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Sansui SP 2000 / ST70 -surprise pairing

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Posted on February 1, 2016 at 18:42:38
Dingojazz
Audiophile

Posts: 1045
Location: Sonoran Desert
Joined: January 3, 2005
 Recently had occasion to "re-audition" a pair of SP-2000 that have been in storage. Had heard these awhile back, and just couldn't get the sound I was wanting from them, preferring other options; Ohm, Advent and Altec. Was planning to farm these out, but wanted to check their operation...--Surprise!!!
Previous trials had been with ss amps (not Sansui), which they didn't seem to agree with. Harsh and boomy. Currently, auditioning with VTA ST70, and they are the package. 'Specially great rockers; dynamic, rich, and all the bottom one could want. They do need a larger room and on-axis listening position to optimize the bass response.
Now eager to hear these with the VTA Mk IIIs.
Cheers,
K.

 

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RE: Sansui SP 2000 / ST70 -surprise pairing, posted on February 2, 2016 at 07:14:13
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 I recently built the VTA ST-70 and yes - I pretty much realized you ain't gettin much better!

Between that and my Sherwood S-5000, God Willing, I'm pretty much fixed for amps for the rest of my life.

Now I just tinker with my SS for fun in my second system.

Want to try something even better. Add a set of Gold Lion KT-66 output and TungSol 12AU7 in the splitter sections. Are you using the Slyvania 12AU7 in the center gain stage socket?

 

RE: Sansui SP 2000 / ST70 -surprise pairing, posted on February 2, 2016 at 09:35:12
FRG7SWL
Audiophile

Posts: 2109
Location: NorCali
Joined: March 26, 2003
 Dingojazz, welcome to the wonderful world of Sansui speakers. Sansui was JBL's Asian distributor, which is what their designers hoped to replicate. Somehow though, 'sui speakers gained a reputation as one-trick-ponies. Sure they got loud-n-proud, but lacked finesse. With a few judicious mods, however, folks discovered 'sui's could also become subtly expressive as well. After all, 'sui's early vintage beauties used now-sought after Corel drivers. Plus, they're great for home-theatre, too, which helps with WAF. Mayhap that's why 'sui speakers seem to have enjoyed a renaissance over the last decade. Kinda like they lost their reputation as beauties without substance. Whilst still being able to rock a par-tay aulk-skool style when need be! ... Have a pair of modded SP-2500s, courtesy Audio Karma's Robisme. Sounding delightful caressed by Pioneer SX-737 amplification. 73s para Sactown

 

RE: Sansui SP 2000 / ST70 -surprise pairing, posted on February 2, 2016 at 09:59:26
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 SP-2000 are specked out at 99db/1W/1M, and since I own 2 pair, I can tell you that spec is pretty close to the mark. They can work with sand-amps, but the amp need to be very smooth. They do work well with tube amps because their impedance "curve" looks like a ruler. Drivers look to me to be Coral and are high quality. With that level of efficiency, I doubt that going to a more powerful tube amp would do much for you. The Stereo 70 should be able to rattle the windows. I would recommend new capacitors. You could add a sub, but it better be a big one (or horn loaded). Small subs won't be able to keep up. They handled Telarc digital canon shots with no complaints.

Dave

 

Tubing, posted on February 2, 2016 at 11:37:15
Dingojazz
Audiophile

Posts: 1045
Location: Sonoran Desert
Joined: January 3, 2005
 Currently vintage black plate 6L6s driven by RCA 12bh7 and a TS 12au7 in the middle spot sounds pretty good. I've seen a lot of good press about the '66, but they ain't cheep, and from the descriptions, it seems like their best attributes are pretty 6L6-like.
Nice thing about the '70,... lots of choices...

Cheers,

K.

