There was a marvellous buying period for these when they were going for about fifty quid eqivalent in Australia(By the greatest of coincidences it also coincided with the great throwing out of lps in the direction of charity shops where they sold for a dollar or so each. I also picked up two Technics with SME arms for around 150 quid each at the same time. It was listening heaven .). I had each of these and the higher watt Sansuis and found their mid range response very commendable, clear and detailed. Earlier Sansui are little gems. Appreciate the site Lots Kel, cheers.
I have a 661 and Eagles or Don Henley sounds amazing on these units. There are certain headphones nearly impossible to drive on my headphone amps and the Sansui makes them sound better than anything I have ever listened on especially with phono and a decent turntable. The only complaint is sibilance can be a bit high at times and poorly recorded materials will get annoying. These units are incredible. I had to send another unit back to seller because the speaker relay wasn’t working. I am very happy with the Unit I have that works.
I bought a 101 for 10 pounds in 1988. Kept it as a dining room system with a dual 505. Happy days listening to Sade etc. It was a very warm sound with boosted bass with the tones set to flat. Sold it 20 years later for about 25 pounds.
Bought a 771, based on your review and I couldn’t be happier, sounds better then my marantz 2238b and denon 3805 It produces the ultra low frequencies really well. Pairs well with my klipsch heresy which only go down to about 50 hz Best sound so far, beautiful. cheers!
After watching your video I purchased a faulty Sansui 441 for £20 last year. These old units are so easy to repair, my Sansui is now playing great with some Audio Physic tempo speakers.
Just wanted to say thanks! I drove 6 hours today (3 there, 3 back) to pick up a 441, which came with a Kenwood KR-4200 which seems to have some issues) but the Sansui seems to work perfectly (time will tell) and sounds AMAZING!!! Very exciting clean , detailed sound - nicer than any of the old amps I've owned over the years. You got my hopes up and I am not disappointed, quite the opposite! Thanks for your videos....
I'm always on the hunt for cool vintage sound & have largely concentrated on Hitachi gear. You've convinced me to widen my search & I'll see what I can find in this Sansui series. Thanks, Kelvin.
Hi there. I agree 100% that the Sansui 441 is magical. I've had one in my collection for years and it's extraordinary how it sounds with a B&W DM4... The best 11w I have ever heard... I have done many auditions with it, comparing it with much more expensive and powerful equipment... it never disappoints and comes out very well in almost everything it plays. A gem in my collection. I am very happy that an expert like you agrees that the 441 is so special and inexplicably so undervalued.
Hi Kelvin. Really like your show, because you make reference to Stevie Wonder track’s quite a bit. I decided to dig out the records I have of his for a refresher, very good. Thank you.
I love the 101. I just added a vintage Audio Control EQ for detailed tone control... long live the old gear ! (Except my Martin Logans) :) The MLs are an unforgiving speaker - VERY detailed and exacting. The 101 is surprisingly well matched for musicality.
Hi there, have been watching your videos on Sansui recently (very enjoyable thank you). Then went into a electronics repair shop and lo & behold saw a Sansui 441. Got it for £140.00 - sounds great. Thank you :)
k, got the 441 and i gotta say i can't frickin believe it! that a 12 watt toy from the 70s sounds way better and ballsier that my "purist" $2000 usd claymore retro is truly freakin amazing! this is something i never would have considered without seeing your video-- i'm all aboard the sansui train now. many thanks!
just bought a sansui 441 after seeing your video cause my claymore retro needs work. i'll let you know how it sounds with my ditton 33s after it arrives. my first ever receiver back in hi school was a sansui and i loved it back then but this will be my first vintage piece- i'm excited
Kelvin I have just bought a Sansui 441 very impressive, at present The Sansui is being feed by a Sony PS-X600 Turntable and an Ortofon VMS30 MK11 and the speakers are a three way open baffle, Sound stage is Glorious. Thank you for your excellent no nonsense video's. Keep them coming Kelvin. Just a suggestion could you do a Video of connecting fm aerials to a sansui 441 and other vintage receivers.
@@stereoreviewx I have a Denon PMA 1080R Intergrated Amplifier which is if you can get one, a fantastic amp great control and tempo of all genres of music. I also have a Pioneer SX590 Receiver. My Turntables Include a Sony PS-x600 with an Ortofon VMS 30MK11, the Sony is and people in the Know Rate this deck very highly, I also have an Ariston RD11S with a Rega RB251 with structural modes and a Denon DL103R, my main Turntable is an STD 305M with infinity black widow tonearm and an XLM gold body with a ZLM shibata sylus. Of all the Decks the Sony sounds better through the Sansui 441. Good as the Sansui is My Denon just has more grip and control there is not a lot in it but the Denon to my ears wins in the control of the bass regions. Kelvin keep up the excellent Vids.
My 441 arrived today. I went to town on it after watching De-oxit videos. Cleaned everything. Looks "brand new"! Sounds wonderful. So happy! Will you do a review of the 221-881's? Inside the 441, what does the switch do? Sits near the rear half, center left from the front. Ty!
