Sansui SP-3500 Floorstanding Speakers

Sansui SP-3500 Floorstanding Speakers 

DESCRIPTION

4-Way Speaker w/ 6 drivers: 14" Woofer, 4" Mid. (x2), 4.5"x2" High Mid. Horn, 2" Horn Tweeter (x2), 100W max.

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-10 of 22  
[Jul 17, 2021]
stussy


Strength:

With convenient and affordable trash service, you can take care of all your needs--including Dumpster Rental maintenance for things such as small businesses, auto repair shops, bars and restaurants!

Weakness:

none so far

Purchased:
New  
OVERALL
RATING
5
[Jul 15, 2021]
togolese273


Strength:

The mids and subs are great very clear. I've got mine about a foot off the ground and they sound wonderful. -- Concrete Contractor

Weakness:

None so far

Purchased:
New  
OVERALL
RATING
5
[Jul 21, 2020]
Alnico


Strength:

It has been mentioned by some enthusiasts that the Sansui SP-3500 are perfect at reproducing sound source points. Vocals are also very moving and emotionalizing. Perhaps one should also mention that the supertweeters should or could be connected in reverse polarity. The Sansui's sound milder without losing their spatial resolution. The speakers also benefit from a slightly open rear wall or an open crossover hole, especially when used on low-power single-ended amplifiers. In its original state, there is a sticker on the back wall that warns against normal loading of the speakers when the back wall is open. Please obey! Sometimes I wonder if it's just a habit, but they remain my favorite speakers.

Weakness:

Weight and height? Who cares?

Price Paid:
$600
Purchased:
Used  
Model Year:
1972
OVERALL
RATING
5
[Oct 19, 2019]
james b


Strength:

Love these,,,listening to Jethro tull benefit and heard detail never before heard!!!,, vocals surround you,,crystal clear,,bought these two weeks ago from original owner who bought them in Vietnam,,original boxes,,all paperwork and absolutely gorgeous!!! Also bought his sp 2500s,,same condition,, $250.00 for the 4,,hooked to my sansui 4000,,thanks Bill for best audio deal I ever walked into

Weakness:

I'm old and their heavy,,😁

Price Paid:
250
Purchased:
Used  
Model Year:
1971
OVERALL
RATING
5
[Dec 17, 2015]
thoriated tungsten
Audio Enthusiast

First of all an excuse for my bad english.. In my opinion the SP-3500 are one of the best speakers to use with single ended tube amplifiers. The sensitivity of 96dB/w/m is absolutely realistic, not only claimed. This sensitivity is necessary for small SET-amps, using 2A3, 300B etc. The frequency range is broad, compared to suitable full-rangers.
The midrange is sweet, vocals are engaging and intimate, maybe forward, the bass is dry, realistic and precise, the highs undemonstrative and natural.
Sansui wrote in it's product brochure: "Perhaps the most timely speaker system ever introduced...", and that's correct. The presentation and depth of the soundstage of this speakers is so very "3D", the imaging so very precise, and the size of objects so natural, that you can't believe you are listening to a 6-driver-speaker. The multidirectional arrangement of the two mylar-alnico-horn-tweeters and the two (I guess silk-) ferite-cone-midrange-drivers offers (in my opinion) an even better realism or naturalism, than fullrangers can achieve. The upper-midrange-horn is using an accoustic lens for wide dissipation and a titanium-driver and is fitted in the center of the multi-directional drivers assembly. The bass is equipped with a mechanical low-pass and is directly connected to the amplifier, without passing through the crossover, like a full ranger.
I had the chance to compare the SP-3500 speaker directly (A-B-A-B...) to the highly regarded JBL-4430-studio monitor, using a GM-70 DHT-SET tube amplifier, and prefered the Sansui SP-3500 for it's more natural presentation, and it's 3dB higher sensitivity, even if the 15" bass and bigger cabinet of the JBL was reaching a little bit lower, than the 14" bass and smaller cabinet of the Sansui SP-3500.
What about repair and tune-up? No major changes should be made, regarding tweeters, crossovers, cabinets, positioning of drivers! You would only destoy a unique sounding collectible. The crossovers electrolytics should be recapped with MKP-capacitors (for example Audyn Q6 or more pricely boutique caps, if you want to spend more.) The contacts of the crossover rotary switches have to be cleaned and checked for high enough contact pressure, they are the main reason for unsatisfying performance. Refoaming is neither possible nor necessary, the SP-3500 have cloth surroundings. With this changes the speakers should last forever.
Using an average solid state amplifier the qualities of this speaker will not show up and the SP-3500 may sound totally different. I made this experince with a 90s Pioneer solid state amp I was testing before selling it at ebay..

