pete_mac Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 I've just finished a recap (including the mandatory 'kevzep' preamp gain tweaks) of a near-mint AU-999 for a fellow SNAer. This is the finest example that I've had the pleasure of seeing in the flesh. The overall condition is just fantastic! The usual suspects were used here - Nichicon Super Through filter caps, Nichicon HE and Panasonic FC, Elna Silmic II, a handful of EPCOS stacked film caps, some NOS polyprops, new transistors and resistors etc. Some of the surplus/replaced components, including the crowbar protection circuit and the subsonic filters: The DC offset was rather high beforehand: Muuuch better: The owner said that the amp sounded fairly horrid beforehand - there was bugger-all bias current! One channel was 2mv and the other 0.9mv. After adjustments were made, a nice stable 13.8mV was achieved for each channel when measured across the emitter resistor. The underside when completed (still a bit of a birds-nest of wiring, but cleaner with the removal of the subsonic filter and crowbar protection circuits): 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_mac Posted December 6, 2014 Author Share Posted December 6, 2014 The finished product - so clean that you could eat off it! Best of all, she sounds wonderful. The preamp and subsonic filter mods turn this amp into something special - once again I am impressed with the sound quality! I hope the owner enjoys it for years to come! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saxon Hall Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 Great stuff. I wonder how much fabulous Vintage gear ended up as landfill before people realised their potential after some tweaking and TLC? . Once again a mighty effort and I am sure the new owner will be very happy 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_mac Posted December 6, 2014 Author Share Posted December 6, 2014 Great stuff. I wonder how much fabulous Vintage gear ended up as landfill before people realised their potential after some tweaking and TLC? . Once again a mighty effort and I am sure the new owner will be very happy So, so true! There are some vintage turds, of course, but there are also a great many amps worth restoring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scuzzii Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 Pete I'm just in awe at the skills you and your father have in this element. The Sansui amps I've heard after you have both put your stamp on them is just awesome and I can't wait to get another (that I will keep this time). John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lebowski Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 Great to see another Sansui classic undergo a quality recap and service. Looks mint and incredibly no corrosion anywhere on the chassis. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A J Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 You guys rock - your Dads AU-517 doing it proud in our house still These things should never die Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luc Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 Wow and quadruple wow! Hang on, let me channel my 17 and half year old doppelganger ...OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gee I'm glad I'm not 17.5 anymore. Spanking looking unit Pete, I got one of these from Italy(yes I took the gamble) and was mulling over sending it down to the Grand Poobah but the original owner contacted me and pleaded in his best Italo/English to buy it back and cut a long story short...I sent it back with costs amply covered and a promise of some genuine Chianti. He sent me a six pack and a note saying fat bottomed Chianti in straw bottoms are for tourists, mine looked like Dan Murphy cleanskins. We're very lucky to have you two here at SNA. *Yes I'm still sworn off buying anymore Sansui's ...ever! The drugs work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saxon Hall Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 Wow and quadruple wow! Hang on, let me channel my 17 and half year old doppelganger ...OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gee I'm glad I'm not 17.5 anymore. Spanking looking unit Pete, I got one of these from Italy(yes I took the gamble) and was mulling over sending it down to the Grand Poobah but the original owner contacted me and pleaded in his best Italo/English to buy it back and cut a long story short...I sent it back with costs amply covered and a promise of some genuine Chianti. He sent me a six pack and a note saying fat bottomed Chianti in straw bottoms are for tourists, mine looked like Dan Murphy cleanskins. We're very lucky to have you two here at SNA. *Yes I'm still sworn off buying anymore Sansui's ...ever! The drugs work. You sent it back? Sacre bleu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scuzzii Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 I'm just waiting patiently for that message to come from John... "I have your Sansui ready"... I'd say it will replace the Copland in the study or the Xindak in the TV room. Anyway, they are the bomb! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie_bird Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 Not sure of the protocol in this situation, but I’m the anonymous owner J It was great to meet you in person today Pete and thanks for the great job on the amp. It sounds wonderful now. Smooth and rich and the bass is improved dramatically. A great addition to the collection. Here is a picture of it in its new home. I’m enjoying the amp, a few LPs and glass of wine. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saxon Hall Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 Great feedback I reckon 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_mac Posted December 6, 2014 Author Share Posted December 6, 2014 Not sure of the protocol in this situation, but I’m the anonymous owner J It was great to meet you in person today Pete and thanks for the great job on the amp. It sounds wonderful now. Smooth and rich and the bass is improved dramatically. A great addition to the collection. Here is a picture of it in its new home. I’m enjoying the amp, a few LPs and glass of wine. IMG_1092.JPG Brilliant... I had a feeling that you'd like it Most importantly... thanks for entrusting this beautiful example of Sansui's finest to me! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ugly Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 That is one seriously clean looking amp...nice! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luc Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 You sent it back? Sacre bleu Yup. Copped a shellacking from a member here who had one for sale on Ebay and I was away on a fishing trip and the wife was in charge of the bidding and she bid on the member 999 and not the Italian one. I had to back out of the sale on ebay via his personal message and he ended up venting here on SNA about it. I shrugged, I tried to explain. She wasn't to know but the member here and his ebay name wasn't impressed with my apology(don't think he believed me) think it was sam something or rather. But the Italian 999 was lovely and unmarked...completely! Could not find a mark on it anywhere and it's one of the reasons you chase European models rather than American or UK or Aus models. But yeah, he was full of remorse and regret and I connected with that and sent it back to him. I've drunk the Chianti I have a place to stay in Trieste apparently if I ever get there ! Lol. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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