Just adding to my own story. Lol. I bought a second 441, deoxit, cleaned it up, but was in great shape, added LEDs, and gave it to my daughter. It drives her Fluance R85 turntable. Perfect. :)
Kalvin... Thank you Sir for this review... I've recently found a 331SS...im so impressed by this Reciever and paired it to a ditton 1..also found a au101...i never knew about these models until I saw your reviews.. Thanks once again
Just got a 551, drove 45mins each way to pick it up...I am shocked at how gud they sound! Rare in US where Pioneer dominates. You sure convinced me to try a Sansui...glad I did!
Kelvin is the man. Got me into retro hifi during lockdown. Totally fair assessments of audio stuff, with no bull. I now have 3 sansui , 3 sony, and a few not so good ones like sanyo and a panasonic. Also a rotel .. Sony str 7015 is my favourite , think its mid 70s
Thanks for these reviews! I've defo got the Sansui bug too! There are so many models of vintage amps and precious little info out there, so this is all a big help! I don't know why Sansui rated these STK based amps so low. The STK-016 power amp unit used in this amp, has a minimum output of 15W! And anyone who says STK based amps can't sound good, needs to hear one of these or an AU-2200!
I have a Sansui 551, Sweet well balanced sound, what a little beast. Besides rated at 16W it sounds like it has twice the power of a 2005 Receiver rated at 110W per channel.
Ok, I finally got into the Sansui "bandwagon". I've owned a 221, and a 331 for a while now. But other than few test listenings after cleaning them, I haven't used them that much. I do remember them sounding just as you describe, and it is a sound that made my ears perk up. Even though they are really low wattage amps, and they have kind of a flimsy feel to them, the sound is punchy and detailed. After settling on a Kenwood KR-4400 for a while, I thought about the Sansuis and saw an ad for a 771 for 150€. I bought it, cleaned it up, and re-soldered a couple of cracked joints. After the first few songs on the 771, the Kenwood was immediately dethroned from the living room. Not that the KR-4400 is anything special in the first place, but my god the difference was huge! While the Kenwood sounds nice enough, it's bit flat sounding, and like you said here, the bass is a one note tone. The Sansui is the most dynamic sounding vintage receiver, I have heard. All of the notes, high and low, are just so punchy and engaging but it's not tiring to listen to. Quiet parts are detailed, and the power is there when the volume has to go up fast. I have a small collection of vintage receivers; Harman/Kardon 330B, 330C, 430 and 930, Pioneer SX-300, SX-434 and SX-525, Kenwood KR-4400, Sansui 221, 331 and now the 771, and a Rotel RX-203A. The 771 is, in my opinion the best sounding unit of the lot. I'm a bit disappointed by the hulking, Twin Powered H/Ks, as I thought they would reign supreme in the dynamics department. It's the 330 series among them though, that takes the cake for me. The Pioneers don't seem to catch my attention, other than with their looks. The Rotel is a really cheap, but ok sounding receiver, and the Kenwood is still a solid, reliable performer but just a bit flat.
Thanks for all your info, I can’t tell you the amount of times people get Sansui and say it’s the best . For me, Sansui is the only vintage apps I want Japanese silver faced ones I mean
I have had the 221, 441 and 661 they all sounded so nice. I still have the 661 and I won't get rid of it. I wish I had all of them. The 221 really made music and it was more musical than any amps that I have heard that are being built now. I could kick myself for selling it.
Kelvin i have just upgraded the Sansui 441 speaker terminals with Gold plated Banana sockets, Furutech male IEC, and a better power cord, Silver plated 13amp plug with belden shielded mains cable plus a Rhodium plated Female IEC Plug. This little receiver is absolutely amazing, i have a chance to purchase a Sansui 771, Price €249.00 should i take the offer. keep up the no nonsense Videos, a breathe of fresh air in a sea of mud.
Hi Anthany well I have all those Sansui is 331 up to881 And if you don’t need the power the 331 is actually my favourite and the 441 is next just a bit cleaner sound just a bit more perfect if you don’t need the power the 771 may not be an upgrade having said that there are so great I just get it 😜
@@stereoreviewx Thanks Kelvin i'll leave the 771 and save up for a 331. You should try the upgrades I listed totally transformed the 441, to my ears better than my Friends Accuphase 203.
Well I have the 101 and 317 and I’ll pay the 317 really a lot so that’s Gotta be my answer there they are quite different sounding by the way never personally owned the 555
Thanks, Kelvin. Based on your 317 recommendation I bought a 1979 AU-417... then found a recently serviced 555. 417 is good, this particular 555 is better. Clearer imaging, excellant at low volume, not as bass heavy. Either amp is better than the Marantz 2010 (10 watts) which drove Spendor S3/5's in kitchen system. The later mfg 417 sadly does not have all the features of the earlier 317. Bummer. Thoroughly enjoy All your videos. Subscribed.
Yes thanks for the info funny thing with Sansui is the base was so good and tight on the 101 and I guess the 555 as they are the same range and it went slightly downhill from there
thanks for the video! I have been contemplating getting a receiver - as I do listen to local radio (plus they look cool :) - but I also thought it might be better to have seperate amp + tuner
Hello , love your channel and your videos. Im currently using a marantz 2226b with Ditton 33's . Really keen to get a sansui to see if its a better combination with the Celestions. Any thoughts on what model would be an improvement on the 2226b?
