Vintage Sansui AU-111 Vacuum Tube / Valve Amplifier / First Generation / RARE
Tuesday, April 30th, 2019
VINTAGE SANSUI AU-111 VACUUM TUBE AMPLIFIER. For sale we have a stunning and unfathomably rare Sansui AU-111 Valve Amp. The AU-111 is Sansui’s master piece in tube technology. The output stage consists of fixed bias 6L6-GC AB1 Push-Pull via Sansui’s own SW-50 output transformers with cathode feedback design. As being Sansui’s tube gear tradition, this amplifier was designed to strive for the maximum capability of 6L6-GCs with 485V plate voltage yielding 40W + 40W RMS Stereo Power with less than 0.8% THD. The control amp section consists of the cathode follower first stage followed by three amplification stages to manage sophisticated tone controls, Low/high filters, loudness and presence switches although the tone control circuit can be totally bypassed by the tone defeat switches. The phono equalizer stage adopted the solid-state circuit to improve S/N in the low level input. The AU-111 was initially introduced in 1965, and was on the market at least until 1971. AU-111 started Sansui’s black front panel tradition that was continued more than two decades well into 1990′s. AU-111 also contributed to establish Sansui’s reputation as one of the best audiophile manufacturers in the world. About the end of tube technology era, AU-777. Was introduced as Sansui’s first solid state integrated amplifier in 1967 followed by AU-222 and AU-555 although AU-111 was still going strong even into the early 1970′s. It was very ironic that at the very end of Sansui’s high-end audiophile history, Sansui reintroduced AU-111 as AU-111 Vintage. In 1999 followed by AU-111G whose control section was redesigned to be suitable for SACD and DVD-Audio applications. Ichiro Ohshima who was the high-end product manager at Sansui since 1986 to 2000 mentioned that he used to enjoy AU-111 and JBL speakers combination when he started working for Sansui. About at that time, he was wishing to create amplifiers sounding like AU-111 in his career. During the rough time Sansui went through from the late 1980′s to 1990′s, Mr. Ohshima was the one who struggled to maintaine the Sansui’s high-end amp tradition. Many of his master pieces, from AU-X111 MOS Vintage. Indeed sound similar to AU-111. It was not a coincident at all that who was responsible to revive AU-111 in 1999 was Mr. This amp here, is in stunning condition. You would be hard pressed to find any faults with it, the cabinet is in stunning condition, inside is clean, all knobs work perfectly, it has been fully serviced and re-capped and is ready to be enjoyed. As for the sound, The amp is extremely dynamic, capable of subtle detail one moment with extreme power on the next beat. Acoustic guitar strings just leap out of the speakers. It is extremely fast, but yet it doesn’t sound too fast. Very hard to describe. The other thing about the AU-111 that strikes you immediately is that it is somehow harmonically more correct than any other amp. The piano sounds more like a piano, the banjo more like a banjo, etc… There is simply no colouration that I can hear. This takes a bit of getting used to. Vocals are nicely defined with the instruments sharp and clear. Soundstage is both wide and deep. The Sansui allows you to hear the fluctuations in the vocals to such a degree that it feels you are at a live concert in the comfort of your own home. I can see how some would say it is too’refined’ sounding or some such. However, after you live with it a while you realise that the instruments somehow sound more realistic than you have ever heard. A au-111 doesn’t editorialise. It just plays what you feed it with great clarity and detail, no harshness, amazing dynamic range, and stunning bass control. Do not miss this fantastic opportunity to prize this stunning amp out of my hands, I have genuine reasons for sale with this, as it is something I had intended keeping’till death do us part’. Afterall, Who knows when or if you might ever see another one? The item “Vintage Sansui AU-111 Vacuum Tube / Valve Amplifier / First Generation / RARE” is in sale since Thursday, April 25, 2019. This item is in the category “Sound & Vision\Home Audio & HiFi Separates\Amplifiers & Pre-Amps”. The seller is “audioaffinity” and is located in Wigan. This item can be shipped worldwide.
