Sam, was a bit sick to my stomache to read the packaging snafu. Glad to hear it arrived all in one piece.

Very strange- I've never seen an amp use both a torroidal and standard power supply as you've illustrated here.

And intrigued that it doesn't sound as good...


Could it need a re-cap? Could that be the culprit?

I appreciate your not taking the "Just because I bought it makes it sound better" attitude.

I've only had my Sansui 717 and 719 both working together for a short time until the 719 dropped a channel (dirty controls that I haven't tended to yet). What little I did hear, they were similar.

I have toyed with the idea of obtaining a 919 just for the "bigger is better" aspect, but have heard reports similar to yours, as well as raving reviews. I don't doubt that a "tune-up" would probably help your cause, but I'm afraid that my marginal hearing wouldn't be able to detect the difference between the 700 and 900 series. I'll snag one if the price is right, though.

sometimes bigger aint better "or so she lied" an example I have read, not heard that the Pioneer SX 1250 blows the SX 1980 away in sound. smoother, better detail, and just better sound.

It makes me think that I dont have to have Marks Yamaha MX 10000.

ya right.

elroy

Condition is always a variable that can be blamed, I can't discount the possibility. I pretty sure my tech has the schemo so I'll get the story on the design. I suspect the conventional tranny powers the preamp while the toroid supplies the amp.

The 717 and 719 are very interesting. They are very similar but have different outputs. The 717 has conventional discrete while the 719 has modules. Sort of the like Luxman R-1120 and R-1120a, which have the same difference. I wonder if there is a difference in sound between the 717 and 719.

You know, the 919 is not that much bigger than the 717 so I would not have expected such a different topology. True, the SX-1250 is much better than the SX-1980. Had them both at one time and the A/B was kind of embarassing. I can't tell you why I kept the SX-1980 and sold the SX-1250...

ha! It was one of your threads I must have read. But I had heard that on AK also.
cause the 1980 is the flagship is why I would keep it.

leroy

Congrats, SoCal.

And happy listening!

dennis

There seems to be a problem with a disproportionate number of the 719s.

I know of multiple on benches right now, and the techs grumble about the repair of them- being of a complicated design (incl. lots of disassembly to get to certain parts of the boards) and the schematics being a bit untrustworthy.

I'd love to line up a 717 and 719 to test- it's been suggested that the 719 is of better sound but I'm dubious.

The 710 has been discussed recently as well- anything from an interim "holdover" model between the 717 and 719, to a military-only issue, to a competitive model so stores could be protected from price wars betwixt each other.



So, throw a 710 into the mix for turds and giggles.

I picked up a humble AU-317. Neat looking amp.

I want it.

I had two Au-317s. That, and my marantz 1060 were my favorite small amps.

For those looking, skip the 117 & 217 amps & tuners, and go for a 317. That's where the quality and the features are best. Then skip the 417 tuner & amp- they are basically 317s in big boxes and lose the slender sex appeal of the 317. The 517 & 717 are close in performance and properly fill out that larger case- and are as well worthy to own.

Thed: Nice run-down on the AU-x17 series.

My 317 was missing half the wave form on the left channel so it was weak and distorted. My tech traced it to a bad resistor and he then set the bias and DC. It sounds great!

I was playing my 317 back to back with my 919. Could it be? Does the 317 sound as good as the 919?

I want it badly.

I gave both the AU-317 and AU-919 a good listening this weekend. My initial lukewarm impression of the AU-919 has now turned positive. I played a variety of challenging vocal artists including Nat King Cole and Bonnie Raitt and I'm becoming a 919 convert. This new found respect was not instant like when I first heard my 717 but I can say the 919 is musical and very enjoyable. I still think the 717 is slightly sharper but since I no longer have one, I can't do an A/B. Whichever you choose, the 717 and the 919 are IMO some of the finest integrateds available. (AU-20000 and AU-11000 are definitely on my acquire list!)

The AU-317 has earned my respect. It is a very nice mid-power amp that for ordinary listening volumes is every bit as useful as the TOTL 919. The differences are in the details and for me that makes listening enjoyable. 919 vocals and instruments are richer and fuller. The 317 seems edgier compared to the 919 but it is in no way fatiguing. I could very easily live with an AU-317 and that is saying something.