Sansui AU-7700 Integrated Amplifier

If you see one, buy it! Introduced in 1974, the Sansui AU-7700 was probably the most popular of this series.  

Rated conservatively at 54 wpc, this little beast is fully packed under the hood with a fully complimentary  Dual Power Supply triple stage Darlington Amplifier.  The result was sound with weight, authority and sonic bliss.  

Sansui had been on a roll since the mid-sixties with quality power amps, receivers, and integrated amplifiers.  Here in the mid-seventies they were at their peak.  Construction was exemplary, heavy engraved faceplates, thick wall steel construction for the housing, premium quality circuit boards, and the famous Sansui transformers, always oversized and up to the task.  I have always believed that they contributed greatly to the “Sansui” sound and effortless power delivery.  

I used this amp for quite awhile as an integrated and occasionally as a preamp.  In both instances it was exceptional.  As an integrated amp with modest power rating the Sansui punched well above what specs would indicate.  

Absolutely more powerful sounding than my McIntosh MA6100 rated at 70 wpc, more powerful than my Project/ONE MarkXXI rated at 70 wpc.  It drove my vintage Definitive Technology BP10’s with ease, and I don’t remember my EPI 100’s sounding better.

As a preamp, the phono section is exceptional, the preamp is full featured with triple tone controls with turnovers, twin stage loudness and muting controls, two full tape circuits, two phone stages, one with selectable impedance, tuner and two aux inputs.  Low and high filtering complete the set.  

It would be hard to imagine needing more from a preamplifier, and this one is beautifully voiced.  Vocals are exceptionally smooth with a velvety touch of texture , the high end is wet and transparent, the bottom end is where this amp really shines.  Bass is reproduced with punch, tone, touch and texture.  Just an exceptional sound.

The power amplifier is also directly coupled, and the fully complementary amp is really noticeable in this application.

You can always “hear” a cap coupled amp, or a quasi-complementary powered amp or a tube amp for that matter.  Fully complimentary amps, are harder to define, many of them end up sounding harsh and sterile.  I am thinking the later big Technics power amps and receivers, also some Kenwood’s from the late seventies.  But Sansui always did an exceptional job with their amplifiers, regardless of the electronic architecture.  I must say, Pioneer did well in this area too.

I liked everything about the AU-7700, and wish I had never sold it. It was exceptionally well made, sounded great, looked fantastic and did everything one would expect.  But it also did a touch more.  It had that Sansui magic when it game to tone and feel.  It's so hard to explain, but it's something you immediately notice when you hear it.  I guess I have used the expression before, that it has a touch of color to it.  But its wonderful and engaging, and similar to what you experience when listening live.

The soundstage is phenomenal with this amplifier.  Wide open and detailed.

I had the matching TU-7700 tuner, which I often used and found it to be excellent.  

There is nothing negative to report about the Sansui AU-7700.  Just a wonderful sounding piece and one that I recommend without hesitation.  More to come!

Sanusui AU-777 Integrated Amplifier -

I really enjoy the idea of an integrated amplifier.  Basic, simple and like a receiver, just one unit. To date I have owned nine different ones that I can think of.  High power, low power, lots of features, no features.  Loved them all.  

I have  discovered that I especially enjoy listening to low powered early transistor amplifiers, ones that are capacitor coupled.  They have such rich tone, with a silky midrange and robust but accurate bass.  The highs are super smooth and not harsh.  I think that this is because in the early transistor days, manufacturers paid attention to ‘voicing’ their amplifiers.  Especially Japanese manufacturers.  

The Japanese are music fanatics.  It’s such an intregal part of their lives.  Plays, musicals, concerts, and today the many Jazz Kissa coffee shops and pubs.  Music is in the streets and literally into every retail space you go.  I am not talking about MUZAK here, but real music being selected, played and enjoyed by all and usually in the analog format.  

One of the finest listening experiences I’ve ever enjoyed has come from my Sansui AU-777.

The AU-777 is Sansui’s first transistor amplifier, coming right after the all tubed Sansui AU-111.  

Rated at 25 watts per channel into an 8 ohm load, it has plenty of power to drive most any speaker system to an uncomfortable level.  It’s true, that 90% of the time we listen we use little more than maybe 10-12 watts per channel.  The AU-777 is a masterpiece of design and execution.  This amp is loaded with character.  It’s sonic bliss, and soupy sweet.  The amp throws a deep, wide and coherent sound stage, with precise placement of instruments.  Female vocals are especially pleasant.  Jazz trios are live in your living room.  Solo guitar and piano pieces can fool you into thinking you’re at a live event, with its three dimensional tone. 

The build quality is superlative.  I have included some shots of the switching gear and tone controls.  Yes, those are all individual resistors wired in. 

The elegant black front face is engraved and painted in Sansui green, off-white and pure white.  Delicate, intricate and beautiful.  You just don’t see details like this anymore.

These amps come up for sale on occasions, but this one here is from 1967 and has been kept in exceptional condition.  I had the unit recapped by hi-fi guru Nabeel in Crest Hill Illinois.  His talents for restoring audio equipment is unmatched.  

I recommend this amplifier without hesitation.  Unquestionably one of the finest amps I’ve ever owned, and sonically nearly identical to the Sansui AU-111.  Obviously these were ‘voiced’ by the same engineering team.  Sansui later continued this with the AU-777A, with triple tone controls.  Also an excellent sounding unit, but some of the later ones have standard pots and controls.  Not that there is anything wrong with that, but they don’t have the same tactile feel that the AU-777 has.  

Just a joy to own and listen to.  Another amp I kick myself for selling for all the reasons listed above. More to come!