i live the 1970s i am 54 years my friend gave a party and i let him use my amp and it was in 1977 i use a realistic amp my mom just got i thought it was the world we were playing music and this sound came from the back room and it took over the party it was a 9090db in the back room he was my daddy he own the party i have never forgat that day 9090db as real as it can get

I bought a sansui 9090db in 1976 in japan and it gave me many years of service. I had 4 pioneer 911A speakers with this power house. I have never had anything close to the sound this receiver had. Just the other day I went to a lawn mower shop to get some blades and low and behold there was a sansui 9090db on a shelf collecting dust. I asked about it and the man said that old thing has been sitting up there for 30 some odd years. I had to ask if he would sell it and he said sure $5.00 WOW! I took it of course. Took it home dusted it off, Polished it and it looks like it just came off the show room floor and works just as good. Yes it was my lucky day.

I bought my Sansui 9090db in 1977 for $350. The tuner section compared well with my sister's Mac (tube) pre-amp tuner (we both agreed on this), so I am surprised that some posters did not rate the tuner section highly. (I used mine with good results where overhead electric lines precluded reception in other tuners in my building.)

I am also surprised that few posters identified the problem in the left channel -- it goes out if the circuit board is not cleaned frequently. I think circuit traces in the left channel may be too close together.

I am also surprised that one poster thought it was junk. I believe his unit may have been malfunctioning. My son, who is an audiophile and iintends to build his system around VTL (tube) or Musical Fidelity (transistor) amplification, agrees that the Sansui gives great sound for the money. However, I agree with him that the VTL and MF amps sound significantly better that the Sansui. Sounded great with my son's Vandersteen 2CE signatures, although the sound got a llittle hard playing complex orchestral works at high levels. The Vandys excel at reproducing male voices, and the Sansui sounded really good, almost, but not quite as good as a Rogue (55 w/ch, tubes) with them.

These are great old receivers with a "tubey" sound, somewhat loose bass but warm and sweet overall. Though they don't match the better modern gear, they are a great bargain at about $200 used. If the left channel is out, you may have to pay up to $400 to replace blown output transistors. But that compares to paying about $1500 for a used VTL 60 wpc (tube) integrated (which admittedly sounds significantly better than the Sansui).. It's tough to get the sound of the Sansui for the same money.

Associated equipment: JVC cd player (equal to old Magnavox) (before the JVC, Duel 510 'table, Shure, Grado cartridges)
Speakers: Two way horns, like Klipsh Heresy, but better midrange driver, 96 db/w/m
Vandersteen 2CE signatures
Nordost interconnects

Strengths: Sweet sound, plenty of power

Weaknesses: Frequent cleaning to keep left channel working, heavy

MY SANSUI 9090DB WAS GIFT FROM THE STREET , WELL CONSTUCTED , HEAVY , POWERFUL ,VU METERS and BEAUTYFUL WALNUT CABINET YOU GOT YOUR MONEY`S WORTH COMPARIED TO MARANTZ 2325 WHICH DID NOT HAVE A OUTSIDE REAR HEAT SINK OR THE WALNUT CABINET INCLUDED . THE LAMPS ARE A LITTLE HARD TO REPLACE Compared TO THE MARANTZ 2325 or Pioneer SX 850 SImilar ect . THREE SPEAKER HOOK UP NICE ! TUNER IS FAIR (GOOD) . A LOT OF RECEIVER FOR $$$$ ... THEY JUST DON`T MAKE EM LOT THIS ANYMORE !!!!!!! WOW!!! NICE

I just got this heavy receiver and I never expected something that old will have such a great sound. Nothing can't beat it. I will keep this beast forever! This receiver has so so much power that anything I hook it up to, drives it without any problems and the bass is amazing! If you have the chance to get one of those home, do it and don't think twice!

I bought this receiver in 1978 along with 4 spx 9000 speakers. In 2010, I still have the system. I was going to sell it to buy a home theater system but a nice person emailed me & said I should hold on to it. After reading other posts about receivers I am glad to have taken his advice.

The receiver & the speakers were a match even though you could put any speaker with any receiver, as long as they have the same ohm rating. When I got back from Japan, with the system in tow; also included TEAC A6300 (reel-reel), A-640 (cassette), 1400MK Technics (turntable). I spent a better part of a year researching all the components I was to purchase. Money wasn’t going to be an issue to a point. Some folks said that it would have been better to buy a pre amp & main amp combo instead of the receiver but I am glad I bought what I did.

The only problem I had was the red light was coming on. It was shutting down. It was still under warrantee so I took it to the service place & they assured me that it is a glitch that was easily repaired & shouldn’t be a problem. Well, over 30 years later, I have not had a bit of a problem.

That receiver with those SPX 9000 speakers, blow anything away. I had a housemate with Bose 901’s who said that those speakers were better. I showed him that the receiver speaker combo didn’t take much juice to drive & after the demonstration, he wanted two of those speakers. But it was the receiver that did the work.

After all said, I took having this receiver for granted & I should never sell it. If anyone is fortunate to get their hands on one then I suggest you purchase it. There isn’t any receiver I know that had the specs when I bought it & from then on, it was downhill for stereo components.

This is a beast from the past (circa 77-79) This monster of a receiver from the height of the receiver power war, and still very much sort after by the most audiophiles. This unit is well constructed, heavy, powerful and warm can handle pretty much any speaker you have. I really like all the analog meters and lights, specially the VU meters are so nice to look at. I think if you find a good condition 9090db at a fair market value, you should jump on it as they don't make them like this anymore. I think according to my opinion it has a very powerful tuner section and pulls very far away stations so clear. I have come to enjoy listening to my faithful old receiver over and over.

The sansui 9090db is the one of the best reciever that i ever heard,It even sounds better compare to some of my high end amplifiers..i will recommend this reciever !!!

Got it on ebay. This is the best receiver I have. Have a Rotel stereo receiver and this Sansui kicks his butt. I had a Marantz 2500 receiver and this is the only one I could compare to this Sansui. Simply the perfect receiver. Sorry they don't make it this way now. If you can get one don't think it twice just grab it you won't be dissapointed. Just excellent in every way.

Got it on ebay. This is the best receiver I have. Have a Rotel stereo receiver and this Sansui kicks his butt. I had a Marantz 2500 receiver and this is the only one I could compare to this Sansui. Simply the perfect receiver. Sorry they don't make it this way now. Just excellent in every way