Sansui's Single Digit Series
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Also see the following pages for more receivers:
"Single Digit Series"
"G" Series Receivers
Quad Receivers
Receivers
This page contains features, reviews and specs, for all the models in the single digit series.
These are the; Six, Seven, Eight, and Eight Deluxe.
Note: There is another related model, the 7000. The 7000 appears to be a unique model designation, as I have never heard of, or seen, a 6000, or an 8000. I believe it was a Euro/Asian designation and not sold in the US. The 5500 and QRX-3000 models also seem to be related to these models by their common stepped front panel.
HOLY JAMOLES!!! Sten sent me some of his library! Check these out!
Sansui Eight Deluxe
Sansui Eight
Sansui Eight quick setup card
Sansui 7000
Sansui Seven
Sansui Six
Look A-Likes
Sansui QRX-3000
Sansui 5500
Sansui 3300
Chronology:
It appears that the either Eight or the 7000 was first to market. The Six, Seven, and Eight Deluxe, should be coincidental.
This is borne out by three facts.
The quick specs on these models are;
Six - continuous 28w/ch both channels driven 20 hz
-20 khz, into 8 ohms,
RIAA deviation +-1db 30-15,000 hz,
Hum and noise 70 dB Phono, Preamp and power amp 80 dB, power amp only 90 dB
Tuner sensitivity 2 uV
Seven - continuous 36w/ch both channels driven 20
hz -20 khz, into 8 ohms
RIAA deviation +-1db 30-15,000 hz,
Hum and noise 70 dB Phono, Preamp and power amp 80 dB, power amp only 90 dB
Tuner sensitivity 1.8 uV
Eight - continuous 50w/ch both channels driven 20 hz
-20 khz, into 8 ohms
RIAA deviation +-1db 30-15,000 hz,
Hum and noise 70 dB Phono, Preamp and power amp 80 dB, power amp only 90 dB
Tuner sensitivity 1.7 uV
Eight Deluxe - continuous 50w/ch both channels
driven 20 hz -20 khz, into 8 ohms
RIAA deviation +-1db 30-15,000 hz,
Hum and noise 70 dB Phono, Preamp and power amp 80 dB, power amp only 90 dB
Tuner sensitivity 1.7 uV
7000 - continuous 70w/ch, into 8 ohms, 100w/ch
into 4 ohms
Hum and noise power amp only > 90 dB
Tuner sensitivity 1.8 uV
THD was less than .3% for all models, except the Eight Deluxe with .2%, and the 7000 with .4%
Noted Differences
In the 7000, the amplifier output goes directly to the headphone and speaker jacks. Even thought the specs are dodgy and not always represented according to the same standard, (IHF, RMS, etc) the 7000 does indeed have more power than an Eight, because the power supply rails are higher.
All of the above have relay operated speaker protection circuits except for the 7000. The protection circuit protects the speakers from any abnormal output, and also mutes the output at turn on and off.
The Six, Seven, and Eight Deluxe, have rear panel mounted fused speaker outputs to protect the amplifier from shorted speaker wires. The Eight and 7000 do not have these fuses on the back.
The Six, Seven, and Eight Deluxe incorporate all stage, Direct Coupled, Output Capacitor-Less topology.
The tuner section boasts SIX ceramic filters!
The Eight has a unique switching arrangement on the speaker selector that also interacts with the pre-out main-in circuitry. This would be useful for comparing a full range set of speakers connected to the A terminals to an electronically crossed over set of speakers connected to the C terminals. Unique, but not indispensable. Yet this exemplifies the unique switching capabilities that the Sansui engineers thought of, used, and designed into, their equipment during Sansui's heyday.
The Six, Seven, and Eight Deluxe have the cool 4ch Adaptor and Noise Reduction Adaptor connections. The Eight and 7000 do not.
UPDATE: The 7000, Eight, and Eight Deluxe have TWIN variable tuning capacitors, one for AM and one for FM, and they are both good ones. FM uses a 4 gang, and AM uses a 3 gang. The Six and Seven have a common shared 4 gang variable capacitor for AM and FM. This accounts for the different feel of the tuning knobs amongst these models. It also clearly delineates which ones were supposed to be the ultimate amongst their kind...
