Marantz vs Sansui Receivers! Can There Be A Winner?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 มิ.ย. 2020
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I decide to do a head-to-head comparison of my Marantz 2270 and Sansui 881 receivers. People need to know my verdict, right?
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I'd like to credit the award winning, classic 1955 film, "Marty", for inspiring me to make this video. It was directed by Delbert Mann, and written by Paddy Chayefsky. Starring Ernest Borgnine and Betsy Blair.
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Landed me a baby Sansui 210 today. 10 watts/ ch. 1972 hooked it to klipsch Cornwalls and I think I’m in love with a $15 receiver.
The 881 IS the one you "marry". I've rescued one from a recycle pile, changed a few components, resoldered the cold solder joints on the fuse lamp clips, and wow. Amazing tuner performance and seductive sound, this receiver never disappoints. And the loudness button really packs a punch. So I believe in function over form. Front panel symmetry doesn't mean better sound quality folks. But don't take my word for it, try both of them and choose the one that makes you happy!!
While I was in high school my best friend's dad had a Sansui 8080 paired with their huge tower speakers and it still is the best sounding stereo I've ever listened to. The frequency range was fabulous and the bass output got us into trouble with the neighbors as we blasted the likes of Led Zeppelin, Van Halen and Pink Floyd through it.
Yeah, my father had a 8080 with Bose 901s. There's nothing like it.
In 1976 I had a Sansui 8080 receiver, B & O Turntable, and Jennings Contra P Speakers. Those were the days!
I'm with you. Those were the good old days.
I've heard Marantz and Sansui.
Marantz' are definitely more beautiful looking than Sansuis.
But Sansui has a certain something that makes music sound better. It became known as "the Sansui sound".
How can I describe it to someone who has never heard either? Well, both make delicious, juicy steaks. But Sansui puts salt on it.
I don't give a shit. You're preaching to the choir. I used to wait in the mail for the catalog back in 89. Sansui was the company that made McIntosh quake literally in the 60$. Lessee, the same way Honda made Harley Davidson run towards remarketing their brand as more American. Accuphase was just higher end Teac. Luxman was higher end than McIntosh. Luxman electronics are so overlooked. Have fun with your research. I did my job before I got my 9090. Long ago. I don't need anybody's advice.
@@elderherrera2238 gd, man. You are an intense dude.
@@elderherrera2238Are you talking to me??
I have an 8080DB, G-4700 and qrx-6001 powering sp3000s, sp1700s and SF2s. So I don't know who the hell you're talking to.
@@1ring2rule3pigs You are replying a bit late.
Fluked across your channel. LOVE it!! Great job! Signed - a new subscriber!
Thank you very much!
Interesting review, thanks! I have never owned a Marantz but in terms of design I love them, they look astonishingly beautiful. They seem to command higher prices. Just recently I picked up a few Sansui models. An AU-4900 with matching tuner unit, killer looking in Matt black with silver dials - I think this is a keeper. My technician loves it, he said the NEC transistors inside are stellar and incredibly hard to find. Also picked up a 771, I was attracted to it by the 3 sets of speaker inputs and 2x Aux. Great sound and works beautifully, however visually it doesn’t quite do it for me. I think all things considered the 4900 is more my kind of amp.
Welcome to the dark side! I am a sansui guy for the last 30 years. I have 11 different ones including the 881 you have. Love them all. That rich sound is the reason. I have had marantz a few times and like them but always come back to the sansui. Great vid.
I am surprised by how good it sounds. Always believed Marantz was superior. Thanks.
I liked both back in day, but I preferred Sansui. I loved Sansui's sound signature. I owned a Sansui and I wish that they were back in the market, but just for stereo.
These units (being ~50 years old) do need a recap to function optimally. As a hobby, I restored Sansui 5000X, Eight, AU-9500 and 8080DB. In my collection I currently have AU-999/TU-999 and AU-717/TU-717... opposite ends of the 70's models. Love Sansui !! Never heard a vintage Marantz though.
