- Joined
- Dec 12, 2019
- Messages
- 17,476
- Likes
- 40,095
-
Welcome to ASR. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!
EJ3
Master Contributor
I wanted to point out that he may have thrown away 1/2 a grand or more...I was only gonna ask him what dump he took it to.
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2019
- Messages
- 1,763
- Likes
- 2,798
Same here -- "NPR, in the car" is my go-to listening when I'm on the go or waiting in the parking lot for my passenger(s) to complete a retail therapy session at the grocery emporium.
I called a few audio stores to see if they had any interest. Nada. I even offered it for free. Nada. I dont think it was worth much and cant be bothered selling things. i usually give them away. I also unloaded too older CD players and an NAD int amp that was only playing through one channel. Westchester County dump in Valhalla NY LOL
But, I thought we should want to know about the sound quality of any component that we buy?
If we exclude the electronics in the chain. That's because electronics don't "sound" anything, given a good design and for amps in addition enough power, the speakers remain, which can undeniably sound different. I don't think anyone questions that. Can you then read anything from subjective reviews of speakers? Maybe if the tester is consistent; same songs, same listening room, same conditions but different speakers. The bass capability should be, or say this one with around 126 dB SPL that goes down to 20 Hz:
8381A SAM™ Adaptive Point Source Main Monitor - Genelec.com
Our 8381A empowers engineers and creators to perceive every sonic detail, offering true-to-life sound level and dynamics – with the full flexibility of free-standing monitor placement and advanced room adaption.
www.genelec.com
vs
Which has around 84 dB SPL, rolls off around 60 Hz from what I can see
Google Nest Audio Speaker Review
This is a review, teardown, detailed measurements, listening tests and EQ of Google Audio Nest "smart" streaming speaker. It was kindly drop shipped to me by a member. List price is US $99.99 but I see it as low as US $65. While not very unique in its looks, the Nest Audio nicely fits in the...
www.audiosciencereview.com
Yes I know ridiculous comparisons, even my old mother could hear differences in bass, and other things between them too, without any imagination. In any case with speakers you can hear differences. Even between let's say two bookshelf speakers of the same size. IF you have practiced because the differences are then much smaller than the extreme examples I mentioned.
By the way that Google Nest speaker looks nice if you want a small active speaker (in the kitchen maybe?).
Hear the differences; speakers and headphones I should have said.
- Thread Starter
- #129
i own a record player and a couple of albums. But having phenomena like inner groove distortion (because too many tracks are crammed on a side and "maybe makes another hindsight case for the digital revolution.
I used to sell Sansui when I was in retail. I even owned one, for about a week until I could get rid of it. Awful, truly awful. Possibly my goals are beyondHaving a background in producing and working with analytical equipment to hear if everything connects well, I would like to make a case for vintage amplifiers with a warm sound, a total opposite.
I have, over time mostly used analytical-"facing" amplifiers. It was all logic, hearing as much of information possible as I was used to. Until the point I went for old Sansui amplifiers, starting with the AU-101 (which is now in use for a secondary set, with the "magic" is in its loudness contour, not so much in its flat settings) and followed by the au-505 that of itself provides a floor of presence audio wise without any aides. Yes, I know that these amplifiers are totally not anywhere near monitor-quality like. In cases they cut off the razor sharp edges at some frequencies, I totally get the critics that this might be not something to look for, given heavy coloration, horrible measurements etc.
An image of the au101 on top of the au505, found on the net. Not my photo
But.. for multiple reasons I started to like them.
The Sansui AU-505 has this presence as earlier mentioned. A stable floor of bass, nothing that feels compressed, a nice roll-off and a great mid-range quality. When turning on the music is present at the start, turning the volume up is like lifting that presence, instead of just turning up the volume. When I turn on any modern amp, it is like a screen that barely has presence at low volumes (yes, I know.. loudness control is absent on my NAD) and can be too articulating. Something, which I admit, might be pleasant to others. I get why people like that, it is what should be presented.
But when listening to a recording through the au505 it is more theatrical, as sitting a bit away from what is performed on a stage in a theatre. A recording of a Hendrix album presents itself as atmospheric, not one to get lost in by listening to byproducts. It is the tone and the emotion. Not that much the 'sitting in between' the musicians as in a studio where every breath and tiny scratch is audible. Maybe analytical amps work for that as in 'I want to be there with the engineer', i get that.
