Hi,
I recently changed all the electolytic capacitors as well as most of the ceramics in my AU217 and would say WOW!!!
It's good enough for me to retain it and displaces a much, MUCH more expensive unit - great sound from a small but grunty amp with only 154W power consumption!!! Almost made the mistake of selling it off after selling among other amps a Sugden A48B, Pioneer A400, Pioneer A400X, Exposure XX, JVC AX2, Luxman L210, Carver C2&M200i and a Technics 808 system.
Had to change the 2SB560 and 2SD438 on the main board though since these transistors were giving a crackling sound randomly.
Used OSCON, Panasonic FC and ECA, Rubycon (cant remember series but black jacket), DS (from China for the twin towers), WIMA and some silver mica CDM(s).
No bypasses required to be added at all - the original designers though of all these little details!!
Great vintage amp which is easy to restore or maintain using a good soldering iron and the internet!
I recently changed all the electolytic capacitors as well as most of the ceramics in my AU217 and would say WOW!!!
It's good enough for me to retain it and displaces a much, MUCH more expensive unit - great sound from a small but grunty amp with only 154W power consumption!!! Almost made the mistake of selling it off after selling among other amps a Sugden A48B, Pioneer A400, Pioneer A400X, Exposure XX, JVC AX2, Luxman L210, Carver C2&M200i and a Technics 808 system.
Had to change the 2SB560 and 2SD438 on the main board though since these transistors were giving a crackling sound randomly.
Used OSCON, Panasonic FC and ECA, Rubycon (cant remember series but black jacket), DS (from China for the twin towers), WIMA and some silver mica CDM(s).
No bypasses required to be added at all - the original designers though of all these little details!!
Great vintage amp which is easy to restore or maintain using a good soldering iron and the internet!
Nordic has disappeared, no traces, no clues, no tracks
he has just "evaporate".
Sadly i think he has made the longest travell... i am afraid the one without return.
regards,
Carlos
he has just "evaporate".
Sadly i think he has made the longest travell... i am afraid the one without return.
regards,
Carlos
I am restoring an Sansui amp also, an AU 7900 for a friend how find it on a fleemarket for little less an €5. It worked when I plug it in but some distorsion indicate it was time to change some caps. I have allmost change them all but I am waiting for the caps in the powersupply I have used caps from Elna - silmic, Rubycon - Blackgate, Sanyo - Oscon and Rifa film and elco.
Sansui are one of my favorit vintage amps but I have no opportunity to own one for my self but they sound so good.
Anders
Sansui are one of my favorit vintage amps but I have no opportunity to own one for my self but they sound so good.
Anders
Hello everyone !
I am listening to a 317 that I bought for 100 euro 🙄
I open the lid and I found the two elna multipin 😡 primary caps.
Any suggestion for a good replacement and of course compatible ?😕
I would like to increase the uF if it's possible.
I am using only the power amp section and I like what I am hearing
thanks and regards,😀
ginetto
I am listening to a 317 that I bought for 100 euro 🙄
I open the lid and I found the two elna multipin 😡 primary caps.
Any suggestion for a good replacement and of course compatible ?😕
I would like to increase the uF if it's possible.
I am using only the power amp section and I like what I am hearing
thanks and regards,😀
ginetto
I just bought an AU-217 in fine condition off Ebay, listening to it right now and am amazed that more people don't clue up on this brand. I'm amazed at how musical this amp is.
Currently partnered with Mission 752s and a Marantz SA7001-KI CDP and it's completely transformed what this system was doing up to now.
I know this was near the entry level (it being the AU-117) in the range, but does anyone know what this originally retailed for? I'm amazed I managed to get such a great amp for £33 delivered! Beats my former amp, a Marantz PM-6010 KI, hands down.
Great news this amp has legs in it with possible upgrades in time too. Is there a recommended set of upgrades anyone can point me towards? I won't be doing it myself (total no-no!) but will get someone to do the work at a later date. Too busy just enjoying this great piece of hi-fi history at the moment.
Dear Sir, from you message can I assume that is possible to foresee the sound quality of an amp (maybe of a preamp as well) from looking at its circuit ?
This is an extremely interesting point of discussion.
Could you please elaborate your comment ?
Thank you very much and kind regards,
ginetto
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I cannot think of less than 5 euros for an amp that good
Ok there is the crisis .. but really you do not have the opportunity ?😱
Ciao
ginetto
sansui au 117 problem
i have a sansui au117 with issui
the protact rely always off
abd there is no dc off-set port can be adjucted
what shall i do?
thanks
i have a sansui au117 with issui
the protact rely always off
abd there is no dc off-set port can be adjucted
what shall i do?
thanks
Look alike Symassym... and symassym sounds very good
The 317 looks alike Symassym...because of that i suppose it may sound good too.
