Our Top 5 Favorite Sansui AU Integrated Amplifiers
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- čas přidán 25. 07. 2024
- This week we go over our top 5 Sansui vintage integrated amplifiers in the AU line.
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AU 999 owner and proud of it. it's 54 years old and still top of the line. Paired up with 4 Sansui SP 2000 speakers and sounds great.
Thanks for running down the history of the change from tubes to solid state.
Great top 5 , my first Sansui was an AU777 that a neighbor gave me for nothing last year !!!, his dad had passed & he was clearing out his workshop , the label on it read Good Condition $25 !!! a very old label . Now I have an 8080DB & a 9090 both in mint condition , gotta love the Sansui lines . Keep the kool content coming .
My brother RGA turned me on to Skylabs Audio and I'm hooked. Keep doing what you do. And thank you!!
You guys are really upping your graphics game. Love it. I also enjoyed the old, familiar noise of airport traffic going over the WDM.
Great list, man!! Keep the awesome content coming! 🔥🔥🔥
One of the reasons Sansui is it for me? The look ! It’s art to me, beside the quality build. But you got to remember , that costs money! Like >50% of production cost. I ❤ it !
I have an au-719 I bought at the navy exchange in 1979 or so. And it’s matching tuner. I still use them both almost every day for over 40 years. Who knew the handles were worth so much. May use them to finance a new turntable. I have 4 sets of handles, or should I say black gold! Love watching your channel, keep ‘em coming.
Good informative AU description. I've had my AU 20000 for 40 years now and will never get rid of it. The build quality was very good in the time period. Have had many amplifiers, and I always preferred this amp as the best sounding, in my opinion.
Nice video, thanks. Hope you had a great holiday season for sales in the shop.
I bought an AU 888 for $10.00 Cdn and my AU 555a for $1.00. I had the 888 recapped and it sounds AMAZING. I will never get rid of either of them :) .
Hi Kevin, happy new year and great choice to start the year of with this list.
Great stuff! Have you heard the AU-999 with the great mods the smart folks in the audio community have shared over the years? It's not even funny how much better these modded 999's can sound. Truly a legendary amp.
I just bought an AU-505 and I love it! It Looks beautiful and the sound is tube like.
My dad had an AU20000 back in the 70’s. It was truly awesome. Don’t know what happened to his but I’ve been looking for one of my own for awhile now. Great to know they are as great as I remember. (Love switch gear… especially the volume switch)
I have a au 217 mark II and it's great I love it the look and the sound. Great video, saludos from Uruguay.
Thanks for another great video! Your top five videos are fun and have lots of good information. Totally agree on the looks of Sansui products… even with all the other great equipment I have the G-9000 always seems to draw the most attention !
Congrats on the AU-20000. That's a score for the record books. I have an AU-317 and matching tuner. Sansui really made great stuff back in the day.
Great video. I picked up a pair last year - AU-505 and TU-505 - both all original and in great condition. In their current state yes they are very tubelike. I listen to the setup daily, paired with various bookshelf speakers, including JBL 4312b’s.
Very cool.
My 1st proper stereo was a mix of Sansui, A-80 Amp which I bought along with a SC-1330 Tape Deck, SR-1050c Turntable and a pair of Speakers.... SP-1001’s
I was doing my final year of Fine Art and the Art Technician sold them to me for $50au......That was a bargain in 1991 and still going strong. 🥳
And a few years ago I found the AU 417 which is my main amp at the moment.
Love that Sansui stuff 😁🙏
I have to say, I own a Toshiba SA750 AND have been thrilled with how it sounds. When I opened it I was surprised by the build quality. I use the unit with my TV downstairs for movies and also streaming music via Tidal and a TV app. It 's powering make large late 90's Athena Speakers. This combo is a lot of fun and makes for a great casual listening system. People should look for the SA750 IF they want a less pricey solution for a vintage system. Great looks also
Happy New Year !
Another great video! I love all the choices ! I would consider my self lucky to get my hands on one of them !
My fave would be the AU-505.