@@stereoreviewx Thanks for replying. Can I be cheeky and ask your opinion on the NAD 3020? I dont think you have reviewed one. People online rave about them.
Hi! Thank you for doing this! Love you're recommendations and just purchased a Sansui 551. Do you recommend connecting it with a subwoofer (modern or old)? I do hae some B&O speakers for speaker A but I might add some bass to it. Any clear recommendations for a lower budget? Thank you!
Hi mate, love your channel. Close to buying a Sansui 551, what’s it like. But wondering how it would power my elac’s debut 5’s. I saw you not keen these elacs but wondered if it would power them and how it would sound. Love to hear your thoughts, thank you
Sansui is also my favorite but kinda of hard to find in good shape here in CANADA and not as cheap as what you guys get it for there across the pond. Here they if they do come around inbeetween 300 too a 1000 eaven Canadian dollars and that goes for Marantz also witch im not a big fan. The prices are getting crazy 😳
So, after 25 years another person discovers that low powered solid state receivers sound better than their higher powered counterparts. They always do! Sansui, Marantz, Yamaha, Technics, etc. Nuff said. Heck, it's the same w/push-pull tube amps. Ever compared a McIntosh MC240 to a MC275? Nice amps in this video, but the news is very old.
On your recommendation I bought myself a (recapped) Sansui 555A. Totally stunning. Warm, lush, open, tube liike, are words that come to mind. Have to listen to all of my music again, because there's all this detail I didn't get before.Visually beautiful as well by the way. Now I need speakers, any suggestions? I've borrowed a set of Pioneer's HPM-60 from a friend, they sound gorgeous, and I have my own set of Genelec's 1030's that are connected through the preamp only. They sound clean, not so open, but for their size they are not bad, but really not as nice s the Pioneer's. The Pioneer's are one size too big for my woman though....:-( Any suggestion's? I want a warm, open sound with enough bass and mids...
Hey really glad you’re liking thesansui sound you’ve got a real good one there regarding speakers it’s just too hard for me to say all I will say is if you can go big because the sound is big and spacious and doesn’t really work in small speakers. Cheers K
@@stereoreviewx True. My Genelecs 1030 for instance are really good and produce a sound that is really niceish, but...the Pioneers HPM-60's are a totally different ballgame. Also because I'm using the whole amp (not just the preamp). The only thing is the Pioneers are a bit toooo big (not allowed by wife), so I need something that is somewhere in between there... And yep, the Sansui 555A is a beautiful sounding amp, just love it. Ridiculous to think this amp is around 40/50 years old and sounds waaaayy better than many modern amps...Thanks again for your advise and thanks for taking the time to help! :-)
Curious do they sound the same? one has been modernised with LEDs the other hasn't a good amp to modernise tweak I would buy the bottom one of you worth the project you can borrow it and compare it. Does it get hot on the heart sinks if it's driven hard you can tweak it get more power out of it I would have thought 15 Watts they are old Watts RMS equivalent to about 108w din in today's money
I've got an old Sony which I really love, but I'm so curious to hear just what Sansui can bring to the party. I'm literally on the brink of buying a 551 but before I pull the trigger (he wants £100) is it the same sound quality as the 441 and is it worth it? Please help someone 😀👍 Love this channel. You're great kelvin!
Well I would say this I absolutely love the 441 and the 551 is pretty dam close it just loses a little bit but you get a bit more power I am guessing it will surpass the Sony no problem if you get it do let us know what you think Cheers K
I got a old pioneer A-337. But I can buy a sansui 551 for 100 Euro. Is it worth ? And can you hear the difference? Can someone help me with this. Love this channel Kelvin
Hi there well I would be in the world of guesswork here but knowing what a lot of things sounded like at that time my guess is the Sansui will give you more life and more space more in the room excitement. If I had to pick one without hearing it I would pick the Sansui that’s probably the best I can say from here let me know if you get it I’ll be very interested to hear how it compares . €100 is a good price btw.
Hi so eventually I bought the sansui 441 and compared it to the pioneer the sansui gives more space in the room than the pioneer but the low on pioneer where a little better. But I am very happy with the sansui.
Thanks for all the great reviews on vintage gear. I really enjoy your channel! I had a question. I am currently using a kenwood KR 5400 as my amp and have a chance to pick up a Sansui 5500 classic not the quad for 275.00 US dollars. Is it worth it and do you think the sound quality will be better. I know it has like10 more watts of power but was wondering about better sound and sound stage quality? Thanks
Hi, I've just discovered you and can't stop watching you reviews. They are great. I'm looking at one of these amps it's going for £100. Just waiting on seller to reply. Also seen a sansui au 2900 going for £90. I can't find info on that amp. Would it be worth considering. My brain is full of amps at the moment Not even looked for speakers 😁.
I am not a big fan of the 2900 annoyingly Sansui start all their arms with Au so it’s hard to distinguish different ranges unless you know it they look different I suppose but that range just wasn’t as good as the stuff that went before K
can someone advise me please? I have a 441 in very good working order. yay.. my question is though, can I use vintage 4 ohm speakers rated at 40 watts with the Sansui? are 4 ohm speakers too much for it in general? the manual says 8 ohms and the 4 ohm part is left blank. the speakers in question here are the Philips 22 RH438 just for reference. thank you in advance, tom
Well I’ll be quite honest with you if it’s one pair of speakers my entire life I just plug it in and it always works I’ve never had a problem. That’s my experience anyway Cheers K
@@stereoreviewx Thank you for your answer! I've got the Pioneer SX-525 in a realy good condition, but I could do the upgrade to Sansui 771, do you think I should go for that? Thanks!