The 117 has the bootstrapp circuit that i love.... usually, all Sansui are very good in sonics...most of them use the simple bootstrapp method to feed the voltage amplifiers transistor. (vas)
regards,
Carlos
The 317 looks alike Symassym...because of that i suppose it may sound good too.
The 117 has the bootstrapp circuit that i love.... usually, all Sansui are very good in sonics...most of them use the simple bootstrapp method to feed the voltage amplifiers transistor. (vas)
regards,
Carlos
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Thank you very much indeed for your kind and helpful reply
I am not educated but I perceive a certain simplicity in this schema 🙂
And I like it .. even if I cannot explain why ...
Problem is that is very old
I am expecting troubles .. before or later
Caps are original 🙁
Kind regards,
gino
Sansui amplifiers may last for long time....you see how old it is now a days
and still working i hope...maybe some small failures..contact, relay, switches..or some oxide..but things can be fixed.
Problems may be fixed using WD40 into switches and potentiometers.
Some folks loves to replace condensers, sometimes are needed, in special into the power supply...we have bigger and better ones now a days.
Sakis, our Greek friend in this forum has published, several times, a list about what to do with those old equipments..what to check, what to replace.
Search for Sakis and ask him the list that was published.
A Sansui amplifier may burn if someone not skilled trying to fix go messing all around.
A qualified serviceman, alike Sakis, or Anatech (user and moderator in this forum), are able to make it work during your son lifetime and your grandson lifetime too.
Modern things use to be damaged easier than old things.... 40 years ago, appliances were made to last for long time..now a days they are made to be self destroyed having an internal timer connected into the microprocessor's clock... using or not using the unit, some features will be disabled after some years..forcing you to buy a new equipment.
Trust more into those old fellows, i suggest you..replace your prejudice about old things inverting the polarity because it is more reasonable.... i think.
The modern ones, a lot of them.... the big majority of them...will sound worse than this Sansui...and time will pass and you will realise that.
I have assembled more than 4.7 thousand amplifiers...and i would never replace a Sansui alike this one by the most modern someone may offer me....maybe i would accept.... to sell the expensive modern one, using the big money to buy two or three Sansui alike this one....I may accept the modern ones to do that..to sell and to buy some Sansui.... but to be listening...well...will listen the Sansui.
I really think the chances to have a heart attack, if you are older than 25, is 100 times bigger than to have a failure into a Sansui ... of course they are not undestructable, a non skilled guy can kill the unit...but under normal use it will be reliable..of course...... a crash.... or liquid going inside.... plugging it into wrong voltage...or using non correct speakers...bad use may kill it..but only this way...using it correctly, a wise use, then it will last for more 50 years.
regards,
Carlos
and still working i hope...maybe some small failures..contact, relay, switches..or some oxide..but things can be fixed.
Problems may be fixed using WD40 into switches and potentiometers.
Some folks loves to replace condensers, sometimes are needed, in special into the power supply...we have bigger and better ones now a days.
Sakis, our Greek friend in this forum has published, several times, a list about what to do with those old equipments..what to check, what to replace.
Search for Sakis and ask him the list that was published.
A Sansui amplifier may burn if someone not skilled trying to fix go messing all around.
A qualified serviceman, alike Sakis, or Anatech (user and moderator in this forum), are able to make it work during your son lifetime and your grandson lifetime too.
Modern things use to be damaged easier than old things.... 40 years ago, appliances were made to last for long time..now a days they are made to be self destroyed having an internal timer connected into the microprocessor's clock... using or not using the unit, some features will be disabled after some years..forcing you to buy a new equipment.
Trust more into those old fellows, i suggest you..replace your prejudice about old things inverting the polarity because it is more reasonable.... i think.
The modern ones, a lot of them.... the big majority of them...will sound worse than this Sansui...and time will pass and you will realise that.
I have assembled more than 4.7 thousand amplifiers...and i would never replace a Sansui alike this one by the most modern someone may offer me....maybe i would accept.... to sell the expensive modern one, using the big money to buy two or three Sansui alike this one....I may accept the modern ones to do that..to sell and to buy some Sansui.... but to be listening...well...will listen the Sansui.
I really think the chances to have a heart attack, if you are older than 25, is 100 times bigger than to have a failure into a Sansui ... of course they are not undestructable, a non skilled guy can kill the unit...but under normal use it will be reliable..of course...... a crash.... or liquid going inside.... plugging it into wrong voltage...or using non correct speakers...bad use may kill it..but only this way...using it correctly, a wise use, then it will last for more 50 years.
regards,
Carlos
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Thank you very much Mr Carlos 😀
Only now I understand better the quality and the value of this old equipment
We live in the use and throw away era ... I am personally against this approach.
Like the resources were unlimited. But it is not the case
I read , as you say, that caps can go bad.
I will search for the Sakis' advice about the care to use with older equipment.
Thank you sincerely for your very kind and extremely valuable advice.