I must say you have a really great way of taking control of your shop and your channel and setting some boundaries!
Always a pleasure to watch. Thank you !
Thank you!
I bought a couple vintage Sansui amps 10 to 15 years ago when I was in a phase of trying a bunch of different audio gears. My AU-7700 always stayed with me ever since I first plugged it. Its still my main Amp I use for all my Jazz, Rock, Folk, Prog, etc. I never really found anything better to me. I cherish it for years now. Its quite rare to have something, audio gear, car, anything, that we are just completely happy with. Great video. Thanks.
Something magical about the 7700 but only when the loudness is engaged, otherwise music is just flat and lifeless, But with it, everything just pales in comparison. Not only does it sound great, but it's the best looking vintage amp in my opinion. Very classy, they don't make them like this anymore.
@@EJ-lh5su Well no. It depends on speakers. I have one 7700 as main amp and it really delivers on zero settings.
Thanks for all your videos, information, and intro to great audio equipment. Just wish I could buy from you over the Internet. I wish you continued success.
I have a AU-717. I bought it new in 1977 when I got home from college. I have kept it this long because I love the sound it produces. Although it does not get used very much these days, it is in excellent condition. I even still have the rack handles, though they are not installed.
Woow 1977😂and I bought mine 2023😂😂😂😂😂
Great stuff; thank you for this video, brings back great memories.
Love Sansui, I have the AU-D11 type 2 and am very happy with it. I enjoyed your list
Just got my au20000 and tu9900 up and running after years of problems. Awesome sound! What a beast. Running 4 B&W Matrix speakers. Thanks for your insight.
I agree on the AU-717 volume pot. But man it's a great sounding amp! And build quality is incredible.
Love the list. I fell in love with the AU-217 mk2 and the S-X500/700/900.
Recently had my sansui AU 717 re capped. (The dreaded sui glue) cost me around £600. Money well spent. Brilliant brilliant brilliant amplifier.
I use my sui au 717 to drive 4 speakers. 2 leak sandwich 600s and 2 celestion ditton 44s (mk 2) they play my music the way I like to hear my music. Heavy warm round and clean👍🌚 I also use a realistic graphic equalizer which is not needed with music pressed/recorded properly but I play a lot of reggae and some of the presses coming out of Jamaica (studio one 7" especially) need a lift. Turntable I use is a Garrard 401 (SME arm) and a audio technica AT LP 1240 (ortofon concord stylus) for cutting and scratching in the mix🌚
I have the au222, au555a and au717. All have been fully restored along with leestereo upgrades. Without a doubt the lower power, cap coupled amps have a really nice 'warm' sound.
Real nice 20000 you scored! I had a very similar experience on Craigslist about 7 years ago with a pristine Marantz 2385. Love the Sansui gear, thanks for the video.
Hello, excellent review, I am also in love with Sansui amplifiers for years, although I have let some go, I still try to keep my G33000, BA5000, AU9500, AU919 and of course the beautiful AU20000 that is a little scratched on the outside but is completely restored on the inside Greetings and thanks for sharing.
Hooray, nice to see my stuff so represented on the list. Gotten way carried away with my Sansui purchases in the pass couple years so i have ended up with an au-517, two au-717s, au-6600....and drum rolllll.....an au-20000. someone painted the case black, though, and I'm hoping I can strip it to get back to that very unique original color. I got the big tu-9900 tuner to keep it company. Gotta downsize soon, but has our friend above as indicated for himself, I don't think I will ever be able to bring myself to part with the giant, beast at the tailend of this list.
I enjoyed your video on the Sansui integrated amps. I owned one on the list, AU 717, great Amp. Had to get rid of it for a McIntosh. Got my hands on another Sansui, an AU-G99X. Own it to this day and sounds awesome.
You made a great point!! The techs need to be in the zone so to speak. You need that focus. (you can mess things up real easy) Awesome subject today!! Love my new t666 from Japan! Thanks!!
Cool video, thanks for sharing your thoughts!