I have a mint pioneer sx-424 and a sansui 661. They are good for different purposes. The Sansui 661 is a bit sibilant and don’t think is best for some material (think 80s hair bands) where I probably be fine with that on the Pioneer. The Pioneer can give me a headache listening headphones where the Sansui does not except if it is sibilant. The Sansui is more rounded and detailed where the pioneer can have a bit darker warm sound. They just sound different from each other, so I would keep the pioneer and get a Sansui too if you can afford it. Right now I am in a different location and primarily using a Fisher Futura 202 which ai find enjoyable in a small room. Any of these units and other vintage I prefer in comparison to my Denon x3500h which I would say is a very good modern surround amplifier. If you want a clean digital signal run a quality dac into the vintage systems. The reason it is easy to collect systems is they all sound different. It isn’t always that one in better than the other but they are different and sometimes that leads to suiting a certain kind of music better than another but sources and speakers matter too.
Aye Mate, Tell Me Calvin Tell me Why You Always got Them Small Monitor Speakers....You Dont Never Play Music And Calvin Could You Get Me Some Technic Products From The U.K. And Charge me The Regular pay? And Cause of You Im Am Trying to find One I Can Afford..........
@@stereoreviewx many many thanks. Sorry for my bad Englis: I currently have many Sansui, also I have Sansui Eight and Sansui 1000X, I love AU101 and AU 505 ( also I have) very much. You say 441 can be better than the ones above? I have 107 db speakers (Klipschorn). Another question: for efficient speakers, better 331/441 / 1000x or Sansui Eight? I love low power, few watts and Eight is too powerful for my speakers. differences between 331 and 441. I follow you, I like what you do on the video channel, I love you.
You discuss the awesomness of these sansui amps but you don't say what is the best kind of speaker to go with..cause if your speakers suck then these amps will not be so magical huh?
The dial and tuner lamps appear to flash out-of-phase, which is curious, as all the lamps are almost certainly powered by the same winding on the transformer. Maybe some lamps replaced with LEDs?
Just picked up a 221. Good deal. So enjoyable to listen to. Mesmerized.
Hi! Great review, thanks.
I have a 441 that is still running perfectly. Belonged to my parents and now my kids enjoy it!! It is absolutely gorgeous.
There was a marvellous buying period for these when they were going for about fifty quid eqivalent in Australia(By the greatest of coincidences it also coincided with the great throwing out of lps in the direction of charity shops where they sold for a dollar or so each. I also picked up two Technics with SME arms for around 150 quid each at the same time. It was listening heaven .). I had each of these and the higher watt Sansuis and found their mid range response very commendable, clear and detailed. Earlier Sansui are little gems. Appreciate the site Lots Kel, cheers.
Thanks my friend it’s a pleasure yeah I picked up some bargains too nowadays they are seriously rare but there is still a couple out there.
K
I have a 661 and Eagles or Don Henley sounds amazing on these units. There are certain headphones nearly impossible to drive on my headphone amps and the Sansui makes them sound better than anything I have ever listened on especially with phono and a decent turntable. The only complaint is sibilance can be a bit high at times and poorly recorded materials will get annoying. These units are incredible. I had to send another unit back to seller because the speaker relay wasn’t working. I am very happy with the Unit I have that works.
I bought a 101 for 10 pounds in 1988. Kept it as a dining room system with a dual 505. Happy days listening to Sade etc. It was a very warm sound with boosted bass with the tones set to flat. Sold it 20 years later for about 25 pounds.
Bought a 771, based on your review and I couldn’t be happier, sounds better then my marantz 2238b and denon 3805
It produces the ultra low frequencies really well. Pairs well with my klipsch heresy which only go down to about 50 hz
Best sound so far, beautiful. cheers!
After watching your video I purchased a faulty Sansui 441 for £20 last year. These old units are so easy to repair, my Sansui is now playing great with some Audio Physic tempo speakers.
Do you think its a good match for Tempo? Enough power?
Just wanted to say thanks! I drove 6 hours today (3 there, 3 back) to pick up a 441, which came with a Kenwood KR-4200 which seems to have some issues) but the Sansui seems to work perfectly (time will tell) and sounds AMAZING!!! Very exciting clean , detailed sound - nicer than any of the old amps I've owned over the years. You got my hopes up and I am not disappointed, quite the opposite! Thanks for your videos....
Wow I’m glad it worked out .
Such a nice balanced sound I don’t know why everyone else can’t do it
Cheers K
I'm always on the hunt for cool vintage sound & have largely concentrated on Hitachi gear. You've convinced me to widen my search & I'll see what I can find in this Sansui series. Thanks, Kelvin.
Great do send us any feedback if you get one thanks K
I bought a 441 after watching Kelvin's previous video and really enjoying it.
Where did you manage to purchase it?
