The Fez Posted October 26, 2013 Posted October 26, 2013 The Sansui AU-20000 Integrated Amplifier, is one hell of a beast. Ever since I've been interested in listening, experiencing, comparing and specifically collecting, vintage/classic hifi, the AU2OK has been on my wishlist. About a year ago I started the search in earnest. A search that took me across 3 continents and many countries. Some leads led to nothing. Some examples were not in good nick, or were sold, or didn't even exist. Still I persisted, never giving up the chase! Needed to get past the frustrations, the impatience. 1976 -- 170 watts, minimum RMS, per channel, both channels driven into 8 ohms, over 20 to 20KHz bandwidth - with no more than 0.05 % total harmonic distortion. Finally today it arrived... 8
ENIGMA Posted October 26, 2013 Posted October 26, 2013 (edited) Amazing. It is only a tad bit more fancier than my AU 101 hehe.... Edited October 26, 2013 by ENIGMA
kczar01 Posted October 26, 2013 Posted October 26, 2013 The Sansui AU-20000 Integrated Amplifier, is one hell of a beast. Ever since I've been interested in listening, experiencing, comparing and specifically collecting, vintage/classic hifi, the AU2OK has been on my wishlist. About a year ago I started the search in earnest. A search that took me across 3 continents and many countries. Some leads led to nothing. Some examples were not in good nick, or were sold, or didn't even exist. Still I persisted, never giving up the chase! Needed to get past the frustrations, the impatience. 1976 -- 170 watts, minimum RMS, per channel, both channels driven into 8 ohms, over 20 to 20KHz bandwidth - with no more than 0.05 % total harmonic distortion. Finally today it arrived... Picture 042.jpgPicture 057.jpg Ah so this is what you got, NICE!! No doubt Luc will be along soon for a drool.... Cheers Kyle
ENIGMA Posted October 26, 2013 Posted October 26, 2013 (edited) What else did Sansui also have at this level? Edited October 26, 2013 by ENIGMA
Guest kab Posted October 26, 2013 Posted October 26, 2013 Beautiful amp....well worth the chase! enjoy.
Luc Posted October 26, 2013 Posted October 26, 2013 ...wipes dangling bit of annoying spittle stuck to jaw that drags across desk looking for the backspace key...too too pretty for this time of the evening. 2
pete_mac Posted October 26, 2013 Posted October 26, 2013 (edited) Love your work Stephen... a beautiful example mate. There's not many of these in Australia!! Good onya for hunting down and securing this beast. I tip my hat to thee! What else did Sansui also have at this level? The AU-20000 was the biggest integrated amp that Sansui ever made, and is a true work of art from a sonic and industrial design perspective. It's basically an integrated version of the BA-3000 and CA-3000 power and preamps, with some rationalisation of the preamp stage. The power amp stage is all but identical. The later AU-X1 was a superb integrated amp and was very 'fast' - in fact, it was too fast for its own good, and prone to self-destruction due to oscillation. The BA-F1/CA-F1 combo is brilliant. The G-22000/G33000 models are monstrous two-piece receivers which reigned supreme during the 'receiver wars' The AU-alpha 907i (Japanese only) is an incredible sounding amp. It's the big brother of my AU-X701 and adds a bit more refinement and an extra 60WPC. I saw/heard one in Sydney a few months back. The big B-2301/C2301 and variants thereof are monsters (300WPC). There was a 'fixer-upper' B-2301 on ebay in Queensland during the week for $200 buy it now. If it wasn't a 40kg beast, I'd have pulled the trigger. It lasted an hour or so. These sell for 3000 euro or more on ebay Germany. And the late model Japan-only top-line Sansuis are apparently something to behold. Edited October 26, 2013 by pete_mac
Guest guru Posted October 26, 2013 Posted October 26, 2013 (edited) I've got a mate in Canberra with one of these in his cupboard and hasn't bothered to repair it as the power supply caps were stuffed. we used it to run disco's at uni and it got a name," the beast ".immaculate condition with that maroon casework and vu meters. i'll tell him to get it fixed. just remembered it wasn't called the beast as that was the name we gave his perreaux 2150 which became the disco amp after "big bertha" ,the au-20000 was retired to domestic duties running a pair of acoustic research ls-18's instead of a pair of folded 15 j bins, horns and piezo bullet tweeters. the good old days, not that I can remember any of them clearly. Edited October 26, 2013 by guru
skippy124 Posted October 26, 2013 Posted October 26, 2013 Glad to see that it made the trip over with no mishaps!! One for the classics Steve, will be interested to get your listening impressions
pete_mac Posted October 26, 2013 Posted October 26, 2013 Lets see inside then Needs a dust/clean, but this gives an idea of what's under the hood: 2
The Fez Posted October 26, 2013 Author Posted October 26, 2013 Thanks...the packing by Steve was superb. I've got some photos of the unpacking process. It took me around 20 minutes or so to unpack it... Sent from my XT925 1
pete_mac Posted October 26, 2013 Posted October 26, 2013 I've got a mate in Canberra with one of these in his cupboard and hasn't bothered to repair it as the power supply caps were stuffed. we used it to run disco's at uni and it got a name," the beast ".immaculate condition with that maroon casework and vu meters. i'll tell him to get it fixed. If he doesn't, and wants to move it on, there could well be some interested parties in Sydney if it is indeed in immaculate condition. Wink wink, nudge nudge
Guest Hensa Posted October 26, 2013 Posted October 26, 2013 Now that really is a stunner, Stephen. Congratulations! Have you had it hooked up yet?