My high school's music department had an AU-717 driving a pair of speakers out in the big rehearsal room. I don't remember much about how it sounded through speakers as I usually used it only with headphones, but I remember what a joy it was to operate.
Another great video Kevin. I am fortunate enough to own an AU20000 and would never part with it. Mine was about to get dumped and I saved it, needed a ton of work but I rebuilt and still going nicely to this day.
thanks a lot for these videos, very informative for me. Merci !
It's been 50 years, but I believe I bought the AU505 new in 1973. It was paired with some Ohm speakers and a BSR turntable.
No power per se, but it did sound good!
I have the AU-717 and TU-717 both with rack handles. They are mounted in the Sansui GX-5 rack along with a Sansui SC1110 cassette deck. I recapped the amp (big job). You are correct about the volume control.
Great video as usual and totally understandable about the non-shop calls. One pet peeve, probably just me, that video style where you have camera angles where you're seemingly addressing an interviewer, that always have me waving my arms saying hey I'm over here lol. Carry on, great vids regardless.
Thanks for the feedback! Still learning :)
@@skylabsaudio Oh you rock dude, I'm just one guy! So grateful for what you've created here--thank you.
We appreciate it. Thanks!
I missed out on the classic era of Sansui integrateds, but I picked up an AU-X619R back in the early 90s. Not to be compared with the great Sansuis you describe here, but still a very capable amp. It's never given me a drop of trouble. I've run my secondary system off it for many years now.
I just scored a Sansui AU ALPHA 907 XR in near mint condition. 73 pounds of pure Sansui audio Nirvana. Keep on rocking it!
I am the original owner of a AU-G77Xii. To me it's priceless. Love it!
Always exercise your knobs! Keep up the good work, y'all
Good stuff! That AU-505 is one of the most musical amps I've heard and still a bargain. Currently enjoying a recapped AU-777a as well.
wow, as a hi-fi dilettante i had no idea that era of sansui was such a respected line!
i randomly bought an AU-D5 (and the tuner!) with some big-ass technics speakers for like $40 at a thrift store almost two decades ago and have used it forever, it's loud and proud. unfortunately it also has that thing with the volume pot where it's a dual ganged pot for L-R, and at low volumes it favors one side more than the other. there's an ebay guy selling a special calibrated dual pot replacement for like $100 but i can't be bothered
more recently i scored an AU-D9 for pretty cheap and that thing is a monster! through some nice new big polk tower speakers it's just deep, clear and limitless
Huge Sansui fan here. Had an 881 that loved…circuit board died. Next an AU D907F Extra that was incredible and the best headphone amp I ever heard. One side died and it’s been at Terry Dewick’s for 7 years and it still has him stumped. Currently using a G3000 in the interim. Gave one of my sons my 4000 that he loves.
Agree the au505 is special ( currently using atm) though its actually rated 23wpc.
The rating in hi-fi engine is a typo. Loved that you picked out the au sansui series and I thought you did an excellent job showing the variety of these integrated amps.
I have a small au 222 which is 18 wpc and that sounds huge. My favourite is the au 666 with matching tuner looks superb and sounds great. Clear and strong. And yes most people think it's new, not made ' June 1970 ' ☺️
I have a AU 222 in my bedroom and love the clarity/warmth. It plays louder then the specs. Great little amp. I will never sell it.
OCD balance knob, never thought of that. I spent your intro determining what albums are in the shop. LZII, Remain in Light, Escape. Anyone else?
I wrote a tech book 20 years ago and fielded 1000s of questions, looking for free advice. You want to help but there's only so much you can do.
Thanks, enjoyed it. Agree, blackface Sansui design is beautiful.
I own the AU-317, and the AU-G99x, and would have any from your list proudly. Congrats!
I've had the chance to listen to Sansui SP loudspeakers (1700 and 3500). Hell, they sound so good ! One day I'll get one of these.