Kind regards,
gino
Only now I understand better the quality and the value of this old equipment
We live in the use and throw away era ... I am personally against this approach.
Like the resources were unlimited. But it is not the case
I read , as you say, that caps can go bad.
I will search for the Sakis' advice about the care to use with older equipment.
Thank you sincerely for your very kind and extremely valuable advice.
Kind regards,
gino
You are welcome....Sakis have prepared a nice list, explaining all we need to do,
a step by step procedure to be applied into old equipments...very usefull.
Search for Sakis, the greek will help you, for sure he will... at least, if you find him busy, he will point you the published text.
Sakis has a big repair shop for audio...this is what he use to do...so, to have old units and to ressurect or refurbish, well, upgrade and update is his main skill.
Almost all "tips and tricks" are written there.
regards,
Carlos
a step by step procedure to be applied into old equipments...very usefull.
Search for Sakis, the greek will help you, for sure he will... at least, if you find him busy, he will point you the published text.
Sakis has a big repair shop for audio...this is what he use to do...so, to have old units and to ressurect or refurbish, well, upgrade and update is his main skill.
Almost all "tips and tricks" are written there.
regards,
Carlos
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Hi Gino, Dx and others.
The schematic for Sansui AU117 (and many others) can be found at
Audio Sansui : Service Manual free download,schematics,datasheets,eeprom bins,pcb,repair info for test equipment and electronics
I have a AN117-ii which i purchased new in 1978. I still have it, and i love it. I would not get rid of it even though it is 25W per channel. If it dies, i will fix it. I get a bit of crackle on the volume pot, but i can live with that. The balance pot stopped working so i took it out of circuit (who needs a balance pot anyway).
I have compared it to several other amps made around that time, and the sansui eats them for tone. If you ever get the chance to get one, it is worthwhile, they sound so good. And like anything (even equipment made today) if you look after it, it will last you a long time.
But i agree, they dont make amps like they used to, and i agree Sansui made some really excellent products.
Cheers
Andy
The schematic for Sansui AU117 (and many others) can be found at
Audio Sansui : Service Manual free download,schematics,datasheets,eeprom bins,pcb,repair info for test equipment and electronics
I have a AN117-ii which i purchased new in 1978. I still have it, and i love it. I would not get rid of it even though it is 25W per channel. If it dies, i will fix it. I get a bit of crackle on the volume pot, but i can live with that. The balance pot stopped working so i took it out of circuit (who needs a balance pot anyway).
I have compared it to several other amps made around that time, and the sansui eats them for tone. If you ever get the chance to get one, it is worthwhile, they sound so good. And like anything (even equipment made today) if you look after it, it will last you a long time.
But i agree, they dont make amps like they used to, and i agree Sansui made some really excellent products.
Cheers
Andy
Thank you very much Andy for your kind suggestion
I have seen the 117 schematic and it seems very similar to that of the 317 I have in house
I hope to find some free time to update my 317
My idea is to make a super 317
New caps, new volume pot, bypassing balance and tone controls directly, new power TO3 bjts at the output (some 150W things)
If i could get some more drive with this mod it could stay in my rig for long long time ,,, I hope
Kind regards,
gino
P.S. other amps to look at are first Rotels ... but I am still in love with my 317
I have seen the 117 schematic and it seems very similar to that of the 317 I have in house
I hope to find some free time to update my 317
My idea is to make a super 317
New caps, new volume pot, bypassing balance and tone controls directly, new power TO3 bjts at the output (some 150W things)
If i could get some more drive with this mod it could stay in my rig for long long time ,,, I hope
Kind regards,
gino
P.S. other amps to look at are first Rotels ... but I am still in love with my 317
Good Evening Mr Carlos 😀
Please excuse me but I visited parents in the weekend and just now I am able to reply.
Thank you very much again for your very kind and valuable advice
I could be wrong but from the schematics it seems to me that with the right value of the volume pot (some like 10K) the input fet of the power amp stage could be fed directly with the signal out from the pot (of course with some bypass)
I wonder if the line stage is really needed.🙄
I think that "usually" less stages are better if they are not necessary of course
I understand that a lot of high quality integrated come with the power stage directly linked to the volume attenuator
It's just an idea anyway. I think I will not mess with the unit
Because is working, for now 🙂
A power caps replacement is usually very beneficial .... maybe increasing a little the total uF
Thanks again and kind regards,😀
gino
Enjoy your modifications and be happy
this is what matters..to feel good about you're doing.
regards,
Carlos
this is what matters..to feel good about you're doing.
regards,
Carlos
Hello, I also got my hands on one of these, probably it is a somewhat older model than the one nordic has, as the transformer is not encapsulated, and there are no power outlets on the back. The previous owner told me it has some "minor problems" though. Could someone please send me the service manual if possible. I will read through the complete thread also as there are some usefull hints in here.
Thanks!
Thanks!
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