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Sansui AU 517 amplifier

213.33.155.58
Posted on October 20, 2014 at 05:50:45
akolegov
Audiophile

Posts: 979
Location: Russia
Joined: July 1, 2010
 I came accross this marvel:

http://www.retrotechaudio.co.uk/sansui-au-517.html

I wonder whether it is a potential repair/upgrade project or it can be used as it is?

I made a search on AU-717 and AU-517 amplifiers a year ago and those who repaired them insisted that powers supply caps and other caps should be replaced and that much work and technical skills were required.

I used a Sansui AU-317 amplifier briefly and an AU-D11 MKII later and wish I still keep one of them now.

What could I face if I decide to purchase it?

 

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RE: Sansui AU 517 amplifier, posted on October 20, 2014 at 06:30:20
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 I always felt the AU series was perhaps the BEST looking audio EVER!!!!

I had the 717, or was it the 917??? and it was fair to average sonically speaking.

But my unimportant review aside - I would go for it and restore it. They REALLY don't make them like that anymore!!!! Do one board at a time. It's tight in there so don't rush it. As unpleasant as it sounds, you are going to have to take OUT the boards to work on them - yikes!

Personally I would like to have mine back just for the looks of it.

charles

 

RE: Sansui AU 517 amplifier, posted on October 20, 2014 at 10:03:07
mcgjohn@yahoo.com
Industry Professional

Posts: 501
Location: Midwest
Joined: February 5, 2008
 Sansui amps of that era used the famous? conducting glue to hold the parts in place during wave solder. At a minimum, you will likely have to replace all or most of the electrolytic caps, and clean off the glue.

I have rebuilt several of these sansiu models. Once new parts are in place they are pretty reliable.

good luck

 

Sansui AU-717 amplifier, posted on October 20, 2014 at 10:19:25
Inmate51
 I owned an AU-717 until my shi!thead apartment neighbor stole it (along with my Sony SQ decoder - ha!). Lots of great features, and I liked the sound - clean, clear. High-end designers and "audiophiles" sneer at them, but I'd still take it over any JVC, Pioneer, Scott, Sony, etc. any day; and at a fraction of the price, it gave the Phase Linear and other "better" products serious competition. Kenwood made some nice stuff, too, but the Sansui had the inputs/outputs/controls that I wanted. I replaced it with an H-K 505, with similar I/O/C, and I think with even better sound. It's out of service for now, due to every pot and switch crackling (a result, I'm sure, of the pulverized-water ultrasonic humidifier we used to have).

I used to sell a TON of this stuff at American TV in the 70s, and elsewhere in the early 80s, and so had ample opportunity to compare stuff all day long.

If you're looking for a vintage integrated amp, the 717 is recommended. I don't know about the 517.

:)

 

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