I wish my audio sales were all buyers like you on the AU-20000 purchase, easy breezy.
recent owner of a 7700. bought from a audio enthusiast 20+ years younger which is refreshing. found the speakers outputs were put in backwards from last servicing as balance was 180. though not great at soldering; a necessary task as short common negative wires wouldn't allow an easy flip. all good now and happily enjoying a great piece of hi fi history running some rare kirkseater 100 monitors!
nope the balance in mine is backwards as well. I think they made it that way.
Bought me an AU 505 on Saturday and wow! It is so unbelievably sweet! What an amazing sound. I've owned a few Sansuis, but the 505 is next level gorgeous. Only paid £100, and it's mint.
Love those little amps. So good
Kevin, congrats on the increased engagement with Skylabs. Love the content. Keep crushing!!! 🤠
I had this amplifier with KLH book shelf speakers Yamaha tuner and Phillips turntable so many hours of great listening
Take Care
Great list and I couldn’t agree more, my old 7700 kicks ass, sounds great, and has one of the best eq. sections with amazing control ability usually only found on outboard eq’s. Keep up the great videos; love ‘em!
I bought a BA-3000/CA-3000 combo in a pawn shop many years ago, along with a TU-9900. Looks a lot like the AU-20000. Still love the look and sound of these Sansui units!
Great Video, I love Sansui and have some spectacular examples in my audio stable! I really wanted to commend you on the intro, I have a FB audio group and had to do the same. The bigger it gets, the more people are reaching out to me with questions that I just don't have time for.. The whole purpose of the group! Cheers from Canada!
As always, your logic is spot-on....
I'm so sorry people are calling you for non business reasons... That's annoying and doesn't pay your overhead...
Thank you, Karen. Every yin has a yang, it seams.
I enjoy these top 5 videos very much. The only Sansui I own is a Model 5050 receiver in mint condition that I bought for 75 bucks. Only 30 watts per channel but it has plenty of power. If you need a kidney, I will trade for that AU20000!
I've just acquired a mint condition recapped AU555A. It sounds incredibly good
I got one .The sound is so sweet
Fun topic! Listening to this via a AU-11000. But the best sounding one I've heard is the AU-X1.
I have taken apart cleaned and reassembled 4 potentiometers from both AU-517 and AU-717 amplifiers, It is certainly possible, and all these 70's Sansui's benefit greatly from a full recap and service. Great amplifiers.
How much would you charge to do an AU-717 pot?
As a huge Sansui lover (Au&Tu999, 8080,7070,2000) I loved this list!!
I just got my AU-517 a few months ago. It sounds glorious. It's 65 watts per channel which might not seem like much, but it is LOUD!
I have a couple AU-317s and only turn up the volume a few clicks before I worry about disturbing the neighbors.
My first one a 777 at age 14, my uncle sold it to me for $160 long time ago. Grandfather gave me a 555 in exchange for work. Mother gave both of them away when I went to college (& my '78 restored FJ-40). Got an AU-111right after I graduated from a shop. Had to sell it when I moved back, I knew Ill regret it, but had no choice. Next one was an A-80, it was very good sounding for not being an AU, but blew tweeters like crazy. Then a C-2101 and a B-2101, quite good, maybe even better than some AU (but ugly). I got an BA-2000 from a mobile disco, and found a crazy tube CA-303 in an old radio shop. For the price of a very nice dinner, but still very much worth it. For now, the Tube Preamp works nicely with the BA-2000 or the B-2101. It actually can work with both, it has a crossover for low, mid, highs. It's meant to be paired to three tube amps with the crossover. My favorite two are the CA-303 tube preamp and the B-2101 Power Amplifier.
I have a 101, 666, 2400 and a 517. The 517 is the best sounding amp I've ever owned.
Will vouch for your comment about the 717. Had one in a post production studio setting for about 5 or 6 years until the volume knob got so bad we had to keep the balance control in a 3 or 9 position. Wasn’t worth it to us to repair. Can’t say I’m sorry I didn’t keep it.
Nice list... I have an AU-7500 and matching TU-7500. Worthy of mention is that these AUs are seriously underrated as far as power output... hard to believe until you let 'er rip.