Mushroom01 Posted October 26, 2013 Posted October 26, 2013 The Sansui AU-20000 Integrated Amplifier, is one hell of a beast. Ever since I've been interested in listening, experiencing, comparing and specifically collecting, vintage/classic hifi, the AU2OK has been on my wishlist. About a year ago I started the search in earnest. A search that took me across 3 continents and many countries. Some leads led to nothing. Some examples were not in good nick, or were sold, or didn't even exist. Still I persisted, never giving up the chase! Needed to get past the frustrations, the impatience. 1976 -- 170 watts, minimum RMS, per channel, both channels driven into 8 ohms, over 20 to 20KHz bandwidth - with no more than 0.05 % total harmonic distortion. Finally today it arrived... Picture 042.jpg Picture 057.jpg FEZZZZ..... MAAATTTTEEEE....How bout a lend ay..... just kiddin. Very nice, absolutely superb!!! Congrats. This vintage gear makes me so h@#rny, whoops, did i say that out loud???...
Mushroom01 Posted October 26, 2013 Posted October 26, 2013 Thanks...the packing by Steve was superb. I've got some photos of the unpacking process. It took me around 20 minutes or so to unpack it... Sent from my XT925 Please let me know how it sounds, in detail....Many thanks in advance...
lebowski Posted October 26, 2013 Posted October 26, 2013 What a score Stephen, congratulations. I'm sure it sounds as good as it looks
The Fez Posted October 26, 2013 Author Posted October 26, 2013 Thanks all for the replies. One of the internals, that I expect a few "macs" will get to know very well. Its in nice shape inside. Came shipped with a printed copy of the service manual.. :lol: ...Works very well now, listening impressions as an integrated, pre and power amp to follow. Cheers...
unclemack Posted October 26, 2013 Posted October 26, 2013 What a beautiful beast, Congratulations mate. Perisitence and determination paid off.. Did you source this from Japan? HiFiDo? Cheers M
4seatpilot Posted October 27, 2013 Posted October 27, 2013 (edited) Thanks all for the replies. One of the internals, that I expect a few "macs" will get to know very well. Its in nice shape inside. Came shipped with a printed copy of the service manual.. :lol: ...Works very well now, listening impressions as an integrated, pre and power amp to follow. Cheers... au-2k3.jpg Wow - very clean inside! I never did pop the hood on it while it was here. (at least, I don't think I did... but the memory isn't what it used to be) What a beautiful beast, Congratulations mate. Perisitence and determination paid off.. Did you source this from Japan? HiFiDo? Cheers M I spotted it listed on a Canadian audio trade site, and knew exactly who would want it. After a bit of conversation with Stephen, I bought it from a serious audio-nut in Thunder Bay Ontario (Canada). I then found it a ride to London where I was able to enjoy it for awhile (and enjoy I did!) before I boxed it all up for shipment. Next it moved with us to a small town outside London, before I finally got a chance to bring it over to the USA to take advantage of much cheaper (but still expensive) shipping via USPS / FedEx. Good times. Happy to have helped out! I'm getting pretty good at packing these big beasts - FWIW, it was less than 2 pounds under the maximum allowable weight, and the box was the absolute maximum size that still qualified to be sent by USPS / FedEx. Any heavier or larger and I proably would have to put it on a boat. Shipping weight was just over 68lbs, box nearly a 2' cube. Now - to get my 717 finished up so I can listen to the Sansui sound again! It is a wonderful noise... Edited October 27, 2013 by 4seatpilot 2
A J Posted October 29, 2013 Posted October 29, 2013 Great story - awesome amp & collectors piece. FEZ you must be pretty stoked In one fell swoop you have just made all My sansui's look like toys
georgehifi Posted October 29, 2013 Posted October 29, 2013 (edited) What else did Sansui also have at this level? http://www.sansui.us/ http://www.sansui.us/toc.htm Cheers George Edited October 29, 2013 by georgehifi 1
The Fez Posted October 30, 2013 Author Posted October 30, 2013 Great story - awesome amp & collectors piece. FEZ you must be pretty stoked In one fell swoop you have just made all My sansui's look like toys Thanks mate -- yeah she's been a long time coming this one. I do remember we looked at one I think it was in Canada too. The seller reckoned it was in excellent condition. And it was absolutely beaten up, like dinged, scratched it was a shocker. Certainly had some interesting experiences... One more pic...couldn't help myself..
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