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Sansui... the best japanese made !

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DVjorge

DVjorge

Active Member
Hi guys,
I don't know what was the Sansui's secret but is true they were the best japanese amplifiers and receivers ever made before 1985. There was nothing that compare to a Sansui at that time. In fact, rich japaneses only wanted Lexus and Sansui systems. It was the Hi-end audio from those times without doubt, better than Luxman, Marantz, Pioneer, and all the competitors. But , why if an amplifier doesn't have any hidden thing, the Sansui were sweetest than any other ?? I have read many threads about Sansui against McIntosch where many people prefer the Sansui sound. I mean people that have owned both brands and several units of each one.
Jorge.
 
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Seems to me that most Japanese Mfgs made some good stuff during those years. I sure would not limit myself to Sansui.
 
SSSHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! Here's the secret. TRANSFORMERS! Sansui started out as a manufacturer of transformers after the 2nd World War. And currently there is a group of former Sansui engineers running/working @ Hashimoto Electric in Japan. They have the intelectual property from the old Sansui Co. And THEY make damned good Transformers. Expensive too!

Larry
 
Have you found any other old unit to sound better than you 9090 receiver or AU-717 ??
If so, please, let me know which ??
I haven't found anything even close to them.
Jorge.
 
I have owned both, Luxman and Accuphase, during my 35 years in this hobby. Neither of them have sounded as good as the Sansui I have owned. I sold my Accuphase E-202 years ago because it doesn't sound as good as my AU-517.
 
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I have used Paradigm Reference Series, Monitor Audio Silver Series, B&W DM series, Boston Acoustic, Epos, Energy, Tannoy, Mission, Kef, Martin Logan, and some others. I buy and sell audio products. My preferred matching is with Monitor Audio and Tannoy. With B&W, I find Sansui a little bit bright.
Jorge.
 
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I don't think LUX transformers are anything to sneeze at. I look at these things as philosophy
 
There were a lot of units that sounded good to me until I found something that sounded better. This is what hasn't happened with the vintage Sansui. I have had units from Musical Fidelity, Arcam, Bryston, Classe, etc that sound better than the AU-919. But, I haven't found any from NAD, Rotel, Parasound, Adcom, Cambridge Audio, or any other entry level to sound better than the AU-919. I have compared it against the NAD C-370 and combining pre/power from Rotel, Adcom, Parasound, etc. Nothing has sounded better that the AU-919 (IMO), and a lot of friends agree with me.
 
I agree, the transformers in the Sansui units mentioned are excessive for the job. The 9090DB's transformers seems unnaturally large and the 919's transformer arrangement is unusual and interesting.
 
SoCal Sam said:
I agree, the transformers in the Sansui units mentioned are excessive for the job. The 9090DB's transformers seems unnaturally large and the 919's transformer arrangement is unusual and interesting.
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Sansui 4000 is deceptively heavy. This is a great all round receiver (phono, tuner, amp) of any era.
The Au919 is the most neutral of the Sansui units.
 
Sansui stuff was good, and it may be your preference, but I would by no means say it was the best in all cases.

My Marantz 2325b sounded better than the Sansui 9090db to me for example.
 
Dave1384 said:
Does my little 551 count?
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Actually I would say it does. What seems uncanny to me, is that the sweet sound signature of Sansui is not reserved for just the more premium models of amp and receiver, but rather start right in the cellar. As Ive said in other threads, my 221 sounds somewhere around my 800 which sounds somewhere around my 5500. Here they have trumped Realistics, Pioneers, and as much as I hate to admit it..a few Rotels (though I have an earlier 70s rx400 that does keep up with the Sansuis very well actually).
 
have owned many Sansui's the 9090-9090db-717-661-771-881-and recently an AU 20000 (one of the holy grail of Sansui amps) did not wow me and i sold it with in a month of buying it. I own none now and am loaded with Accuphase. It's all your own impressions I really liked the Sansui units over the yrs but imho to compare them to Accuphase is silly. I have friends that love Sansui-Luxman and on and on if you believe they were the best thats fine.
 
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Sansui - Best of the Best?

I have a recently serviced Sansui 8080. I understand it is not as highly regarded as the 9090 but maybe it's very close. Must say that it sounds just fine but a lot has to do with what speakers are attached. The Sansui is certainly a 'boat anchor' and very bulky. In comparison I have also listened to Marantz 2045, Pioneer SX-838, Tandberg TR-2040, Sherwood SEL-200, Sony STR-7065, Harman Kardon HK-930 amongst several others. All I can say is comparing their sound qualities is like comparing Audi, Mercedes, Lexus....they are all so very good and with my ears I can't say one stands head and shoulders above the others. In some respects I might give the Sony a slight overall edge. Bottom line...I think it's all in the ears of the beholder. The several 'best' manufacturer's of such vintage gear most certainly knew their competition and I doubt none put out a noticeably inferior product at those lofty price points.
 
Here's a little known secret...Shhhh...If you own a Sansui, you think it's the bee's knees. If you own a Marantz....You think it's the cat's whiskers. If you are a Harman Kardon owner....Well I'm sure you are getting the point..... Heck ther are even some misguided fools who think Sony made great gear.....Ha ha ha ha......
 
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