Vintage Sansui AU - 999 Integrated Amplifier / Amp / Rare / AU999 / Monster

VINTAGE SANSUI AU-999 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER
FANTASTIC CONDITION.
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For sale we have a fantastic example of the Sansui AU-999.
The Sansui AU-999 is regarded as one of the finest integrated Sansui ever made. Period. Musical, beguiling, involving..Beautiful black discretion hiding Sansui's big change from vacuum tubes to solid-state transistors and the beginning of Sansui's best and most successful period : the 1970s.
The AU-999 is the most advanced professional... control amplifier ever manufactured by Sansui. Designed specifically for the ardent audiophile, it features the refined dull black panels common to all AU series professional control amplifiers from Sansui.
The pre-amplifier section is constructed of carefully selected low-noise PNP silicon transistors, while the power amplifier section features direct-coupled circuits specially developed with the improvement of tonal quality in mind.
Together, they permit the AU-999 to deliver a full 180 watts (4 ohms) in music power output with unprecedented tone quality. The AU-999 is lavishly endowed with accessory circuits.
These include a tone selector circuit, an improved form of the triple tone control circuit that offers a choice in selecting the critical frequencies of tone control; a speaker selector which permits connecting three sets of speaker systems; a balance check switch which simplifies the job of adjusting for optimum balance of the right and left channel sound volumes; facilities to connect two phonographs and two tape decks, and a tape reprint circuit.
Special provisions have also been made to permit the amplifier to be built up into an electronic crossover stereo system and permit comparing such a system with a standard stereo set-up. Sporting all the functions of a 'modern' amplifier, the AU-999 also called attention to circuit details that would become somewhat common only much later elsewhere.The build quality is like anything high-end having its roots in the 1960s : unbelievably clean with thick & chromed chassis separations and front (preamp) / back (inputs) covers.
Functions are numerous : triple tone controls (with intelligently placed turnover frequencies, for once), two-way dubbing & monitoring, level trim pots for the two phono MM and the auxiliary inputs, three pairs of loudspeaker terminals and even a "balance check" button that nulls signal if the two channels are properly balanced.
DIN tape connection is here as well, just as MIC input, stereo / reverse / mono-L / mono-R / L+R selector and even a -20dB muting switch to avoid using the volume which, then, still wasn't bigger than any other. Tone control is done in 2dB steps for bass and treble but in 1dB steps for the midrange - again a very useful attention.
Please read the audio-database write up here : http://audio-database.com/SANSUI/amp/au-999-e.html for more detailed information.
As for the way this thing sounds and looks : The AU-999 is beautiful, reliable, magnificently built and sounds warmly inviting. This amplifier is in lovely condition. Do not miss out on this gem, You will struggle to find one like this in this condition again. Prices are rising fast on vintage hi-fi and this is a sure investment.
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Specifications
Power output: 50 watts per channel into 8O (stereo)Frequency response: 20Hz to 70kHzTotal harmonic distortion: 0.4%Damping factor: 45Input sensitivity: 3mV (mic), 2mV (MM), 200mV (DIN), 200mV (line)Signal to noise ratio: 80dB (mic), 80dB (MM), 85dB (line)Output: 200mV (line), 30mV (DIN)Speaker load impedance: 4O to 16OSemiconductors: 41 x transistors, 16 x diodes, 2 x triacDimensions: 18-1/8 x 6-1/8 x 12-1/2 inchesWeight: 38.5lbs Read more