@@markwarne893 Ebay
Hi there. I agree 100% that the Sansui 441 is magical. I've had one in my collection for years and it's extraordinary how it sounds with a B&W DM4... The best 11w I have ever heard... I have done many auditions with it, comparing it with much more expensive and powerful equipment... it never disappoints and comes out very well in almost everything it plays. A gem in my collection. I am very happy that an expert like you agrees that the 441 is so special and inexplicably so undervalued.
Hi Kelvin. Really like your show, because you make reference to Stevie Wonder track’s quite a bit. I decided to dig out the records I have of his for a refresher, very good. Thank you.
I love the 101. I just added a vintage Audio Control EQ for detailed tone control... long live the old gear ! (Except my Martin Logans) :) The MLs are an unforgiving speaker - VERY detailed and exacting. The 101 is surprisingly well matched for musicality.
Hi there, have been watching your videos on Sansui recently (very enjoyable thank you). Then went into a electronics repair shop and lo & behold saw a Sansui 441. Got it for £140.00 - sounds great. Thank you :)
k, got the 441 and i gotta say i can't frickin believe it! that a 12 watt toy from the 70s sounds way better and ballsier that my "purist" $2000 usd claymore retro is truly freakin amazing! this is something i never would have considered without seeing your video-- i'm all aboard the sansui train now. many thanks!
Yes that’s great it’s just a sublime sound the 441 .Its my favourite of that whole range probably the least known best amp out there.K
just bought a sansui 441 after seeing your video cause my claymore retro needs work. i'll let you know how it sounds with my ditton 33s after it arrives. my first ever receiver back in hi school was a sansui and i loved it back then but this will be my first vintage piece- i'm excited
Interesting definitely let us know what you think Cheers K
Kelvin I have just bought a Sansui 441 very impressive, at present The Sansui is being feed by a Sony PS-X600 Turntable and an Ortofon VMS30 MK11 and the speakers are a three way open baffle, Sound stage is Glorious. Thank you for your excellent no nonsense video's. Keep them coming Kelvin. Just a suggestion could you do a Video of connecting fm aerials to a sansui 441 and other vintage receivers.
Good to hear can I ask what you have amplification wise to compare the441 with thanks K.
@@stereoreviewx I have a Denon PMA 1080R Intergrated Amplifier which is if you can get one, a fantastic amp great control and tempo of all genres of music. I also have a Pioneer SX590 Receiver. My Turntables Include a Sony PS-x600 with an Ortofon VMS 30MK11, the Sony is and people in the Know Rate this deck very highly, I also have an Ariston RD11S with a Rega RB251 with structural modes and a Denon DL103R, my main Turntable is an STD 305M with infinity black widow tonearm and an XLM gold body with a ZLM shibata sylus. Of all the Decks the Sony sounds better through the Sansui 441. Good as the Sansui is My Denon just has more grip and control there is not a lot in it but the Denon to my ears wins in the control of the bass regions. Kelvin keep up the excellent Vids.
Ty. I bought one today for $150 USD. Hoping it brings the same smile to my face as yours did.
My 441 arrived today. I went to town on it after watching De-oxit videos. Cleaned everything. Looks "brand new"! Sounds wonderful. So happy! Will you do a review of the 221-881's? Inside the 441, what does the switch do? Sits near the rear half, center left from the front. Ty!
Just adding to my own story. Lol. I bought a second 441, deoxit, cleaned it up, but was in great shape, added LEDs, and gave it to my daughter. It drives her Fluance R85 turntable. Perfect. :)
Kalvin... Thank you Sir for this review... I've recently found a 331SS...im so impressed by this Reciever and paired it to a ditton 1..also found a au101...i never knew about these models until I saw your reviews.. Thanks once again
Just got a 551, drove 45mins each way to pick it up...I am shocked at how gud they sound! Rare in US where Pioneer dominates. You sure convinced me to try a Sansui...glad I did!
Nice one I can’t tell you how many people Have bought Sansui on this channel and loved it maybe 10 or 15
Cheers from London K
Kelvin is the man.
Got me into retro hifi during lockdown.
Totally fair assessments of audio stuff, with no bull.
I now have 3 sansui , 3 sony, and a few not so good ones like sanyo and a panasonic.
Also a rotel ..
Sony str 7015 is my favourite , think its mid 70s
I have the str 6055 and it’s great.
Thanks for these reviews! I've defo got the Sansui bug too! There are so many models of vintage amps and precious little info out there, so this is all a big help! I don't know why Sansui rated these STK based amps so low. The STK-016 power amp unit used in this amp, has a minimum output of 15W!
And anyone who says STK based amps can't sound good, needs to hear one of these or an AU-2200!
I have a Sansui 551, Sweet well balanced sound, what a little beast. Besides rated at 16W it sounds like it has twice the power of a 2005 Receiver rated at 110W per channel.
Yeah this whole power thing is a bit of a red herring it’s just easier to talk about.
@@stereoreviewx Nowadays you have to go by rms
Ok, I finally got into the Sansui "bandwagon". I've owned a 221, and a 331 for a while now. But other than few test listenings after cleaning them, I haven't used them that much. I do remember them sounding just as you describe, and it is a sound that made my ears perk up. Even though they are really low wattage amps, and they have kind of a flimsy feel to them, the sound is punchy and detailed.
