After owning a Technics 7600 (baby brother to the excellent 8600) and Kenwood 7500, and selling them (both were excellent, by the way- and for those unfamiliar with Technic's tuner line, the 8600 is rumored to rival the Sansui 717), and already a big fan of my Sansui 5900 and 717, it wasn't until the 717 was aligned by tech and friend of mine Grateful that I have enjoyed remarkable FM sound.

Running a Radio Shack roofmount antennae to the tuner, then the tuner sending signal through Cardas Silver interconnects (around $15 used ) into a Philips SC-80 upper-scale pre-amplifier, then to a Denon POA 1500 and finally into a pair of Thiel CS 2s, the music is so lifelike, clean, clear- it's jumps ahead of anything else I've spent time with.

Plans were to mod this tuner, but with the low-power stations broadcasting 28-32 miles away, this tuner is still pegging the meter at "5". And spurious noise is easily rejected like a pimply faced chubby kid at the cool kid table. No siree- no mods needed here.

Normally I feel FM broadcasting is a nice format but far from the ability of CD or vinyl, but with this tuner, I won't say it rivals those formats, but comes so close.

Instead of a hissy, soft, thin and overly wispy broadcast, I'm greeted with a full-bodied, clean, detailed sound with just a touch of airiness.

This is what FM should be about.


'Scuse me, WGBH's "Eric in the Evening" is spinning some fine jazz....

I´ve got two great tuners at the moment, as you well know, Paul, but one TU-717 / 719 is on my wish list. A TU-9900 is probably out of my reach.

Good FM is indeed a great source of free round the clock music. Try and find university or small local broadcast stations for best sound.

Jorge

Now here is something I do know something about!

The 717 is considered by some to be the better choice OVER its big brother the 919.

While I have not listened to a 717 in over 30 years I own a fully modified Tu-919 and a rebuilt Tu-9900.

The 919 was "pimped out " by Mike Williams of Punker X fame. His work has won me over big time and his prices seem fair.

Simply put, with my collection of TOTL FM tuners, it is now apparent that Sansui is head and shoulders over the rest of the field.

Among my collection is a Kenwood KT-917 and a 600T that will be going out to Mike in next few months for a rebuild and upgrades.

Which are my favorites....hmmmm

The 919 is the prima donna and like a swiss watch , very analytical, accurate, takes no prisoners.. But I think the 9900 is like a comfortable robe and warm slippers... it satisfies your human side..... The Kenwoods are not as musically satisfying, but can pull in the long signals and limit the noise to a whisper...

Gino,

Nice post.

I agree the Sansui tuners are something extra-ordinary.

I am pleased as punch with my 717, and also with my 5900.

Would I pick up a 7900 or 9900 if one was offered? But of course. If the 5900 can please me as much as it does, the 7900 and 9900 can only be better.



Besides the fantastic sound of the 5900 and 717, both tuners also offer a visual treat. Lights on, the satin black finish on the 717 is all business, while the 5900 is retro-gorgeous, black with polished aluminum knobs. Lights off, even better. The 5900, with it's aqua-green lamping illuminating the dial with a cool attractive glow,, and the 717, with it's soft chartreuse lamping giving it a pale glow-stick warmth.

Visceral feel is head and shoulders above many others as well. The weighted knobs of both tuners give the machines a no-nonsense and macho feel, and the knobs and switches engage with authority and a healthy "snick-snick" when turned, flipped, activated.




Great tuners, the Sansui line. No lloking back for me.

Yes, Sansui tuners are excellent, and the TU-717 is among the best. I just setup an extra rack system with my TU-719 upstairs in the house, and I kept the TU-9900 in the basement with a whole bunch of other equipment. (The 9900 is a fantastic tuner, but not quite designed to be rack-mountable as the 717/719/919 are).

My best tuner is the Sansui TU-517.
It's quite good, so I can only imagine what the TU-717 sounds like.
I live just below a translator for the Colorado College radio station,
and it's amazing how good the sound is when you are that close to the source.

Fred!
My Brooklyn friend..Where have you been hiding since departing AK?

Good to read your still in the fray!

Your comment about the 9900 not being rack friendly while accurate today, was not so when it was released back in 1978.. Sansui offered these shelf like wings that you attached to the rack itself and you the tuner slid onto it and just rested on shelf though not secured/screwed to it. I know this first hand as I owned a Tu-9900 back then and probably the only fool to trade it in for a Sony St-J75! then found the errors of my ways some 30 years later.

I have always liked my TU717. I actually have two of them now. I have since acquired a TU417, but haven't given it too much of a -*test*-('") yet. I'm sure it won't disappoint, either.

Hmmm, thats interesting..., I didnt realize there was a way to rack mount the TU-9900, as I dont recall any pics online of anyone ever doing that.

I must say, as nice as (Sansui) receivers are, there is an extra level of elegance that comes with the integrated AU models when they are installed in a rack, in my case- a Sansui GX-5 rack. The G-5500 receiver thats shown on the bottom actually doesnt quite fit, its a wee bit too wide, but it will fit if slid in from the back.

B/F

Yes, at the time I got rack from a Crazy Eddy clearance and the claimed it was a Sansui rack and sold me these 19" add-ons that held the tuner perfectly.. While the tuner's chassis was not actually attached to the rack but rather sitting on a tray/shelf.

Still living in in Greenpoint?

Yes, I remember those Crazy Eddie commercials back in the day...

Greenpoint? Nope. I'm in Queens.

B/F

When I picked up my 517 at a local thrift for $5.55, it had rack-mount handles.
Still does.