When watching a film, the soundscape on one of these amps seems much more coherent and the film draws more attention to itself with the soundmixing coming up next. Recently I connected the NAD again, just to compare. But the first thing I noticed was that every added layer of sound drew my attention away as a collage, a knife being sharpened for example (with the most used stock sound for that purpose probably) It should be complimentary to what's on screen, not drawing attention to itself. But it was. It gave the blue print.The Au505 does not have that, the slicing sound is still there, but it does not become the most important thing at that moment. Which is what I personally prefer as a viewer.
The case that I would like to make is that I think it is not only the theatrical sense in music. Also films are being uplifted by the vintage toning. Maybe a bit comparable to why a 24fps frame rate film being properly color graded as well, feels theatrical, compared to a much higher frame rate with much more emphasis on clarity and sharpness.
A case for 'less is more'
Disclaimer : I know there are modern brands that should perhaps offer similar experiences, I know Luxman and others are there in the "vintage times" as well besides Sansui, but I could only write about these two from experience in a well treated room.
Anyone else who is on this bandwagon? : )
EJ3
Master Contributor
The IGD (which I never heard, anyway, with my Dual 1229 [maybe I do not sit still long enough]), is why (just in case) I also have a linier tracking Technics SL-M3:
It has some other pretty good specs, too:
Type: fully automatic
Drive method: direct drive
Motor: brushless DC motor
Drive control method: quartz phase locked control
Platter: 325mm, 2.5kg, aluminium die-cast
Pitch control: +-6% range
Speeds: 33 and 45rpm
Wow and flutter: 0.022% WRMS
Rumble: -82dB
Tonearm: dynamically-balanced linear tracking
Effective length: 238mm
Effective mass: 13g (including cartridge)
Cartridge: moving magnet
Replacement stylus: EPS-33ES
Dimensions: 526 x 205 x 425mm
Weight: 15kg
I listen to digital, too: CD's, DVD-A, DVD-R, DVD, Blu Ray, 4K [whatever digital format that audio is in], as well as the occasional digital streaming from my computer setup {via Bluetooth APT-X, at the moment, will upgrade CODEC by the end of the summer, I'm too busy traveling right now}), cassette, Reel to Reel and FM.
I don't believe that I have ever heard IGD from a competently designed TT and tone arm assembly.
Of course, others may have heard IGD form some TT's.
Mentioning old school Sansui gear is (a) unfair (b) they were solid state.Having a background in producing and working with analytical equipment to hear if everything connects well, I would like to make a case for vintage amplifiers with a warm sound, a total opposite.
I have, over time mostly used analytical-"facing" amplifiers. It was all logic, hearing as much of information possible as I was used to. Until the point I went for old Sansui amplifiers, starting with the AU-101 (which is now in use for a secondary set, with the "magic" is in its loudness contour, not so much in its flat settings) and followed by the au-505 that of itself provides a floor of presence audio wise without any aides. Yes, I know that these amplifiers are totally not anywhere near monitor-quality like. In cases they cut off the razor sharp edges at some frequencies, I totally get the critics that this might be not something to look for, given heavy coloration, horrible measurements etc.
An image of the au101 on top of the au505, found on the net. Not my photo
But.. for multiple reasons I started to like them.
The Sansui AU-505 has this presence as earlier mentioned. A stable floor of bass, nothing that feels compressed, a nice roll-off and a great mid-range quality. When turning on the music is present at the start, turning the volume up is like lifting that presence, instead of just turning up the volume. When I turn on any modern amp, it is like a screen that barely has presence at low volumes (yes, I know.. loudness control is absent on my NAD) and can be too articulating. Something, which I admit, might be pleasant to others. I get why people like that, it is what should be presented.
But when listening to a recording through the au505 it is more theatrical, as sitting a bit away from what is performed on a stage in a theatre. A recording of a Hendrix album presents itself as atmospheric, not one to get lost in by listening to byproducts. It is the tone and the emotion. Not that much the 'sitting in between' the musicians as in a studio where every breath and tiny scratch is audible. Maybe analytical amps work for that as in 'I want to be there with the engineer', i get that.
