Be careful, those speaker binding posts are so close to each other that the positive wire is almost shorting out against the negative one to its left. Great amplifier. I'm a long time Sansui fan with a decent number of amps and receivers, but it was time to get an AU-555A. It's a gem. It has such clarity and enough power for the room I'm using it in. And its looks are just perfect. Does it have the bottom end of an 881? No, but it has plenty of bass, and the mids and highs are stunning! I'm grateful to the gentleman that sold it to me. Maybe I'll make a video some day. Enjoy that wonderful amp!
Hey thnx. Great restorations. I just realized you're in Australia, our good friends down under. Men at Work is one of my favorite bands from the '80s. Great songs! Especially on vinyl. I watch Australian news on youtube as the media in the US is not always honest. You guys tell it like it is. I like that honesty. I'm in Long Island, NY. Keep up the wonderful work. Hey, great solution - using insulated binding posts. They certainly didn't give a lot of room on the speaker connections on some of the older equipment. Take care.
Yes, his museum is in Oyster Bay. I saw his boat, the Alexa, when we were on a business call not too long ago. It was docked and looking quite beautiful. He grew up a few towns over from me. Cheers !
I have two of them...! One as a spare, that's how much I love them. The one I use is recapped and upgraded (LeeStereo AudioKarma), all inputs, but especially the Phono stage sounds amazing! The spare is completely original (just thorougly cleaned) in mint state too and plays beautifully as well, but is the spare. One of the beautiful things hardly mentioned about these amps is the interior design. Inside it looks stunning too, it's simple and every part of the amp has it's own board that clicks into the other one, therefore super "easy" to work on and visually quiet and beautiful. Together with my Sansui TU-666 radio it is a stunning set to my taste, visually and of course sound wise...it is almost a tube like experience, clean but warm.
@@soundsofwhen Wow, I'm jealous of your knowledge, workspace and work. I'm just beginning. I haven't done the recapping myself, but am on the moment of trying my first recap job. Got this nice Kenwoord KR-4070, untouched, just well cleaned. It used to be the amp of my parents back in te 70's. Original and plays just fine...what did you alter inside your 555A? I see the huge power amp elco, the guy that pimped mine had something similar set up at first, but it was too high so the cover didn't fit anymore...the sound though...but now too, the amp rocks :-)
AudioKarma is the way to learn. Everything you need is there. Take your time and I recommend starting on a simpler amp like the Sansui AU-101. There is a lot more to do than just recap. Receivers can be quite tricky, especially if you need to align the tuner circuits
I put a 6922 Tube preamplifier to this AU 555A. It is a perfect match with any speakers. Finer, sweeter, and clearer sounds. Never move any tone controls. Just in the middle. Give max gain from this preamplifier, and use small volume moves of AU 555A, and it is a great power amplifier. It will run easy on three way 10 inch woofers. Among 6922 family and branches, Siemens E188CC is the top best, and Zaerix CV2492 is next. Philips 7308 will sound a little stickier and deeper highs from female vocals.
Any noticeable change in sound quality when changing only the two output capacitors? I know most people increase the value. I have two 4700uF caps ready to be installed, but I like the way the original ones sound, despite being like 50 years old....so I may just leave them in.
@@soundsofwhen I’m also partial to Sansui myself. I live in Tokyo and I have a used second hand store in my neighborhood that is an audiophile’s wet dream. I try to go in at least once every week or two and on my last visit there was a Sansui AU7500, AU 8500 in absolute pristine condition with an AU9500 stacked amongst some vintage Marantz and Luxman waiting to be worked on. I’m also very interested in the Sansui 1000A receiver. Have you come across any of those?
Be careful, those speaker binding posts are so close to each other that the positive wire is almost shorting out against the negative one to its left.
Great amplifier. I'm a long time Sansui fan with a decent number of amps and receivers, but it was time to get an AU-555A. It's a gem. It has such clarity and enough power for the room I'm using it in. And its looks are just perfect. Does it have the bottom end of an 881? No, but it has plenty of bass, and the mids and highs are stunning!
I'm grateful to the gentleman that sold it to me. Maybe I'll make a video some day. Enjoy that wonderful amp!
I agree and that's why I use insulated posts now. Enjoy your 555A
Hey thnx. Great restorations. I just realized you're in Australia, our good friends down under. Men at Work is one of my favorite bands from the '80s. Great songs! Especially on vinyl.
I watch Australian news on youtube as the media in the US is not always honest. You guys tell it like it is. I like that honesty. I'm in Long Island, NY.
Keep up the wonderful work. Hey, great solution - using insulated binding posts. They certainly didn't give a lot of room on the speaker connections on some of the older equipment. Take care.
@@anthonyhfe6450 Long Island, isn't that where Billy Joel has his motorcycle shop?! G'day from Downunder. Stay safe
Yes, his museum is in Oyster Bay. I saw his boat, the Alexa, when we were on a business call not too long ago. It was docked and looking quite beautiful. He grew up a few towns over from me. Cheers !