After settling on a Kenwood KR-4400 for a while, I thought about the Sansuis and saw an ad for a 771 for 150€. I bought it, cleaned it up, and re-soldered a couple of cracked joints. After the first few songs on the 771, the Kenwood was immediately dethroned from the living room. Not that the KR-4400 is anything special in the first place, but my god the difference was huge! While the Kenwood sounds nice enough, it's bit flat sounding, and like you said here, the bass is a one note tone.
The Sansui is the most dynamic sounding vintage receiver, I have heard. All of the notes, high and low, are just so punchy and engaging but it's not tiring to listen to. Quiet parts are detailed, and the power is there when the volume has to go up fast.
I have a small collection of vintage receivers; Harman/Kardon 330B, 330C, 430 and 930, Pioneer SX-300, SX-434 and SX-525, Kenwood KR-4400, Sansui 221, 331 and now the 771, and a Rotel RX-203A. The 771 is, in my opinion the best sounding unit of the lot. I'm a bit disappointed by the hulking, Twin Powered H/Ks, as I thought they would reign supreme in the dynamics department. It's the 330 series among them though, that takes the cake for me. The Pioneers don't seem to catch my attention, other than with their looks. The Rotel is a really cheap, but ok sounding receiver, and the Kenwood is still a solid, reliable performer but just a bit flat.
Thanks for all your info, I can’t tell you the amount of times people get Sansui and say it’s the best .
For me, Sansui is the only vintage apps I want Japanese silver faced ones I mean
I have had the 221, 441 and 661 they all sounded so nice. I still have the 661 and I won't get rid of it. I wish I had all of them. The 221 really made music and it was more musical than any amps that I have heard that are being built now. I could kick myself for selling it.
Yes I believe the 221 and 331 share similar components which probably contributes to them sounding best as long as you don’t need to power
@@stereoreviewx yes, if I run into a 331 or 221 I will buy it and then I will build a set of very efficient speakers to go with it.
Kelvin i have just upgraded the Sansui 441 speaker terminals with Gold plated Banana sockets, Furutech male IEC, and a better power cord, Silver plated 13amp plug with belden shielded mains cable plus a Rhodium plated Female IEC Plug. This little receiver is absolutely amazing, i have a chance to purchase a Sansui 771, Price €249.00 should i take the offer. keep up the no nonsense Videos, a breathe of fresh air in a sea of mud.
Hi Anthany well I have all those Sansui is 331 up to881
And if you don’t need the power the 331 is actually my favourite and the 441 is next just a bit cleaner sound just a bit more perfect if you don’t need the power the 771 may not be an upgrade having said that there are so great I just get it 😜
@@stereoreviewx Thanks Kelvin i'll leave the 771 and save up for a 331. You should try the upgrades I listed totally transformed the 441, to my ears better than my Friends Accuphase 203.
Another great review thanks, just bought a 101 waiting for it to arrive
I love my 101
Oh, and now I discover that you also reviewed the 441 and the AU-101 :D
Really great reviews, would love your insight and thoughts on cartridges, types , cheep and expensive etc. Thanks
Thanks, Kelvin. Was wondering which do you prefer: AU-101, AU-555 or AU-317.
Well I have the 101 and 317 and I’ll pay the 317 really a lot so that’s Gotta be my answer there they are quite different sounding by the way never personally owned the 555
Thanks, Kelvin. Based on your 317 recommendation I bought a 1979 AU-417... then found a recently serviced 555. 417 is good, this particular 555 is better. Clearer imaging, excellant at low volume, not as bass heavy. Either amp is better than the Marantz 2010 (10 watts) which drove Spendor S3/5's in kitchen system. The later mfg 417 sadly does not have all the features of the earlier 317. Bummer.
Thoroughly enjoy All your videos. Subscribed.
Yes thanks for the info funny thing with Sansui is the base was so good and tight on the 101 and I guess the 555 as they are the same range and it went slightly downhill from there
thanks for the video! I have been contemplating getting a receiver - as I do listen to local radio (plus they look cool :) - but I also thought it might be better to have seperate amp + tuner
To be honest I don’t listen to the radio is hardly ever but they look good and seem to be a better bargain.K
I really wanna get this one... thanks for reviewing
Love your reviews - where do you buy from? It seems sellers on ebay have cottoned on to premium prices.
well e bay and gumtree are the big ones .you have to be a cunning hunter really .K
Great review! Can you recommend some speakers for the 441 please?
Hello , love your channel and your videos. Im currently using a marantz 2226b with Ditton 33's . Really keen to get a sansui to see if its a better combination with the Celestions. Any thoughts on what model would be an improvement on the 2226b?
See if you can get a 331 or a 441 and don’t worry about the power It just won’t be a problem
And there’s not much money
@@stereoreviewx Thanks for replying. Can I be cheeky and ask your opinion on the NAD 3020? I dont think you have reviewed one. People online rave about them.
Hi! Thank you for doing this! Love you're recommendations and just purchased a Sansui 551. Do you recommend connecting it with a subwoofer (modern or old)? I do hae some B&O speakers for speaker A but I might add some bass to it. Any clear recommendations for a lower budget? Thank you!
Or maybe I shouldn't do that at all? Any advise is highly appreciated.
