards a more neutral and cleaner sound. I've never heard an AU D11 II before but I suspect the 919 will sound more like it than a 717. I liked my 919 a lot better than my 717 but I've now moved back to the more traditional Sansui sound with a BA-3000. What I like most about the BA-3000 is the rock solid bass, at least with my speakers. There's a BA-F1 on eBay right now and it's very similar to the amp in an AU-919. Not sure if I'd touch that one but you can check it out anyway.
 
thanks for the feedback guys. I can tell you that the D11II also has extremely tight, solid bass. The thing that really strikes me about this amp is sounds "real". The instruments sound like they should. But like I mentioned in my first post - you get what you put into it. If it is a bad recording - it sounds bad.
Duffinator - were you lucky enough to see those Clash shows at the Palladium????
 
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Bobbyd218 said:
The AUD11ll may not have the same build quality as some other brick ****house amps of prior vintage, but IMHO, it's the best of anything I own...My collection includes 8 Deluxe, 7, AU719 & 919, 9090 and 9090DB for Sansui....I won't get into my other brands, but to my ears, still beats them all...I'll have it restored some day by one of the good guys here. I've read that it's a tricky amp, but when on spec....well, there ya go...
Click to expand...

Now there's the story for you, someone that has both "eras" of the gear under discussion. And some fine examples too!
Casey
 
Reality

morphcat said:
thanks for the feedback guys. I can tell you that the D11II also has extremely tight, solid bass. The thing that really strikes me about this amp is sounds "real". The instruments sound like they should. But like I mentioned in my first post - you get what you put into it. If it is a bad recording - it sounds bad.
Duffinator - were you lucky enough to see those Clash shows at the Palladium????
Click to expand...

Funny, the wife likes Country music, and plays a lot of cassettes etc. She's the primary user of the BA 3000, she had the same comments, she heard things in the music she didn't know was there, and some of her pre-recorded tapes are crap, didn't even notice how bad till she played them in the living room on the Sansui.
Casey
 
AU-D11 II is my best sounding Sansui. I'd love to try it on my Infinity QLS-IIIs but I'm not going to.

The sound is VERY neutral and very clean compared to all other Sansui amps I've had. I started with the 999 moved up to the 719 then snagged the D11, sent it off for a rebuild of the power supply board and tune up.... Mighty fine and still in my listening room.

The older gear that I have has the Sansui sound for sure, a lot different that the D11 II - not necessarily in a bad way just different. BTW there are other Sansui integrated amps with the same design as the D11 II. I listen to LPs mostly and this amp really does reveal the good and the bad. I've got a really good CD player so I've really not heard a crappy sounding CDs yet.

Cheers,

Bob
 
thanks for your take Bob. I listen to a good mix of vinyl, cds, sacds, and DVD-Audios through mine. I am still just blown away everytime I listen - you said it - neutral and clean. I must admit I'm curious about getting the "tune up" you did. If it can sound even better than it already does I would flip.

I just bought a B-2101 amp. It appears to me to have a similar design as the D11II (although I certainly could be wrong). I hope it does. My experiment will be to pair it with a tube pre of some kind to see how it compares.....
 
I've been following this thread with interest. I made my way through an AU-719, AU-819 and AU-919 before settling on an AU-D11 II. I had mine completely recapped- 69 caps!- by quadbob. It beats all the others I have tried- the AU-819 had been gone through by Echowars, so I think that was a fair comparison.

Aside from the fairly cheesy female RCA jacks and lack of a pre-amp out, I like this amp a lot. I also have a B-2102 power amp. I believe morphcat is correct that the B-2101 and almost identical B-2102 are similar in circuit design to the AU-D11 II. It is also my understanding that a long line of subsequent Sansuis shared this basic design, which they called "X-Balanced" after the AU-D11 II. But most of these amps were not exported to the U.S.

A number of these Japan market Sansuis are shown HERE and HERE.
 
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Thanks for the info and links riverrat! So, is it fair to say that while Sansui began to cut cost in terms of build quality in the 80's & early 90's, they did not sacrifice the pursuit of better sound? Even my little AU-317II feels like you could drop it off the roof of the house and it would take it. The D11II, while not cheaply made, doesn't seem quite as strong in terms of build - and I agree with your RCA jack description.

Interesting that the 80's/90's Sansui's that were made specifically for Japan look to be very well constructed - especially the "Vintage" line. BTW - did any of you see the C-2301 pre that sold on *bay over the weekend??? It sold for over $2000! What the heck was that all about???
 
I just tuned mine up a couple weeks ago after I recapped the phono eq board. The tune up of this is really not bad. When I restored mine I put in Bourns multi-turn trim pots and that makes it much easier. Single turn pots would be a chore when setting DC's and bias'.

Now my B-2101 is more of a pain because I think there may be some issues with the service manuals procedure on what to connect where. (I seem to remember posting something on this topic but don't recall exactly...).

The thing, as you mentioned in an earlier post, with the D11II is its extremely strong, tight bass. It really is impressive.
 
morphcat said:
thanks for your take Bob. I listen to a good mix of vinyl, cds, sacds, and DVD-Audios through mine. I am still just blown away everytime I listen - you said it - neutral and clean. I must admit I'm curious about getting the "tune up" you did. If it can sound even better than it already does I would flip.
Click to expand...

hiFi hospital in Erie, PA old School repair shop - specializing in AU-D11II ... no ****.

Tell them what you listen to (LPs etc) and you will be happy .. I am.

My D11 is my top choice for listening pleasure and I've got some pro gear that is also MIGHTY fine. I''m partial to all vintage so I've got my D11 hooked up to some EV-Sentry III speaks .... well the sound is pretty good, even down the street:banana::banana: when I want to turn it up. Yeah u right!

Cheers,
Bob
 
Thanks for the scoop Bob! We have what I hear is a good vintage repair guy here in Austin - but it seems best to send these amps to someone who actually has experience on them. As soon as I hook up my new B-2101 and pre (don't have it yet), I'll send the D11II off for a tune up - might even send the D9 along also....
 
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