What a great man, big fan
I have the same one. This is the best amplifer ever. For 1 million i will Never sell it. Never. 😁
Its my baby. 🥰😘
Me too..
Also have AU555A...
Once Sansui Forever Sansui..
🥰
Thanks for sharing this stunning amp
I have two of them...! One as a spare, that's how much I love them. The one I use is recapped and upgraded (LeeStereo AudioKarma), all inputs, but especially the Phono stage sounds amazing! The spare is completely original (just thorougly cleaned) in mint state too and plays beautifully as well, but is the spare. One of the beautiful things hardly mentioned about these amps is the interior design. Inside it looks stunning too, it's simple and every part of the amp has it's own board that clicks into the other one, therefore super "easy" to work on and visually quiet and beautiful. Together with my Sansui TU-666 radio it is a stunning set to my taste, visually and of course sound wise...it is almost a tube like experience, clean but warm.
Couldn't agree more. Check out one of my restorations g.page/Sounds_Of_When/review?gm loosely based on Leestereo but with my own special tweaks
@@soundsofwhen Wow, I'm jealous of your knowledge, workspace and work. I'm just beginning. I haven't done the recapping myself, but am on the moment of trying my first recap job. Got this nice Kenwoord KR-4070, untouched, just well cleaned. It used to be the amp of my parents back in te 70's. Original and plays just fine...what did you alter inside your 555A? I see the huge power amp elco, the guy that pimped mine had something similar set up at first, but it was too high so the cover didn't fit anymore...the sound though...but now too, the amp rocks :-)
@@soundsofwhen And by the way, hi from Amsterdam, The Netherlands.The other side of the globe...:-)
AudioKarma is the way to learn. Everything you need is there. Take your time and I recommend starting on a simpler amp like the Sansui AU-101. There is a lot more to do than just recap. Receivers can be quite tricky, especially if you need to align the tuner circuits
@@soundsofwhen Thanks for the advice. Yes, I heard about the tuner circuits. You're right, so much to learn :-) nice
Love AU 555a. I have it, still with original parts .... magical sound
I have one as well. It is truly a masterpiece. Yours is lovely. Enjoy it!
I put a 6922 Tube preamplifier to this AU 555A. It is a perfect match with any speakers. Finer, sweeter, and clearer sounds. Never move any tone controls. Just in the middle. Give max gain from this preamplifier, and use small volume moves of AU 555A, and it is a great power amplifier. It will run easy on three way 10 inch woofers. Among 6922 family and branches, Siemens E188CC is the top best, and Zaerix CV2492 is next. Philips 7308 will sound a little stickier and deeper highs from female vocals.
Hi! It has the bump?? When you turn it on/off??
No. That is caused by a bad suppression capacitor across the power switch. It will need replacing with a suitable X2 CLASS capacitor
@@soundsofwhen got it.
Cause I’m gonna buy a AU555a, and it has the bump.. so you think is it easy to fix??
Thank you!
Any noticeable change in sound quality when changing only the two output capacitors? I know most people increase the value. I have two 4700uF caps ready to be installed, but I like the way the original ones sound, despite being like 50 years old....so I may just leave them in.
Got to 6800 for outputs and also the main filter cap to 6800. Dramatic bass improvement
You have some beautiful audio, thanks for sharing. I’m curious, which do you prefer between the Sansui AU555A or the Luxman L30.
That is a difficult question. But if I had to chose, I'd prefer the 555A as it holds a special place in my heart
For instance, this is how much effort I put into my 555A restorations soundsofwhen.com.au/sansui-au-555a-834030662
@@soundsofwhen I’m also partial to Sansui myself. I live in Tokyo and I have a used second hand store in my neighborhood that is an audiophile’s wet dream. I try to go in at least once every week or two and on my last visit there was a Sansui AU7500, AU 8500 in absolute pristine condition with an AU9500 stacked amongst some vintage Marantz and Luxman waiting to be worked on. I’m also very interested in the Sansui 1000A receiver. Have you come across any of those?
@@soundsofwhen absolutely beautiful work. You are spot on. Thanks so much for the link, I’ll keep you bookmarked.
Very cool. I use a proxy company to bid on Yahoo auctions in Japan and have imported many fine units, that are multi-voktage
This is beautiful. Did you connect your iPad via Aux? I have the AU-101.
yes I did just an RCA to headphone adaptor lead needed
which one is better AU-555a or AU-4900?
555A
arcam vs sansui who win?
Different era amps but my preference is for mid to late 70s personally so not so dependant on brand
Very easy but needs to be done by a qualified tech
This is a solid-state amplifier, not an integrated amplifier.
It's a solid state, integrated amplifier. Integrated meaning it has both preamp and power amps combined in the one box :-)