Best Receiver for the Money - Sansui 331 Review

No video

Best Receiver for the Money - Sansui 331 Review

Рет қаралды 3,876

Playback Mansion

Күн бұрын

Review of my personal favorite receiver - the Sansui 331
Virtuous receiver with a vintage visage

Пікірлер: 46

@danstein2467 2 жыл бұрын

Great review Ryan! Those 70s Japanese lower wattage ants are true gems. Thanks for bringing this one to our attention.

@PlaybackMansion 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Dan! I totally agree. They shouldn't be overlooked

@hhvictor2462 Жыл бұрын

The popular music of its day when the receiver hit the market was disco, fusion jazz, aerosmith, Steely Dan, Blues Oyster Cult, even the golden era of reggae. So you know it has to deliver.

@laorhino9702 Жыл бұрын

I feel the same with the Sansui 210, 1972 @ 10w/ch. just love the sound from that reciever.

@hhvictor2462 Жыл бұрын

Vinyl wrap is first class.

@ebaysnipa Жыл бұрын

I’d got a 441 on the way, going to put it against a sansui 1010 that got me on the sansui path, very nice sounding 8 watts, another hidden gem, so far nothing I put against it can take the crown, including a sansui 6060 (no recap). Love the sarcastic humor. Subscribed.

@michaelwright1602 6 ай бұрын

So true on the Sansui sound... I own two, a 1969 2000 and a 1970 4000. The sound out of both is simply audio nirvana. I sold all of my modern gear, now run these with Zu speakers, the Omen DWs and the new DW6 Supremes. Simply incredible, very airy, detailed, tube like. I run a PS Audio Stellar GC DAC/Preamp through the 4000, and it brings out the best of the Sansui.

@PlaybackMansion 6 ай бұрын

I'm not surprised that receiver responds well to a nice DAC. I've had the same experience. It's incredible that Sansui made receivers 50+ years ago that can scale up with the best modern components. I can't say enough good things about the level of quality

@insolentstickleback3266 8 ай бұрын

That sounds like a gem, I have never heard one but your description was compelling. One unsung hero that I do know about though is the Harmon Kardon 730. If you have an opportunity to pick one up, you will not regret it. I bought mine two years ago for $350.00, I will never sell it.

@PlaybackMansion 8 ай бұрын

Thats a great recommendation! I know because I have two hk505's which I believe are the integrated version of the 730. I got two to biamp with them which I havent done yet. Thank goodness I got them a few years ago!

@Brian_Romska 2 жыл бұрын

Man you are fun to watch, lumberjack audiophile? I dunno, but you're definitely doing a great job. I'm pretty sure I'm close to starting a channel of my own, and you, even more than randy, continue to keep me interested and inspired to finally putting myself in front of a camera, thank you and keep it up!

@PlaybackMansion 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, those are kind words. Just do it man! Let's grow this hobby

@Brian_Romska 2 жыл бұрын

I got a mic, new MacBook, my son is gonna do the editing, I really don't have too many excuses left. Within the next few weeks I think my 1st vid will be ready, I just don't know what its gonna be about yet but I do have some ideas.

@stevezeidman7224 2 жыл бұрын

Ryan, that was terrific. Your best review yet. I’ve got a Sansui 5000 from 1970. I think that one is 1975. It sounds like gives a very similar presentation. Unfortunately, mine has static in the left channel that come intermittently. I use it for TV and don’t really notice the noise.

@PlaybackMansion 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Steve! I'm glad you think so. I've heard the x000 series receivers are very good. I hope that static clears up

@scrappy7571 Жыл бұрын

I love my 331!!! Agree with your review, it's hard to turn it off. Amazing sound for a low tier receiver, and compared to my au 555a, au717, 9090db it's a true bargain. If I had to sell my equipment, the 331 would be the last one remaining. I recapped it and sounds even better, and will for many more years. I'm searching for a cover with the vent if anyone has one available.

@ebaysnipa Жыл бұрын

was it a complete recap? or? thanks

@scrappy7571 Жыл бұрын

@@ebaysnipa All caps except for tuner section.

@labernese 2 жыл бұрын

Great review again Ryan , I have vintage Akai, Marantz and Yamaha gear but I’ve yet to add Sansui to the stable, on the lookout now ☺️. It’s cool that we can add a streamer with Bluetooth to our vintage gear and boom! we’re rocking like it’s 2022

@PlaybackMansion 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Griff! I'm also happy vintage amps are compatible with new digital sources I don't think I was clear in the vid but I've owned a Sansui 441 as well and it sounded identical to the 331- if you're in the market

@ginom407 2 жыл бұрын

Love the analogy on story telling detail! Thanks Ryan.👍

@PlaybackMansion 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Gino! Glad you enjoyed it!

