ProRecordingGuy

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.75 of 5, 20.00 votes

Price Paid:  $35.00 from Thrift Store

Summary:
Most of my reviews here are of loudspeakers, with only a handful of receivers and decks. One of the reasons for this is that speakers (and microphones) are easily the most subjective part of our modern audio chain. It isn't that there aren't differences to discuss between electronics, just that the differences are much smaller and subject to fewer variables than transducers. That said, I had to write a review of this new aquisition to my collection. I have heard all about the "old" (pre-1980) Sansui gear for some time. So it was without hesitation that I picked up this AU-717 at a thrift store for a mere $35 (!). After lugging this 40lb monster up the stairs at home, I did all my pre-powerup routine that I do to all "new" used gear. I opened the unit, checked for obvious shorts, missing insulation, etc., cleaned out the dust, cleaned up the front panel, and generally gave the unit a once over. For initial auditions I used an older Sony CD changer as source and my trusted Hafler M-5 monitors as speakers. Powerup was uneventful, and soon I had music going. Hmmm... nothing remarkable here, just clean, transparent sound. Ok, well, oodles (i.e. LOTS) of gain, not really any distortion. Turn it up some, hmmm, more power, still no distortion. Wow, this thing can move a lot of electrons! Pretty soon, I'm enjoying the stepped volume control, playing with the tone bypass, driving the JBL sub from the pre-outs, noticing the swiss-army tape deck switching. Wow, these old amplifiers are -neat-. How does it sound? Well, like a big brick with tons of quiet, low distortion gain. That is, it doesn't sound like anything. While it doesn't have the subtle transparency of a modern high-end integrated, it makes up for it with old-school, high-current power and Mack-truck build quality. This is a true audiophile grade amplifier that is built to last a few generations. I need to clean up the speaker selector, and I might replace some caps at some point. But this unit is operating in spec, with nothing more than a dusting out. Remember, this amp is over twenty five years old! Maybe it's the vintage of the unit, but I have to say I enjoy this amp most driving my 80's vintage Yamaha NS-70t three ways, or better yet my Pioneer CS-99a's. The old, big, multi-way speakers and this amp make a great, listenable combination that you would have to spend a lot of money to match today. There are certainly few sub-$1000 amplifiers today that can match this Sansui.

Strengths:
- Significant current delivery for an 85watt amplifier - Amazing build quality - Solid design, such as pre-amplifier signal patch being behind steel cage. - Low-noise, especially for its vintage - Stepped volume control - Tone bypass switches - Dual tape loops with source routing for recording - A/B speaker connections

Weaknesses:
What, are you kidding? A vintage 1970's audiophile grade integrated amp for $35 (i.e. less than $1 a pound)? I would spend ten times that to replace this unit!

Similar Products Used:
Yamaha C-40 pre-amp with Alesis RA-150 amplifier, various receivers, Pioneer A-9 integrated amplifier.

AllenL

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.33 of 5, 6.00 votes

Price Paid:  $229.00 from Solutions, Hollywood

Summary:
I'm not an audiophile, but with the internet and ebay, I'm now able to afford the dreams of my early adulthood. I've had my AU-717 a little over a year now, and the amp continues to impress. That these were produced between 1977-1979, and knowing nothing comparable is available today, jeepers- What happened? Speakers- Sony APM-22ES Phono cartridge- Shure ML 120HE Tuner- Mitsubishi DA-F10

Strengths:
Amazing sound, conservative heavy build. Great value at the going ebay prices. (appx. $200.00-$250.00 May 2004)

Weaknesses:
Age. (25 years since production!) Upon power up, I keep the speaker selection switch 'off', switching on once the unit has warmed up a little.

Similar Products Used:
AU-717 superior to Denon PMA-700V

Price Paid:  $100.00 from Philippines

Summary:
I bought my used Sansui AU-D907F unit five years ago here in the Philippines from a Japanese national. I understand its equivalent model in the US is AU-D11. The unit, rated at 120 wpc RMS, is adequate for most types of music. I understand that AU-D11 didn't get praised much in the US by audio critics but my Japanese friend said it was because those sent there were of inferior quality (due to appreciation of the yen in the '80s) compared with those sold in Japan. In summary, this unit puts out transparent sound with adequate bass and matches very well with old speakers such as JBL 110 as well as EV Interface B. Its phono section is a lot better compared with other amplifiers I used and if you'll see Sansui's 07 series (607, 707, 907) in any thrift shop in Japan or in the US, grab it. It could put latest model amps with tyhe same power rating to shame.

Strengths:
transparent sound, ample power, well-built

Weaknesses:
no power-amp/pre-amp separation jacks, thus can't be used in tandem with other pre-amps or power amps

Similar Products Used:
Kenwood KR-7600, Kenwood KA-701, Sansui AU-D9, Luxman 480, Pioneer SA-7800, Onkyo A-807

Price Paid:  $20.00 from Thrift Store

Summary:
I bought this AU-717 at a thrift store yesterday and I could not test it. But I took the chance and bought it anyway. I took it home, tested it and only the right chan. works on both A and B. Left does nothing. But other than that it works good.

Strengths:
Power and the features it has for the frequences and Hz.

Weaknesses:
Left ch. dosent work. But thats OK. Im gonna use it for a SUB anyway. So I only need one ch.

Similar Products Used:
None

Price Paid:  $38.00 from Goodwill

Summary:
This is a great amp. I found it in a local thrift store and practically had to dig it out of the newer stuff piled on top of it. I use it with a pair of JBL 4313B Control Monitors and the sound reproduction is incredible. I don't like the over-hyped bass found in many systems and this combination of amp/speakers produces the most realistic sound I've come across in off-the-shelf components. The sound stage and nuances produced can make it seem like you're hearing a recording for the first time. If you can find one, get it.

Strengths:
Separable preamp/power amp. Built like a tank. Clean sound with plenty of power.

Weaknesses:
Volume control a little scratchy between 9-11 - higher or lower it's fine. It's in the shop getting cleaned.