When watching a film, the soundscape on one of these amps seems much more coherent and the film draws more attention to itself with the soundmixing coming up next. Recently I connected the NAD again, just to compare. But the first thing I noticed was that every added layer of sound drew my attention away as a collage, a knife being sharpened for example (with the most used stock sound for that purpose probably) It should be complimentary to what's on screen, not drawing attention to itself. But it was. It gave the blue print.The Au505 does not have that, the slicing sound is still there, but it does not become the most important thing at that moment. Which is what I personally prefer as a viewer.
The case that I would like to make is that I think it is not only the theatrical sense in music. Also films are being uplifted by the vintage toning. Maybe a bit comparable to why a 24fps frame rate film being properly color graded as well, feels theatrical, compared to a much higher frame rate with much more emphasis on clarity and sharpness.
A case for 'less is more'
Disclaimer : I know there are modern brands that should perhaps offer similar experiences, I know Luxman and others are there in the "vintage times" as well besides Sansui, but I could only write about these two from experience in a well treated room.
Anyone else who is on this bandwagon? : )
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2019
- Messages
- 1,763
- Likes
- 2,798
They were also capacitance coupled, as was my old AU-555A, which sounded decent at medium volumes but clipped very sharply if pushed much beyond that. In fact, it took out a couple of the tweeters in my E-V Interface "A" speakers, leading me to get a beefier power amp and use the AU-555A as a preamp, relegating the power amp section to surround duties via a Sansui QS-1. Once I went from the Sansui's 25WPC @ 8Ω to roughly 55WPC, those poor little tweeters were out of danger.
I have the au-505 it sounds really nice around 10 inputing my CJ-pv6 phono into it. The CJ gives the 505 more gain along with sounding very pleasing with my AR 4xa speakers. The overall sound is more 'warm but really rocks playing James Gang live and Carnegie Hall - Lp.
- Thread Starter
- #135
I started with the au101 for a second kit, which triggered my interest in the ranges of those classic Sansui models. I also wonder about the au-555a compared to the au-505 and the au-222 in the range of the au101.They were also capacitance coupled, as was my old AU-555A, which sounded decent at medium volumes but clipped very sharply if pushed much beyond that. In fact, it took out a couple of the tweeters in my E-V Interface "A" speakers, leading me to get a beefier power amp and use the AU-555A as a preamp, relegating the power amp section to surround duties via a Sansui QS-1. Once I went from the Sansui's 25WPC @ 8Ω to roughly 55WPC, those poor little tweeters were out of danger.
From my research on the 505 vs 555a is that both are about 25w. the 555a can separate pre-amp from main so it can be used as a pre-amp or amp. I bought my 505 about 2 months ago off Ebay. It was interesting that there were 'tons of 555a's for sale but only 1 505 for sale. Both 505 and 555 are CC amps that lean towards more 'tube like sound which I prefer.
- Thread Starter
- #137
The way the treble and bass knobs of the au101 and au505 kind of organically fill in top and floor frequencies is what adds to that welcome illusion. There is expansion in the bass and hihats seem to get sharper articulation besides only sounding brighter at the top and more bloated at the bottom end.
Outside of the Sansui spectrum I kind of wonder about the Pioneer Sa500 (not the 500a) and the Sony ta4650. More the curating kind of interest. If anyone has experience with them, feel free to share a personal review.
Last edited:
I don't know anything about those amps but Sony goes for about 3 times as much as the pioneer one. Have you listened to the au-505 ?The way the treble and bass knobs of the au101 and au505 kind of organically fill in top and floor frequencies is what adds to that welcome illusion. There is expansion in the bass and hihats seem to get sharper articulation besides only sounding brighter at the top and more bloated at the bottom end.
Outside of the Sansui spectrum I kind of wonder about the Pioneer Sa500 (not the 500a) and the Sony ta4650. More the curating kind of interest. If anyone has experience with them, feel free to share a personal review.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2018
- Messages
- 212
- Likes
- 621
I guess that prefer 'supposed experts on their impressions of a component and what other equipment they used with it. If the impressions are favorable then I will do more research into the said component. Anyway I always buy used with a return policy so I can try it for myself.
Similar threads