@nestormotta_ Жыл бұрын

Very nice equipment! Congrats from Brazil!

@VintageVic93 2 жыл бұрын

Great review! I have a Sansui 4000 and absolutely love it. I just might do a review after I’m done with the speaker terminal upgrade.

@PlaybackMansion 2 жыл бұрын

Go for it Victor! A vid of the upgrade would be interesting too

@cheapaudioman 2 жыл бұрын

Man. Great video! Solid b roll

@PlaybackMansion 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks man

@edholmwood 2 жыл бұрын

I really like vintage gear. BTW we met at Axpona.

@PlaybackMansion 2 жыл бұрын

Me too, about half my gear is vintage. Thanks for watching and commenting!

@tanyet 9 ай бұрын

You may this one better because it’s cap-coupled. 221 through 551 is cap-coupled. 661 through 881 aren’t. I love my 221.

@PlaybackMansion 9 ай бұрын

Thanks, I didn't realize that but it makes sense. I assumed it was the simplicity of the signal path or less feedback in the designs. Now I want to hear the 441, 551

@marcogiongrandi 5 ай бұрын

Hello. Thanks a lot for the review! After seeing it, I bought a 331 and I'm very very surprised by the quality of the sound. However, the phono channel sounds quite soft compared to the other ones. I'm running a Technics slb-210 into it and I have to crack the volume full open in order to obtain a decent listening volume. In your opinion is that an issue of the receiver or is just the vinyl player which is not powerful enough? Thanks already!

@PlaybackMansion 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! I'm not too experienced with turntables but the first thing I would do is clean the switches inside with Deoxit d5 if you haven't already. just unscrew the four screws on the sides of the receiver and the top cover will slide off. Then spray deoxit into the switches that are attached to the knobs while turning each knob back and forth. You can clean the rca connectors on the back with deoxit as well. If that doesn't fix it- it may be an impedence mismatch (some designs by different manufacturers are less compatible) or a fault in the phono stage. You could either get an external phono stage and plug into the aux input or have a tech look at the Sansui's phono stage. Good luck!

@tayne1807 2 жыл бұрын

Great video man keep them coming

@PlaybackMansion 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Tayne!

@raymondlang 4 ай бұрын

Which "sensitive" would you recommend to pair up with this Sansui model? I prefer the floor standing speakers rather than small shelf ones. At moment I have some vintage Wharfdale E30s on my home cinema, and Mission 762s on my hi-fi.

@PlaybackMansion 4 ай бұрын

My guess is the Missions will sound very good with this Sansui because they are sensitive, have a large woofer, and are from around the same era. I would try the Wharfdales too since it's hard to predict a successful pairing. If you're looking to get more speakers- I tried and liked the 331 with JBL L19s and Smaller Advents. Newer speakers have better resolution in the treble which is good or bad depending on taste. I've had a lot of vintage Sansuis and none of them had harsh treble- so they can pair well with most modern speakers. I have once heard the 331 sound harsh when using cheap, long RCA cables. I liked the 331 with the Klipsch RP-260F. Any Klipsch Reference Premier or heritage model with drivers over 6" would do well. Sometimes older Klipsch RP models can be found new at a big discount

@erics.4113 2 жыл бұрын

I have some sansui sp3500 speakers sat here from a friend that thinks I can fix them. One is out completely the other works. I've done some cursory goggling and found recap info. This thing has 6 drivers! There are two dials on the back for trimming the xovers. I'm hoping my solder skills are up for this and none of the drivers are blown. I really want to hear these things

@zacharyo1888 Жыл бұрын

I just got an excellent shape 221 this spring and really like it! Agree with all you say about the 331. What speakers do you have it paired with? I’m using 5.25” two way Klipsch bookshelf speakers and enjoying that combination.

@PlaybackMansion 8 ай бұрын

Right now Smaller Advents. Im going to try Klipsch RP160m's with it very soon

@FunFiEmpire 2 жыл бұрын

I love the potato chip analogy! I looked at a picture of the back - what kind of speaker wire connections work on those? Also, with your refurb, do you ever "upgrade" the binding posts or is it important to keep them original? What about adding Bluetooth? Or do you stick with an external DAC?

@PlaybackMansion 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Chris! The speaker connections are spring loaded. They only fit 14awg or smaller bare wire. I am a nut about originality because I love cars too and cars are less desirable as soon as you modify them. I think binding posts are worth changing since they effect usability so much (like using modern tires on a classic). I haven't done it myself and I do think it can change the sound