Tone Controls, Filters, Loudness Contour
A feature I have long liked about Sansui equipment was the frequencies selected for the center points of the tone controls. They just sound better than other brand's equipment. The following specs bear proof that the Eight and 7000 are one group, and the Six, Seven and Eight Deluxe are another.
The tone controls used precision resistor ladders on a multi-section rotary switch, not a potentiometer!
The center frequencies of the tone controls on this range is as follows:
Six
Bass 50 hz in 3 dB steps to +- 15 dB
Treble 15Khz in 2 dB steps to +- 15 dB
Loudness contour
+10 dB at 50 hz, +8 db at 10khz
Seven
Bass 20 hz in 3 dB steps to +- 15 dB
Midrange 1,500hz in 1 db steps to +- 5 dB
Treble 20Khz in 3 dB steps to +- 15 dB
Loudness contour
+10 dB at 50 hz, +8 db at 10khz
Eight
Bass 50 hz in 2 dB steps to +- 10 dB
Midrange 1,500hz in 1 db steps to +- 5 dB
Treble 10Khz in 2 dB steps to +- 10 dB
Loudness contour
+8 dB at 50 hz, +3 db at 10khz
7000
Bass 100 hz in 2 dB steps to +- 10 dB
Treble 10Khz in 2 dB steps to +- 10 dB
Loudness contour
+8 dB at 50 hz, +3 db at 10khz
Eight Deluxe
Bass 50 hz in 3 dB steps to +- 15 dB
Midrange 1,000hz in 1 db steps to +- 5 dB
Treble 15Khz in 3 dB steps to +- 15 dB
Loudness contour
+10 dB at 50 hz, +8 db at 10khz
Opinion:
These models have a special place in my heart. A Six was my very first receiver. Better yet, it was new, and I got it for my 12th Christmas present!
I just realized what it was that made me love Sansui gear. As a boy of 12, I wanted a great stereo but couldn't afford much. After looking at most every component available, I realized that I could buy Sansui's bottom of the range Six model, yet have ALL the switching capabilities of the top range Eight Deluxe model. The only thing I was giving up, was a bit of power, and some slight refinement of the circuits. But ALL of the functionality was there. This was exactly what I wanted, and not available from any other manufacturer. It was also necessary, because I couldn't afford a turntable until a YEAR later! It was another 2 years before I could afford to buy a pair of speakers!
The face of these units is high quality and beautiful. Extruded aluminum faceplates, die-cast aluminum surrounding a linear scale FM dial, flywheel tuning, heavyweight extruded aluminum knobs, and switching features NEVER seen since, make this series terrific for the heart of a great stereo. The all have somewhat lowly power outputs compared to today's units. But they gave up nothing to the competition of that day. The preamps are damn good. What these units give up in distortion and signal to noise specifications to newer equipment, is minimal, and the differences are rarely heard. What they provide in switching capabilities, and classy feel in operation, cannot be duplicated.
This series feels as good as the highly regarded and sought after Definition series. The bottom of the range Six weighs 29 lbs or 13.2 Kg. Find an entry level receiver that weighs that much these days! I bet most top of the range models don't weigh that much these days. Remember, these are solid steel, and aluminum, with vastly over engineered and rated, components.
Any of these models is a joy to own and operate. They feel good, and sound great. The only area that may fall short in comparison to today's best, is sheer brute power output. If more power is needed, a separate much larger power amplifier may be connected to the pre amp-output terminals. However, I have DJ'd parties in dance halls using only my Six, so don't go running for another power amp until you audition the equipment in your space. You will more than likely be in for a surprise!
I was just working on a Six, and I realized another thing that I always loved about my Six. It has a 9 and a half foot power cord. That's 3 meters! Comes in very handy. It cost Sansui only a little tiny bit more when it was built, but has provided convenience every time I plugged it in. It came in very handy when I was using my Six to DJ with.
Oh yeah, another thing. The AM tuner sections are so good you can shoot DX with them, and they sound good, too!
You just can't buy stuff like this anymore. Their competition from that era was often not as good. Sure, the published specs might be similar, but Sansui ALWAYS beats their specs, sometimes by an order of magnitude!