Thanks as always and regards.
I have an AU555a in my office, and it's too good for that really, but I do love it.
I love my AU6600. It has a lovely warm sound. Very tube like. It's not powerful enough to drive my current speakers but I'm keeping it for later when I can put a second system up.
I have an AU6600 as well- first piece of equipment I bought, back in 1977. Haven't used it in close to 20 years (switched to 5.1 home theatre) but I will never let it go.
OMG...What a beautiful piece of electronics...speaking of the AU-20000..wow!!!
My holy grail coming from Japan would be the AU-111 and it sounds fantastic. My next favorite is the AU-9500 as it is a beast and the second best sounding amplifier from Sansui I have listened to but too big and too much sound for my place in Tokyo. I settled with the AU-7500 because it was the best fit for my space. In Japan there is a reason for the loudness switch which helps for playing at low volumes which I use at times. I seriously took a look at the AU-555A but the AU-7500 was just too beautiful to pass up and I found it fully restored at my local second hand store that is practically a vintage museum with 60s and 70s Sansui, Luxman and Micro Seiki I see being exchanged. Enjoyed, domo arigato.
Estoy totalmente de acuerdo contigo.
You make a lot of sense
Really like your “Top 5” videos! Can you start listing them in order in the description? Also, a Top 5 Harman Kardon vintage receivers video would be cool! Thanks!
Second the HK video... definitely interested in one of those
A top 10 list would be even better !!!!
I bought an AU-517 back in the early seventies I still own it play it almost every day......ALAS after 50 years it is slowly losing it's OOMPH.... it needs a recap and the dreaded Volume knob is scratchy but in it's heyday it has taken out 2 speaker cabinets a Ultraliner 12 inch split the top from one side... and blew out a 10 inch Tannoy front face ( which was funny at the time it was my brother's speaker.....) Mom was wrong I didn't go deaf!!!!!
Thanks for the informative video ! It isn't an AU series , but I have a Sansui R-7 that was in less than ideal storage condition for many years . Recently plugged it in , it works and sound good . But at very low volume has a little static . Not sure if it is the receiver or the Bose 601 speakers . Both are probably way past time for a tune up .
Great video! I have to agree with your opinions of the 505. I have one of those and a 555a (both restored from the ground up) and I much prefer the 505. It sounds so much beefier and no sub required!
I agree with 717 vol. pot; what I discover that works fine is to turn the pot, left to right vice versa few times before turning on the unit, got rid of the dead spot
I don't have an AU model, but I inherited an A 7amp. At 45wts a channel it kicks ass!
AU 20000 is one of the best integrated amp ever made, the only one i consider maybe even better is Kenwood Supreme 600, 650 ... and Accuphase e405:)
I really enjoy your reviews. It is sad when viewers misuse business contact information for non-business related questions!
I have witnessed the same watching some plumbing CZcams channels for years where they share are their tricks of the trade with viewers, common sense advice and film repairs they are doing for customers from start to finish. All of this for no charge to the viewer (aside from CZcams ads)... but that is still not enough for some and they call the plumber's business number to diagnose their plumbing problems over the phone. Hello, people??? Now viewers are doing this to Skylabs.... it is a vintage audio equipment sales and repair *_business_* folks, not an audio 'wikipedia' for your questions.
LOVE
@Skylabs Audio: Thanks for the videos, much informative. In this session I missed the AU-9500. It's not the most powerful amp but yet very good. Sansui said they lost money for every sold item. The last of it's kind. I bought the 9500 from my neighbour 3 years ago for just 150$. He used it only for one year, from new, and then stashed it in a cupboard. It was in a marvellous shape and sounded perfect. I hit the jackpot. -Have you listened to it and have some thoughts about it? I usually have it connected to a Thorens TD-125 Long Base with a 3012, also bought for 150$ in 1988, and a Goldring Electro II. I love jackpots!
(My Systemdek S-II is also a affordable turntable with a Rega RB-300.) Spring salut for your show from Stockholm.