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Nov 23, 2014]
Robert Howard
Audio Enthusiast

Steve a Audio Enthusiast has a bit of PT Barnum in him.

The Sansui drivers, including replacements, are Japanese, nothing is JBL. Nothing was designed by JBL.

As far as the speakers, not bad, sound a bit "larger than life' if you like that sound.

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
3
[Aug 24, 2012]
Steve
Audio Enthusiast

Let me first say, I read the reviews here on the SP-3500 Sansui Speakers. I worked for customer service, JBL Sound in 1974 and we would recieve the SP-3500 speakers for repair. The Cabnet design and speakers were all designed by JBL for Sansui. The replacement speakers and network deviders are all manufactured by JBL, thats the reason why the sound is so great.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[May 09, 2012]
TRIPP
AudioPhile

Bought a pair of SP-2500X at the goodwill 10 years ago for 25 bucks paired with my little Marantz 2515B sounded, Outstanding!!! Today at Goodwill found a pair of SP-3500's 53 and change for those guess I need a Bigger Marantz.... Yeah BUY these speakers if you stumble over them cause they are BOULDERS!!!!!

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Dec 10, 2009]
Keith Davis
Casual Listener

These speakers are Pre-1995 by about 25 years. While on my 2nd tour in Vietnam, I went to Saigon to give an after action briefing. I was supposed to return to the field later via chopper, but the flight was scrubbed due to heavy rain. I stayed in a Vietnamese hotel that night (semi-clean sheets!) and the next day found myself near a post exchange. I was just looking around because I didn't have much money with me and sort of stumbled onto these speakers … literally. They were playing CCR and as I headed toward the music, I barely bumped a display shelf, but it was enough to knock it over, making John stop at “Over on the mountain”. A buck sergeant came at the run, looked at the mess and glared at me, but not so long as I was a captain at the time. He screamed that he had just completed the setup less than 10 minutes ago and now the stuff was worthless. I pulled out what money I had and without counting it said I'll give you this for it all. He looked around at me, laughed, took my money and left. Minutes later he returned with a receipt. Not only did I get the speakers, but also there was a QX-6500 quadraphonic receiver included! I packed them up in the original boxes, grabbed a moped and returned to the compound for pickup.

They were stored in the battalion bunker for about 4 months. I was WIA and was air lifted home. My personal affects caught up with me several months later. I was surprised all my stuff was intact as looting of personal effects boxes was normal. In my last 4 months there, I managed to pick up a set of the smaller 2500 series with 12" woofer, but had to pay regular price for them and had them shipped directly home to the USA.
Here it is nearly 40 years later and I'm still using those 4 speakers and they sound as good as ever. The 3500s are L/R front with the 2500s employed as the back L/R surrounds. I've had a variety of speakers supplementing the Sansui quartet over the years, but they have remained the foundation for both music and home theater listening for four decades. Currently, the supplementation team consists of an Infinity C360 (center), Polk Audio RTi A3 (surrounds L/R) and a Klipsch SW-450 Subwoofer. Yeah, just ask me if I’ve got base, and at both ends of the room. The 3500s pump it out up front and the Klipsch does so from the side/rear of the room. An explosion in a movie makes you feel like you lit the too short fuse. The receiver is an Onkyo TX-SR707 (recently installed) and everything seems to work well together for music or movies.
I can’t imagine audio without the 3500s. I often listen to music (jazz and old rock mostly) and use ONLY the 3500s. They and the 2500s have stood the test of time well in appearance too. With a little furniture oil rubbed in a couple times per year, they look as good as when I packed them up in Saigon. The front cutouts are like new as well. I’ve listened to many other speakers as potential replacements, but I’ve always ended up spending my money on replacing or adding to the supplementation speakers instead. These speakers have become like old friends and will likely me last for the remainder of my life. Not a bad investment for less than 10 bucks.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[May 22, 2009]
karister
Audio Enthusiast

This is an awesome sounding retro piece of work by Sansui:) Very open and deep sound stage with great detail. I'm using them as spare speakers and lovin it. Very well built heavy and solid.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
Showing 1-10 of 22  

(C) Copyright 1996-2018. All Rights Reserved.

audioreview.com and the ConsumerReview Network are business units of Invenda Corporation

Other Web Sites in the ConsumerReview Network:

mtbr.com | roadbikereview.com | carreview.com | photographyreview.com | audioreview.com