 

Oh yeah, -there's window rattling going on..., posted on February 2, 2016 at 11:50:13
Dingojazz
Audiophile

Posts: 1045
Location: Sonoran Desert
Joined: January 3, 2005
via rock, blues and reggae, and the '70 has plenty of smack. Since the amp is fed by the "ultimate upgrade" PAS2, I'm just contemplating the flavor differences that the 6SN7-based VTA SP14 pre, plus the octal-driven Mk IIIs might bring to the mix. -Even more linearity and bass punch!!!

K.
PS: I have appreciated your past postings re the SPs. Do you just replace caps with like values and preserve the crossovers? If so, what what sonic bene's did you reap? Present components still sound P.D.G..

 

RE: Sansui SP 2000 / ST70 -surprise pairing, posted on February 2, 2016 at 12:02:24
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 I sure did think they looked like Coral drivers. Thanks for confirming. Even stock the SP2000's will blow away Heresy's. I know. I own both.

Dave

 

RE: Oh yeah, -there's window rattling going on..., posted on February 2, 2016 at 12:03:51
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 And if it turns out to be too much punch, you could always run the Mk III's in triode.

Dave

 

Surprise!, posted on February 2, 2016 at 12:19:00
Dingojazz
Audiophile

Posts: 1045
Location: Sonoran Desert
Joined: January 3, 2005
 Ya, in addition to that rich texture and solid foundation, there's abundant detail in the mids and uppers courtesy of midranges and horn-tweets. All the detail of my more "refined" speakers plus huevos grandes. -Apparently just needed right placement and amplification.

Cheers,

K

 

RE: Caps?, posted on February 2, 2016 at 12:22:05
Dingojazz
Audiophile

Posts: 1045
Location: Sonoran Desert
Joined: January 3, 2005
And capping? Did you just update the caps with the same type and values?
What improved?

Thanks,

K

 

RE: Caps?, posted on February 2, 2016 at 14:54:50
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 Since I am not an engineer and do not think I am capable of doing a better job than the Sansui engineers on a 4-way 2nd order Butterworth filer, I stick with the stock values.

Dave

 

RE: Caps?, posted on February 2, 2016 at 15:38:06
FRG7SWL
Audiophile

Posts: 2109
Location: NorCali
Joined: March 26, 2003
 Depends on the speaker, Dingojazz. With AS-100s, replaced stock 4.7 uf tweet cap with similar value Dayton polyprop. On SP-1500s-n-SP-2500s, moi bypassed stock crossover net. On 1500s, a 10 uf Dayton polyprop was put on larger mid, & 6.8 uf Dayton polyprop on smaller mid (both mids shared 6.8 uf cap in stock mode); 4.7 uf Dayton polyprop on centre tweet, & 2.2 uf Dayton polyprop on flank tweet. On 2500s, which were bass shy in stock form, replaced stock 10 uf mid xover cap with 12 uf Dayton polyprop. As mids were similar, they were wired in series. 2500 is no longer bass shy. Since 2500 had provision for either 2.2 uf or 4.7 uf xover selection for tweets, a 4.7 uf Dayton polyprop went on lower tweet, & 2.2 uf Dayton polyprop went on upper tweet (similar configuration should work on your 2000s, Dingojazz; 4.7 uf's on lower tweets & 2.2 uf on upper tweet). Thin stock wiring in 2500 was replaced with 16 gauge (stock wiring in 1500s & AS-100s was sufficient). As good as your 2000s sound now, Dingojazz, they'll become tonally tighter, as well as more epressive-n-expansive, when those mids-n-tweets don't have to share the same xover cap. And, sub woofs won't be necessary. 73s para Sactown

 

RE: Caps?, posted on February 2, 2016 at 20:19:36
Dingojazz
Audiophile

Posts: 1045
Location: Sonoran Desert
Joined: January 3, 2005
 I hear u. No engineer here either, so If I venture, it will be the minimalist approach.

Thanks,

K.

 

RE: Caps?, posted on February 2, 2016 at 20:20:41
Dingojazz
Audiophile

Posts: 1045
Location: Sonoran Desert
Joined: January 3, 2005
Thanks for the data. If I get ambitious, this provides some good material for guidance.

Thanks!

K.

 

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