I think they sound excellent!
I had the AU-717. I thought it was amazing, and better than any more modern amp I owned. Funny to know it's near the bottom of your top 5. It really makes me want to hear the ones you rank higher.
Thank you so much for this list. I am a Sansui freak and love the AU line. I can relate to your love of the 505 which I'm sure is very similar in sound to my 101 which I am totally in love with. I was also thrilled that you mentioned the7700 which I'm sure is similar to my 6600. The closest one I have to the 717 is my 217. I had been looking for a 555a but I would definitely jump at the chance to own a 555. The 20000 would be a dream come true for me. I love your CZcams channel. Keep up the great work!
I was looking into a 101 when I found my 505 by chance. I understand they’re both great for the price.
I'm the owner of a Sansui au555. The difference I can see with a au505 is that it has a separate on/off switch. I used it from 1982 until 2000 when it needed service and the guy from the repair shop showed me a Sansui au70 which is the first stereophonic amp Sansui built in 1964. I immediately fell in love with the tube sound. Ever since my au555 sits in storage (it needs service if I want to use it). I recently had my au70 serviced and for me nothing can beat it... Maybe I should listen to a au20000?
My brother inlaw has the AU2000. It was given to him by his dad in the 80's. The kids dropped some nails in the air vents and its fried.
I own an AU 5900 my dad bought it in Tegucigapla Honduras in 1976 I have the matching TU 5900 mine needs some repair as it sat in storage for 20 years until I rescued bit and cleaned it with desoxide. It has some a very faint hum on the right channel and also some of the connectors in the back need cleaning. I will look you up and see if it could be repaired, I live in Charlotte NC
Be aware that the 717 will not handle low impedance loads. The 717 will go into protection when paired with something like the KEF LS50 (I know because I tried it).
The AU-9500 Must be in the list !!!
I had a AU 101 for many years and is the bottom of that line but it never gave me any trouble but I did wrap some foil around a fuse and that caused some minor repair to be done ..For a minimal out put unit it was very loud ..
Great Video! I'm a fool for the AU Series, but as a kid the Good Stereo Equipment were always separate units! Amplifier, Tuner, Turntable! Only the JC Penny's, Sears & Roebuck's etc! Had all the crap combined in one! Not real stereo systems but they sounded okay! I've purchased the AU-7700 & TU-7700, and a pair of LM-330's AU-5500 & TU-5500 with LM-220's. Both are Japanese Versions 100 volts. Not the most powerful or the top of line but I love the sound, the looks and can be ran in separated mode so if you want to run the sound through mono blocks or an equalizer if you wanted? I know equalizers are for idiot & Irish Setters! Squirrel!!!.....? CMTFU! Like your channel & videos, I need to stop by your shop the next time I drive up from H-Town too Chicago to see my peoples! Be Cool!
The AU 505 is my favourite ice cream 🍦
😂
I love my AU-517 and TU-717, lucked in to them at a charity shop. I saw the donor dropping them off and asked the worker for the price, he said a number and I kept a stone cold poker face and said Yeah, I guess that's a good deal if they work... They have been used nearly daily since then. I went months without using the tuner till I opened a drawer and saw an antenna. Hocked it up and holy smokes that machine sings! The only shortcoming of the AU-517 is the limited inputs, two phono, one tuner and one aux. I added a Topping D50s and that aux is now Coax, Optical, Bluetooth and USB.
Also have the AU-517 and TU-717. Bought as a college student in 1977. Mounting racks still attached. Doesn't get used much. Only has a little dust on it but works as well as the day I bought it. What kind of antenna did you find in the drawer?
I own a Sansui AU70 tube amp and am convinced ‘tube’ vs solid state are the best for audiophiles as they are also the choice of known professional guitar players. However, my personal experience with solid-state amps is limited to middle-range brands and models and therefore leaves me wondering after learning your chouces. Appreciate if you could maybe do a tube vs solid state a-b test for ‘audiophile quality’ sound to help confirm things. Nice write-up btw. Thanks.