Personally I’m not a big fan of subwoofers and the Sansui has good base basically.K
The early Sansuis appear to be voiced compared to the fine tube amps Sansui made.
That would make sense
Very good content, thanks!
What can you say about the Sansui au-555? Is it worse than au-101?
I would assume it’s a better or more powerful at least.
@@stereoreviewx Thanks!
I bought yesterday Sansui 101.
A can’t find 441 anywhere.
Only on EBay for 260 plus delivery costs.
Nice review. Try listen to Santana Aquamarine. Amazing sounds 👍🏻🤗
I will
@@stereoreviewx Nice to hear from you Kelvin. Hope you are okay.🤗
We miss your videos 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Love your reviews!
Kelvin - did the Canadian made ENERGY 22 speakers make any kind of splash in your country?
No not familiar my friend.K
Hey Kelvin, what speakers Did you use for testing out the 441 ?
Got a 551, 661,771 already at home, do you think a 441 would make any difference ?
Can’t be matching it but the 331441 I think they have the edge they use different components of course
@@stereoreviewx also got a 331 so i guess maybe adding 441 would be overkill ! 😂
It’s me! I’m flabbergasted guy!
I had no idea vintage gear could sound so good! Modern gear sounds thin and lifeless by comparison!
Out of curiosity, what modern amp were you comparing to?
Hi mate, love your channel. Close to buying a Sansui 551, what’s it like. But wondering how it would power my elac’s debut 5’s. I saw you not keen these elacs but wondered if it would power them and how it would sound. Love to hear your thoughts, thank you
It wii power them not a problem at all Trust me
Great thanks, love your channel mate. Been using pioneer 4100 at the moment
Which one good qality sound
Sansui is also my favorite but kinda of hard to find in good shape here in CANADA and not as cheap as what you guys get it for there across the pond. Here they if they do come around inbeetween 300 too a 1000 eaven Canadian dollars and that goes for Marantz also witch im not a big fan. The prices are getting crazy 😳
I can buy a Sansui Au 1500 for 140 dollars.
I can't find anything about this model anywhere.
Do you know about it and if so is it a good buy?
hi, how do you compare this xx1 series with the 1000x please?
So, after 25 years another person discovers that low powered solid state receivers sound better than their higher powered counterparts. They always do! Sansui, Marantz, Yamaha, Technics, etc. Nuff said. Heck, it's the same w/push-pull tube amps. Ever compared a McIntosh MC240 to a MC275? Nice amps in this video, but the news is very old.
Took a ebay look price 250 plus, ouch ! I did see a Sansui 7 that looked interesting, looks like the 8 delux you own.
How do these Sansui recievers compare to the 70s Sony recievers like the STR 7025/35?
Just a bit better to put it simply
On your recommendation I bought myself a (recapped) Sansui 555A. Totally stunning. Warm, lush, open, tube liike, are words that come to mind. Have to listen to all of my music again, because there's all this detail I didn't get before.Visually beautiful as well by the way. Now I need speakers, any suggestions? I've borrowed a set of Pioneer's HPM-60 from a friend, they sound gorgeous, and I have my own set of Genelec's 1030's that are connected through the preamp only. They sound clean, not so open, but for their size they are not bad, but really not as nice s the Pioneer's. The Pioneer's are one size too big for my woman though....:-( Any suggestion's? I want a warm, open sound with enough bass and mids...
Hey really glad you’re liking thesansui sound you’ve got a real good one there regarding speakers it’s just too hard for me to say all I will say is if you can go big because the sound is big and spacious and doesn’t really work in small speakers.
Cheers K
@@stereoreviewx True. My Genelecs 1030 for instance are really good and produce a sound that is really niceish, but...the Pioneers HPM-60's are a totally different ballgame. Also because I'm using the whole amp (not just the preamp). The only thing is the Pioneers are a bit toooo big (not allowed by wife), so I need something that is somewhere in between there...
And yep, the Sansui 555A is a beautiful sounding amp, just love it. Ridiculous to think this amp is around 40/50 years old and sounds waaaayy better than many modern amps...Thanks again for your advise and thanks for taking the time to help! :-)
so what's the best old amp to get
Are these vintage has gud headphone sound?
Yes good headphones as normal now it’s a thing itself
Curious do they sound the same? one has been modernised with LEDs the other hasn't a good amp to modernise tweak I would buy the bottom one of you worth the project you can borrow it and compare it. Does it get hot on the heart sinks if it's driven hard you can tweak it get more power out of it I would have thought 15 Watts they are old Watts RMS equivalent to about 108w din in today's money
Yes one has had new bulbs but I’m pretty sure neither has had any re-capping.
I did listen to both with the same song pretty much indistinguishable. K
@@stereoreviewx what does K mean indistinguishable k?
They sound the same
I've got an old Sony which I really love, but I'm so curious to hear just what Sansui can bring to the party. I'm literally on the brink of buying a 551 but before I pull the trigger (he wants £100) is it the same sound quality as the 441 and is it worth it? Please help someone 😀👍 Love this channel. You're great kelvin!
Well I would say this I absolutely love the 441 and the 551 is pretty dam close it just loses a little bit but you get a bit more power
I am guessing it will surpass the Sony no problem if you get it do let us know what you think
Cheers K
Thank you ...............