I had a 9090 for 15years. Sold it in 2015. I miss it. But I have a 4000 underneath my bed. I love Sansui. Been a fan since the 80s.
Awesome stuff!
Just discovered your channel - what a trip down memory lane! You took me back to my days of drooling over Stereo Review, knowing I could never afford that stuff! Only a few more affluent buddies could, and I haunted their apartments! BTW, you're looking pretty good if you're my age!
Really? No one ever tells me that. Thx.
I was watching and when you said “the Sansui just has a seductive tone”, my wife overheard and chimed in “I hear you brotha”. She hates the Marantzs, loves the Sansuis. She currently upset that the living room Sansui 800 has temporarily been replaced by a Marantz 2238b.
You obviously found a good woman. Thanks, Dave
She has got great taste!
Nothing beats the Marantz. The best of the 70's Receivers.
They asked $2500 for a Marantz 2270. This is some kind of scalper or something? I say screw it! I like Japanese brand better anyway and just go with Pioneer.
I had repaired many hifi amps. One of the best I consider was/is the Luxman L85V. It is pretty easy to service with removeable power amp module. Generous power and the bass response is subtly smoother than Pioneer or Sansui. I still have many vintage amps in my collection. Maybe you think I BS. Literally, my home is littered with electronic stuff. My wife is getting fed up of my hobbies. Now that I am getting old, I might consider off loading all of them before I return "home".
I believe Sansui just beat Marantz in this video. Marantz second place
@@williamwong5627 Nice to hear. I've had that Luxman for about 30 years. Excellent.
Nothing except the Sansui
Your videos are neat. My collection includes a Marantz 2270 and a Sansui 7070. I'm the original owner of the Marantz. The Sansui I found at a charity event 25 years ago. $40. The Marantz has better symmetry and style. Thanks for creating videos!
Nice breakdown brohamski.
Sansui fan boy here, own their 2000 and 4000, and I must say, the 4000 is kicking tail and taking names with my Zu Omen Dirty Weekend speakers. The Zu's were made for these old Sansui receivers. I just bought this 4000 two days ago, and had it tore down for most of the day today cleaning her up, went through the pots, tuner, selector switches, etc. Knocked the dust and cobwebs out of her, and she is sounding FANTASTIC! These Sansui units of this era, 1967 to 1970 have a very tube sound, at least the 2000 and 4000 do. They handle the midrange and the highs with ease. And the bass these two units put out, I turned my two SVS SB3000 subs OFF. I have no need for them with the Zu's and the Sansui 4000. I was playing a little R&B earlier, and the cabinet in the dining room was rattling. And it was clean bass, this combo gets damn low. I know they are not the sexiest stereo receivers out there, more like that girl next door, if you get my drift. ;-)
Marantz for looks Sansui for sound. Owned a 2015 baby Marantz and still own a Sansui 3900.
Truly enjoyed this video. I felt for sure you were going with the Marantz, so you got me. Anyway, I always think Marantz wins the beautify contest and Sansui wins the talent contest. Just ain’t nothing out there that out sounds an early 70’s Sansui. Your 881 is arguably in the best ever Sansui series, too. I got a 771 for my everyday driver. The Sansui Eight deluxe is really special, you might try and get your hands on one of those. The Sansui G series competes well on the looks side with the Marantz, but I like the XX1 series sound the best of all, except the eight deluxe.
Beautiful vintage jewells .
I agree on your sentiments. I've owned a Marantz 2015 and 2230, and a Sansui QRX-4500. The Marantz units look beautiful, but the Sansui had a pleasing sound that always felt good to listen to. I didn't think the Marantz units sounded very special, as I was hoping they would. Fortunately, they were easy to sell for the same price I paid for them.
Marantz receivers hold their value well. The Sansui is worth less than half on the open market. If you like my videos, please subscribe. Thanks, Dave.
'Audiophile grade components'.. when I started learning about these things, I accepted audiophile was high budget top end systems. Since I have spent more time watching people and learning, I see that from budget cheapo stuff to premo equipment, its the person who is taking it in - and how they appreciate and analyze (or feel) the differences that moves me. Anything can be audiophile grade, its the study of materials, construction, output, and perceived quality. Of course, it is also possible to ascribe audiophile quality to that which is only obtainable by a large investment but I think it misses the point of a shared passion for sound. I could get into someone doing an analysis and investigation of cheap pc speakers, if it seemed they were really into it. But I suppose this is just my take and possibly the mainstream definition is different.
Agreed...sansui sounded so beautiful.
Glad you saw the light. Me too!
Sansui Man here. I currently have a G33000 and a 9090DB. I had a G8700 and a 9900z, but they got burned in lightning strike.
I have the G8700 DB.
Amazing, even with illl left side.
i am so glad this video was suggested i enjoyed it immensely
unfortunately i just bought a Trio Kenwood kr5200
its not here yet but if i like the 70s sound i will start saving up for a Sansui
I had a Sansui 881 and loved it! The board died on it several years ago.
Awsome units. Love my Pioneer SX1250.
Ernest Borgnine was fabulous in that movie . Sansui for me .
I have a Sansui 5050 and a Marantz 2020b. Both are works of art. I could never decide which I like better.
Agreed. What a dilemma. Thanks, Dave.
do you mean 2220 B ?
While serving overseas in Thailand 74-75, the Marantz was the receiver everyone wanted. I ended up with a Pioneer.
_______S A N S U I_______
Ive owned a large collection of both. I favor Sansui. The 1971 Sansui 7000 is my favorite piece
I totally agree about replacing dial and meter illumination with LED's..they cause noise on the preamp circuit.. . Don't do it. It always looks harsh. replace with incandescent.
My guess is that both Sansui and Marantz, both having made tube gear for years, used that experience to voice their amps in the early 70s. That's my explanation of the "sound" of these receivers.
That's an interesting comment. God, I need to get my dad's 8080db from Greece.
I'm a Sansui guy. Own a number of different models - two channel and four channel. What surprised me though, are the Sony from that era in terms of listening. Looks wise, don't hold a candle to Marantz, Sansui, Pioneer, or Kenwood. Another to check out for sound is the Onkyo from that era like the TX-5000.
thats exactly what i keep saying the look of old vintage recievers are unbeatble .Sansui & marantz are the best ...
Sansui hands down
Sansui G-series are the best looking receivers...period!
As a long time pioneer guy I only got into the marantz and sansuis a couple of years ago, the Marantzs are fantastic looking units, the sansui XX1 series isnt very attractive at all and has odd design choices, the X0X0 series that followed is much better. My 7070 rivals anything I own by marantz and is on par with my SX-737 design wise. I cannot pick a favourite between my 7070 sx-737 or 2235B they are all excellent looking receivers, but then comes along the Sansui G series and wow we have a winner. my G-5700 is my clear favourite of these receivers. Just a stunning design. Sound wise the Marantz is simply fantastic and Id take it over my Pioneers, marginally, but against the Sansuis, Marantz comes out second for the same reasons you mention. My 7070, G-5700 and 800 come out as my favorite sounding receivers. Overall my favourite looking receiver that I own is the Pioneer SX-7730 .
Man...this was cool...SANSUI!
Refurbed a 9010 Sansui....love the sound...so smooth...but punchy too
I kinda split the difference..... I had a Marantz 2270 powering a set of Sansui SP-5500 speakers. Everyone liked it..... except my neighbors who would occasionally complain about the bass, however, with 15" long throw woofers, that's gonna happen. Maybe it was their kitchen cabinets being opened remotely that irked them? Anyway, thanks for the memories....!
Don't overlook Onkyo of this era. High quality sound...and beautiful !!!
Sansui till I die!👍
Cheers!🥂
I had a 9090 for 15+years. Sold it. Miss it? Nah. I have a 4000 under my bed. I like the black face
Very nice review but I love Sansui but my first Sansui the 1974
I own new Marantz PM 6007 also a restored Marantz 2250b they were the best in 1976 and there still the best today.
Hey there I kind of like this model Marantz compared to the Sansui growing up Sansui was to us a high end unit compared to the other brands there I remember seeing a ad for marantz receiver but it was out my budget and only audio store I went to was House of audio in Totawa N.J. they had all kinds of audio equipment but I never saw a marantz there or remember seeing a sansui the only one I ever saw was the one my brother had when he came back from Japan after the airforce but the sansui he had was nicer looking than this one [ no offense] the controls were more organized and it had a very shiny brushed aluminum face it was beautiful and it was very big but I like the way Marantz looks but on auction sites they are very high priced hopefully someday I will get one JRo
I mange to connect 4 Sansuis at the same time (551,771, AU-5500 and AU-7700) with with 2 speakers one each on an Pioneer Turntable.(With AT VM540ML Cartridge) The floor vibrates at low volume as such warm sound comes from it.
Marantz is still voiced like the 70's.
Sansui for me
The G series receivers particularly!
Having a Marantz 2226B & a Sansui 6060, I must say both units are great. If I had to keep only one, I'll keep the Sansui :) but a fair comparison would have been 2245 vs 6060
I can only compare what I have. I am planning to ask friends to lend me gear to evaluate in the future. Thanks, Dave.
Sansui G Series recievers. Nothing looks and sounds this good.
Monster receivers. Have you seen my “Receiver Wars” video? If you like my videos, please subscribe. Thanks, Dave.
There can be a winner. Sansui.
I've always read of military guys purchasing Sansui overseas..never Marantz.🤷
@@jamiesmith6838 Excellent point, but Marantz wasn't a Japanese brand. They were American, made in Japan.
@@MODAC Yes! I'm aware. I got luv for Marantz, especially it being American made! I also know They were built like tanks! More reliable than a Sansui, no question. Marantz had an ad back in the day. Supposed to have been a true story? Theives in pursuit dropped a marantz reciever. Scuffed and dented plugged in and worked!! That's how well made they were. Those were the days.
Marantz since have had several different parents. Aren't they currently being made in Taiwan now? But! They're still around sounding great, I may add!
Sansui is always O M G ! When you come back after a few days of not listening.
I agree with some others on here the G series in Sansui is the best hands down !
I wish you would of used your Ohm 2's for reference.
I have a Marantz 7 paired with a Marantz 8B and a 16b amp and a Sansui 9090db. All in perfect condition, the Marantz setup is the one hooked up and the Sansui is in a closet. Should I get it out and hook it up? I may need to do a little comparison like this. It’s been years since I heard the Sansui sing.
Marantz tube gear is in a higher league than the Marantz solid state gear. The Sansui 9090b is a fantastic receiver, but I'd take Marantz tube gear over it.
Great idea. It was fun. Thanks.
My 9090 is so sweet. Saved up as a kid and it has been singing to me since...1994ish. Listening right now. Taking It To The Streets.
Last of the hand built old style production amplifiers.
Current rcvr Marantz SR5012 IMO it sounds flat compared to my Sansui 9900Z?
I’m a late comer to this video. Imo no receiver can outdo the looks of Marantz of this era. Visually outstanding. However I had the Marantz 2325 and still have the Sansui G7500. I sold the 2325 because I didn’t prefer it’s sound over the Sansui. Just a personal preference. You can’t go wrong with either company.
Marantz continues research chips for better clarity and smooth bass always winning the music hearts
So the Marantz sold for about $370 in the early 70's. Which is like $2400 today?? You can get a one hell of a system for that money today.
I wish I could et my hands on a 70s Sansui receiver, here in England..in good condition.
Always out of reach, even back in the 70s, I could never afford one.
I've got a Sansui 8080db in great shape after all these years.
look for a qrx 6500 if you can find one.
Keep your eyes opened brother I felt that way too until today. Picked me up a little 10 watts per channel Sansui 210, all I can say is WOW! 9/10 condition, 50 years old, didn’t even have to cleanse her down, got her home, connected the speakers (klipsch Cornwalls 1 and I’m blown away. US$15.
@@laorhino9702 You are so lucky!!!!
I've heard both sansui have a best sound
SANSUI was best hi fi systems at 70s-80s especialy amplifiers was No1 sounds quality
Sansui was the best sounding stereo back in the day. I hated Pioneer and Kenwood.
Why not just connect the Sansui into the Marantz with RCA cables. Feed those two receivers into a third receiver (such as another Marantz). Then connect your speakers into the third receiver and you have yourself paradise enjoying the highs, mids and lows each has to offer since it's obvious by your review that each speaker focuses on different frequencies.
That sounds so crazy, it may just work! Thanks, Dave
Love your video on the vintage receivers but if you gonna compare cosmetics then you gotta go with a G-series Sansui.
Don’t own one at this time.
As the owner of a G-7700 I concur, lol! LED's and an analog tuner dial, what's not to like?!!
Pioneer is my choice for 👑
I bought a Sansui 661 from a second hand shop decades ago. The front control knobs had been kind of pushed or bashed by something that caused the control knobs looked out of place. I checked the interior by peeking inside making sure nothing was missing. Told the seller that it was in bad shape and offered $5.00. Took it home removed the front panel and everything. Straightened the metal support behind the front panel and holy cow, found that the PCB was cracked in many places. Fortunately nothing serious was physically damaged.
Spend a couple of hours cleaned up and rejoined the broken traces. Tested and worked till today. There is a worry that the power switch might fail because it is combined with the speaker selector. So I leave at ON position all the time using a external control to power off.
Well.. didn't have as many of them as some people here but had and still have 2230 and 2235b and had 2000x and both Marantzes sounded to me better than Sansui. The diffrences in sound are probably minimal in cheap and expensive models I'm guessing but Marantz looks are undeniable.
Classic film, but I thought only someone in their mid-sixties or older would remember this? You are younger, no? I have a Marantz and a Sansui integrated from the late '70s. Both very nice! I did have the Sansui 5000A a few years ago but it started to hum.
I’m not over 60 yet, but any age can watch an old movie. Thanks for sharing your experience. Please subscribe. Dave.
If only people would use hip hop to really test these receivers and speakers.
Got a marantz 2235 b as a preamp for a Sansui g7700, So i dont have to decide wich one is better :P :)
Must be nice! Thanks, Dave
Sony 1080 Reciver just never stop Impress me Earc HDMI upgrade to my New Sony XG9505 65" TV Reciver upgrade arc to Earc directly when plug it in 🏆
Nice review, but if you could slow down the camera panning we wouldn't have to pause the video so often ...
Should have used the Sansui 7070 instead. More of a fair comparison, but I digress.
Ummm. Don’t have one.
You don’t have a comment section on your Instagram?
What?
Straight off you cannot compare 50 year old amps, w/o at least changing all capacitors.
I've done it, I have refurbished them and compared them. Marantz boosts high and lows w/o the loudness switch on. Sansui kicks ass all day long. Sansui beats out everything to this day.
Why? Their transformers are the best. Straight up copper windings and iron. Listen to them, you will always pick the Sansui. They sound live.
Depending on what your side is on...but for me...it's almost the same....nothing to compare on...each have the right in the amp industry...
Maybe you preffer the Sansui because is the new kid in town. It happens to me every time I get a "new" receiver.
I sold the Marantz and kept the Sansui. Made a tidy profit.
@@MODAC I was wondering, these Sansui receivers are a cut above. I remember many a guy coming back from Nam, and just about all of them brought back a Sansui. When I was a kid in the 60's and 70's, it was Sansui. I finally own two, their 1969 2000 and 1970 4000 model. Both sound incredible with my Zu Dirty Weekends. ;-)
And the winner is Pioneer..
I love my 2285B, better than the 2270
So, did she answer the phone?
Did they get married?
Did his friends get his stereo?
So many questions...
She did answer the phone, but that’s where it ended. Look for it and watch it. The film won lots of awards. Thanks, Dave
Sansui everyday...
Sansui z-9000x is king!
Yamaha.
Sansui but the next generation.
Absolutely.
and for the next trick.combine the marantz and sansui and get marantzasui.......
Dual-tone control is of Dubious utility and unnecessary!? Holy smokes! The marvelous even bass and account for wall proximity for proper imaging is unnecesary? Come on!
The order>>> McIntosh...Marantz.....all others.
Sansui. They built the 2200 series Marantz during the 70$ .
Both were popular in the 1970s.
@@MODAC Go ahead split hairs.
Sansui made McIntosh quake in their pants. The Sansui 1000@ was better than McIntosh 1500.
I had a 9090. I had a Marantz 2230, 2265 black face, 2265b silver face. I use to fix em and flip them. I flipped the three Marantz. The 9090 wasn't as symmetrical. Its sounded better but was uglier. The 9090 8080 7070 were prettier. But who cares. Sansui made the Marantz. Who the hell wants to argue my point.
Oops not as symmetrical. I could split hairs as far as aesthetics go.
Just done time pass why not updated audio test comparisons
The Marantz 2270 wasn't top quality in 1975? That is absurd, no offense. Who on earth could afford one back then? I saw one, a family friend who was a dentist owned it and I knew it was special even though I was 12. Back then it was about sound quality, today it's about gimmicks.
Yes, in 1973 it was the top Marantz receiver. So was the Sansui in 1975. However, even in those days by “hifi” standards, buying separates was still considered the best way to go. Receivers (even the expensive ones) were considered mainstream components, not high end. Similar vintage brands like Macintosh, Audio Research, and Conrad Johnson are regarded as far superior.
Marantz 2270 is by far not their best sounding receiver. The 2230 sounds much better, improved later design...881 would win this one hands down...
Sansui G series are aesthetically far superior to this one.
Agreed.
I had that Sansui model myself. It was a very nice unit, but I really didn't care for the looks. In that department, the Marantz would win out. Probably the big thing about Marantz I didn't like was that obtuse tuning dial. I just preferred a nice big round metal dial and not that sideways thing. While the Marantz does sound nice, they were just not my thing. I was more a Sansui - Technics - Kenwood guy. I have had Pioneer too, but while I do give them much kudos on how they were built and they sounded good, I just thought the prior three mentioned brands sounded better. With Technics, I liked the 90's models more. For 70's 80's that would be either Sansui or Kenwood. I had to give the latter some kudos for designing a nice quality looking AND sounding unit in a much smaller cabinet. I had a Kenwood KA-5700 and it was a great unit. It was one of the few units I sold off and regretted doing so. But I also have a Sansui G-7000 and that did sound better and it is still my main receiver. I will never get rid of that one.
The winner of the receiver war was Technics. Everyone else came in after them. I have owned all three brands, I prefer Technics. The amplifier designs work so well with about every speaker made. The marantz brand has some absolute jem's, and so did Sansui, but pound for pound the often forgotten Technics wins.
habla por su cuenta, blas blas blas,ni siquiera oir el sonidos de los 2 equipos, para poder comparar, que fraude
Sansui amplifier + pioneer HPM speakers, the best. Marantz is nothing.
not quite an equal comparison. they were produced yrs apart from each other. sansui G series would be more inline with marantz
Incorrect: Marantz 1973, Sansui 1974
The 881 is not exactly Sansui's best. I think Sansui's AU series was much better.
Not sure what you mean by “best”. Obviously, I have not heard every model Sansui produced (who has?). The 881 holds its own extremely well vs a number of receivers I have owned from various manufacturers.
@@MODAC I'm sure it does hold its own. My point is only that no matter how good the 881 is, Sansui had even better models which outclassed many others.