Classic Hifi Care

So glad a thread on AudioKarma had a nice tip of the hat to this forum, as only a few minutes of poking about was enough to recognize there's a good vibe and plenty of experience here.

I'd had a reasonably satisfying stereo system, essentially unchanged from '82 until '07. That's when I backed into more vintage appreciation. I'd purchased, as a gift, a new receiver with all the processing bells and whistles that arrived DOA. Subsequent to tending to the return, I chose to follow up on all the props I'd come across about 60's and 70's audio and purchased a Sansui 7000. Upon first audition, you could color me hooked.

In the interim, lots of gear has come and gone, and plenty has stayed. Our most recent acquisition is an Audio Research SP-6B. It's endowed our primary system with a level of texture that feels as if the music actually has skin. About four years ago we found our speaker happy place to be ADS, of which there are three pair lurking amongst several systems, as well as some venerable pairs such as Advent NLA's, which are paired with a Sansui 2000 in a smaller room. That Sansui x000 series has phono sections that are as sweet as we've found in receivers.

Currently working on bringing a Voice of Music 580 back around. Our third console, and aesthetically pleasing as can be. Gary at VofM Enthusiasts is an enormous assist.

Actually, it was the appreciation of consoles that piqued my interest in this forum, so thanks for the opportunity to come aboard.

Jeff

Welcome aboard, Jeff, we are glad you are here. You will find this to be a pretty good group with lots of knowledge to share. Your VM 580 is a nice unit so please share your story on how you found it and your restoration process. We like photos too! Again, welcome, we are glad you found us.

Bill

Welcome Jeff. Be sure to let us know your location.
Enjoy your stay as this is a great group.

Gary

Welcome aboard Jeff. You have found the best group of console enthusiasts on the planet. Please post your location. Feel free to share your VM project with the forum.

Thanks for the kind welcomes. My oversight on location, which is central Indiana.

Hoping to figure out how to establish a signature and avatar. This being an analog guy in a digital world can get tiresome.....................

I was raised in central Indiana, just north of Indy.

Welcome! I grew up in northeast Indiana.

Jeff, you can add your location in your profile setting. Just click on your name where you would log in, then click profile and add your location.

Thanks,
Bill

And make sure the size of your avatar picture is no larger than 235 px wide by 180 px high. Most cellphone pictures are too big. You can resize pictures on Win 10 by right clicking the picture, select "resize" then choose the top, smallest, size option. Please don't use a picture of a person in your avatar. If you have any trouble, contact a moderator via PM.

Welcome - I have a Sansui 5000 that played for a while, so I can understand your enthusiasm with later component systems. Mine needs an RF transistor, FM fades away lately.

I also have a V-M console to work on for a customer, so I hope you can have a trouble-free restoration!

Hello! Hope you find the help you need here. A Sansui is worth the effort.
Sansui made some of the best audio in the '70s. It originally started as a xfmr manufacturer, later reflected in their high build quality Their AU amp series is highly respected. Bought a rackmount AU-717 new, sold it (now regretted) when the complicated-to-fix protection circuit acted up, a very common problem. That amp's schematic would blow your mind, but it's best sounding SS amp I've ever heard. It's design allowed for use of very low amounts of negative feedback, unusual for a SS unit, and super-low TIM distortion. My son still has an AU-417 I gave him years ago, less powerful, but it still works and sounds great.

Welcome Jeff and I hope you enjoy the enthusiasm like the rest of us. It's a great place to be.

Steve

Any advice on the protection circuit repair? My AU-717 was retired from service when it began acting up.

Chris Campbell

Chris: I looked into it, it's evidently an almost universal problem with them and not a simple fix, so rather that send it off for professional repair, qualified locations for which I was finding it difficult to identify, I opted to sell it to a local fellow audio guy I know who was willing to deal with it. This was about 6 years ago and as of last year he still had it sitting on the shelf. If you still have the original manual I think it has the schematic. I've also seen them online. It's complexity made my head spin!

I prefer to leave the solid state repairs to others who might have better parts sources.
Between Marantz Sansui Kenwood (and Sony or MGA TV by extension) you must use the exact transistors.

This is why I prefer to service USA solid state like Scott, Dynaco and the like.

Greetings, All,

Thanks again for all the thoughtful hi-de-ho's. Going to post in, I hope, appropriate sections, some photos and progress status. The VofM 580 has a new needle (so hard not to think 'stylus') and refurbished idler wheel, so LPs are playing. In addition, we found a sweet KLH tuner that tucks into the record compartment, with room to spare for records.

Now, on to the other sections.................................