I got a old pioneer A-337. But I can buy a sansui 551 for 100 Euro. Is it worth ? And can you hear the difference? Can someone help me with this. Love this channel Kelvin
Hi there well I would be in the world of guesswork here but knowing what a lot of things sounded like at that time my guess is the Sansui will give you more life and more space more in the room excitement.
If I had to pick one without hearing it I would pick the Sansui that’s probably the best I can say from here let me know if you get it I’ll be very interested to hear how it compares .
€100 is a good price btw.
Hi so eventually I bought the sansui 441 and compared it to the pioneer the sansui gives more space in the room than the pioneer but the low on pioneer where a little better. But I am very happy with the sansui.
Thanks for all the great reviews on vintage gear. I really enjoy your channel! I had a question. I am currently using a kenwood KR 5400 as my amp and have a chance to pick up a Sansui 5500 classic not the quad for 275.00 US dollars. Is it worth it and do you think the sound quality will be better. I know it has like10 more watts of power but was wondering about better sound and sound stage quality? Thanks
Hi, I've just discovered you and can't stop watching you reviews. They are great. I'm looking at one of these amps it's going for £100. Just waiting on seller to reply. Also seen a sansui au 2900 going for £90. I can't find info on that amp. Would it be worth considering. My brain is full of amps at the moment Not even looked for speakers 😁.
I am not a big fan of the 2900 annoyingly Sansui start all their arms with Au so it’s hard to distinguish different ranges unless you know it they look different I suppose but that range just wasn’t as good as the stuff that went before K
@@stereoreviewx I had a feeling that was going to be your reply on that amp.. Thanks
@@stereoreviewx while it's with me. Do you ever sell gear? You would be a dream seller to purchase from 😁👍👍
How do these compare to 5500?
can someone advise me please? I have a 441 in very good working order. yay.. my question is though, can I use vintage 4 ohm speakers rated at 40 watts with the Sansui? are 4 ohm speakers too much for it in general? the manual says 8 ohms and the 4 ohm part is left blank. the speakers in question here are the Philips 22 RH438 just for reference. thank you in advance, tom
Well I’ll be quite honest with you if it’s one pair of speakers my entire life I just plug it in and it always works I’ve never had a problem.
That’s my experience anyway
Cheers K
Odd that the FM STEREO indicator on the 441 doesn't have illumination.
It does but the digits arent visible when off
How would you compare this or Sansui 771 to Pioneer 525? Thanks!
For me Sansui are a clear winner over pioneer all through the 70s don’t have the pioneer fans.K
@@stereoreviewx Thank you for your answer! I've got the Pioneer SX-525 in a realy good condition, but I could do the upgrade to Sansui 771, do you think I should go for that? Thanks!
I have a mint pioneer sx-424 and a sansui 661. They are good for different purposes. The Sansui 661 is a bit sibilant and don’t think is best for some material (think 80s hair bands) where I probably be fine with that on the Pioneer. The Pioneer can give me a headache listening headphones where the Sansui does not except if it is sibilant. The Sansui is more rounded and detailed where the pioneer can have a bit darker warm sound. They just sound different from each other, so I would keep the pioneer and get a Sansui too if you can afford it. Right now I am in a different location and primarily using a Fisher Futura 202 which ai find enjoyable in a small room. Any of these units and other vintage I prefer in comparison to my Denon x3500h which I would say is a very good modern surround amplifier. If you want a clean digital signal run a quality dac into the vintage systems. The reason it is easy to collect systems is they all sound different. It isn’t always that one in better than the other but they are different and sometimes that leads to suiting a certain kind of music better than another but sources and speakers matter too.
Is the 551 just as good? What are the differences?
Going to do an episode with the whole range soon.K
Aye Mate, Tell Me Calvin Tell me Why You Always got Them Small Monitor Speakers....You Dont Never Play Music And Calvin Could You Get Me Some Technic Products From The U.K. And Charge me The Regular pay? And Cause of You Im Am Trying to find One I Can Afford..........
I can't find a 441, please help me find a 441? -Non riesco a trovare un 441, per piacere, mi aiuti a trovare un 441?
A 331 is also great
@@stereoreviewx many many thanks. Sorry for my bad Englis: I currently have many Sansui, also I have Sansui Eight and Sansui 1000X, I love AU101 and AU 505 ( also I have) very much. You say 441 can be better than the ones above? I have 107 db speakers (Klipschorn). Another question: for efficient speakers, better 331/441 / 1000x or Sansui Eight? I love low power, few watts and Eight is too powerful for my speakers. differences between 331 and 441. I follow you, I like what you do on the video channel, I love you.
@@stereoreviewx please reply my last message 🙏
You discuss the awesomness of these sansui amps but you don't say what is the best kind of speaker to go with..cause if your speakers suck then these amps will not be so magical huh?
come on Calvin we need to know if we should buy a good pair of vintage speakers or a new set and if so what kind of speakers should they be?
I have sansui 441 for sale
Which platform are you selling on Ivon? UK based?
Anybody else distracted by the receivers lights flashing?
The dial and tuner lamps appear to flash out-of-phase, which is curious,
as all the lamps are almost certainly powered by the same winding on the transformer.
Maybe some lamps replaced with LEDs?