[petemac110]

yes the X601 is a more resolving amp but the lusher sound of the Au 7700 with plenty of details+ an added flexibility and a beautiful look, I am in love with... But I will never sell the X-701...

I think you describe the difference well - some of the older Sansuis do indeed offer a 'lusher' sound which is quite intoxicating! Not everyone likes the later Alpha sound if they have become accustomed to the earlier Sansui sound. I do believe that system synergy and personal preference are the determining factors at play here.

I always love putting an older Sansui through its paces in my system, and really enjoy the tonal characteristics that they offer. However, I always gravitate back to the Alphas for outright clarity and accuracy, whilst maintaining some of that Sansui DNA in the sound reproduction.

 

[UntilThen]

Such beautiful pictures and that Kenwood is gorgeous.

 

[BobG55]

Ah... I thought it was the 8006!

I've had the pleasure of restoring two of these. They are lovely sounding amps with superb build quality. I was particularly happy with how all of the knobs and switchgear cleaned up with some careful cleaning and hard work! The deeply etched lettering on the front face is also a classy touch - no silk-screening here!

You are very fortunate to have one of these - and the linkage to your older brother makes it all the more special!

Wow, you did a masterful job. It looks brand new. The 8006 is not talked about much yet, I've not heard a better vintage amp and I've owned a few and not because it comes from my brother. It's just such a great sounding amp & I guess it meets my ideal sound requirements. You've hit the nail right on the head : I'm indeed fortunate to own one.

P.S. Couldn't take a photograph as clear as yours. I don't own an iPhone or digital camera. The only apparatus I have to take photographs with is my MacBook Pro photo booth camera and as you can see the photographs are always somewhat blurry.

 

[BobG55]

I'd just like to say how refreshing I find the fact that this thread seems to have found a new life during the past few days. It's always enjoyable to hear from newer members and to see the photos of these vintage "beauties" shared with the other appreciative members. Also interesting to read opinions and experiences of others who have a passion for vintage audio gear.

I want to thank every body who have contributed to this thread lately.

 

[UntilThen]

For me, it all started with this pocket rocket - Sansui AU-505. On the day I went to collect it, I didn't know what I was in for or the fact that I would be meeting a Sansui restoration guru. That's how I met Pete and saw his room full of Sansui, neatly stack on HiFi racks. Then a week and a half later I met his dad, Skippy and bought the 717. That's how my hobby took a dramatic turn. Never would have thought that I would get into vintage amps.

This 505 at $350 aussie dollars is my best value purchase to date. A few days later I sold off my Schiit Jotunheim for $300.

 

[Oregonian]

Awesome to see this thread explode...............those pics of the Sansui's and that Kenwood 8006 are like vintage heaven! The 8006 looks BETTER than new...........

Well done gents................keep the pics coming. And speaking of Kenwood..................though I'm a Pioneer fanboy and own 5 vintage Pioneer amps, this is like my firstborn as it was my first vintage amp - this Kenwood KA-5700 was in a pawn shop and on a whim bought it.............like many of you it became a gateway drug into vintage! This is one of 8 vintage systems I'm using, scattered around the house and/or work office. This is my home office - fed from a Dell laptop via a HRT Music Streamer II DAC, with either CA 2.1 system w/8" sub or my Denon MD2000's.

 

[Oregonian]

Next up is a Marantz 2285B I got from a co-worker.............original owner - had it gone through and LED light conversion done, then passed on to my grandson/son in law (Grandson is 4 months old so he's got a while before he realizes what he was just given)...............with my son in law's father's Pioneer PL-41 turntable (also original owner).

 

[SpeakerBox]

Always had a soft spot for Kenwood. Will never part with my tuner.

 

[Oregonian]

Garage/home gym system...............Pioneer SA-8800 fed by iPad and/or vintage Yamaha CD player into both Cerwin Vega DX-3's and JBL 4311B and a Velodyne 15" sub - what I call true surround sound with a bottom end to die for..................

 

[Oregonian]

And the flagship of the house...............Pioneer Spec 1 preamp/Spec 2 amp/TX-9500II tuner/SA-9800 EQ/PDR-609 CD player/recorder/PL-S50 turntable feeding Klipsch 3.2's.

 

[Oregonian]

Last but not least.............a spare Spec 1 preamp and SA-9900 amp waiting on a location to hook them up. By the way, those Klipsch HP-3 headphones are incredible - like my Pioneer SE Master 1's, they are not talked about much but both are top of the line from my view.

 

[SpeakerBox]

I see you are a Four Play fan. Love their stuff. Always well recorded! Too bad we lost Mr. Loeb.

 

[UntilThen]

@Oregonian, what a collection ! Love it. Every single one of them looking so new and well preserved.

Best to check your attic. You might have some hidden gem there. I was very amused reading this.
https://www.stereo.net.au/forums/topic/264758-sansui-au-8500-amplifier-what-is-this-worth/

 

[UntilThen]

I see you are a Four Play fan. Love their stuff. Always well recorded! Too bad we lost Mr. Loeb.

I noticed that too. I've have had that CD for a very long time. Have to dig it out to play it.

 

[petemac110]

Given that I'm on a roll... I might as well share a few more pics of the lovely amps that have graced Casa Del Mac.


A near-mint AU-20000:

My AU-719 about to be fitted with a rare NOS faceplate!

AU-888

AU-999:

AU-7700:

The huuuuuge Marantz 2500 - bulk power and an enormous amp (check out the physical comparison to the AU-717!)

I like Japanese beer and huge Japanese Nichicon Gold Tune filter capacitors

Random gear a few years ago - 2 x AU-20000s, BA/CA-2000, BA/CA-F1, AU-X701, AU/TU-719, AU-888 and AU-999, Technics SL-1600 (circa-2016 I think)

AU-7700 and AU-7900 physical comparison:

Possibly the cleanest of the AU-999s that I've worked on - you could eat your dinner off this thing!

Very clean AU-7500:

AU-D11:

AKAI AM-2650:

Kenwood KA-6100: