I own two Sansui 9090DB receivers. I've had them since the early 90's and they've been working fine since. I power two pairs of ADS L810 speakers with one. The other I use to power a pair of Bang & Olufsen Beovox S75 speakers. These receivers go very will with equalizers connected to them, especially if you use Soundcraftsmen. The new digital receivers can only proved "home theater" sound, but not high quality music sound. The Sansui 9090DB receiver is truly an exceptional analog unit that provides high quality music sound.

You name it

None other than occaisional dial lamp failures

Wow. The 9090DB is a legend, practically in it's own time. This is the receiver everyone wanted, but few could afford. Built better than a Marantz, more powerful than a Kenwood, runs cooler than a Pioneer, although it could never leap tall buildings in a single bound, with a dead weight of 60 pounds - 25 of which is in the power supply.

The only problems I have ever experienced with these units (I own two - gotta have a backup) are flaky dial lamps caused by corrosion on the lamp sockets, and noise due to dirty switch contacts. 125 wpc of honest earth shaking bone crunching white-knuckled butt kicking power, can drive even the most in efficient speakers, and can make cheap ones _almost_ sound good. I could generate seismic readings in Hong Kong with this thing.

The 9090DB uses so much power at startup that it can dim the lights, and takes almost 10 seconds to stabilize before it enables the speaker outputs. This is the cleanest sounding non-DC receiver I've ever had the privelige of owning and despite the die-hard fans of the Sansui G-series often cutting down the 9090DB, I would still take a 9090DB over a G-9000DB any day if I had to choose one over the other.

This is also one receiver that looks as good as it sounds. From the blackout dial glass to the polished aluminum control knobs, this thing says class all the way. The tuning indicator can travel the entire length of the dial in one flick of the wrist, something that while not terribly useful does demonstate extroirdinary design quality.

If you were to make a list of everything left over from the 1970's, the only thing worth keeping would be the 9090DB. Now go and pitch those bellbottoms and disco 45's before you regret being caught with them, and proudly display your 9090's.

Similar Products Used:

Sansui 8080, 8080DB, Pioneer SX-1010

I purchased my 9090db used in 1986 for 325.00. Best money I have ever spent. A true warm "tube" sound from a trasistor amp.....unbeatable!

Classic Styling and great performance make this my favorite receiver of all time!Just a step above those marantz Gyro-tuners. Another cool, but not well advertised feature of the 9090DB is the Microphone port with volume control. Put on your favorite song, turn don the midrange a little, and you're an instant rock star!

Rich bass, warm sound meaning lots of upper bass in the 200 to 400 Hz region.

Loss of detail in the midrange from the warm sound, rolled off highs.

This is a follow up after comparison of s Sansui 8080 DB to my Pioneer SX-1080 in an instananeous A-B face off with identical speakers. The Pioneer is much more natural sounding, balanced and accurate. The Sansuis still sound great and on some very hot recordings the Sansui will sound better, but 98% of the time the Pioneer is much better, especially for acoustic and classical music. I think the bass of the Sansui is exxagerated more than accurate. The Sansui still sounds terrific and better than all the new amps/receivers made new these days. The nod goes to the big Pioneers. I'm getting a Sansui 9090 DB in about a week from an eBay auction, but it will sound pretty much exactly like the 8080. The other reviews here all mention the warm sound of the 9090 so I am sure it sounds just like the 8080 -- fantastic.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer SX-1080, Sansui 890 DB, Sansui 8080 DB

Hi I have been wanting a sansui 9090DB since I was a teenager.I used to go by the stereo shop in my home town of bellflower california every day.but no amount of lawn cutting ,begging,or borrowing would give me the cash to make it mine.but although I am nolonger in my youth I have just gotten the receiver I Have desired for so long.I made a deal with someone on ebay and traded my pioneer sx1250 receiver for his like new sansui 9090Db.this is not to say that the pioneer was not a great receivr it was and is but I had to have the one I have wanted all these years.the sansui sounds great and brings back a lot of memories.and if anyone has a owners manual for ths receiver sell me a copy thanks..Robert Gray

Power,Looks,Durability,sound

no remote(was available in the 70's)

I have nothing from this era to compare this unit to except friends and family's inferior sound.I purchased this unit in 1975 with some other basic gear from the old Cal-stero chain. Cant'remember what I paid(maybe $425.00)When people whould find out how much I paid, they thought it was too much, until they heard the sound!(fantastic with vinal) All the other gear is long gone, not the 9090DB. It lives on. I wish I could find one at a garage sale like the previous reviewer. What a steal!!! The only problem I have had from this unit is a burned out face lamp. Ocasionally you need to take of the lid and give a clean.It is a little sensitive to dust. I have played this reciever long and hard.It is still in service. It also has survived many moves.It also has very good tone control. Good stereo seperation and and good clean power.The amp section is rated at .1 total harmonic distortion at 125wpc(more like 135wpc). Compared to the numbers on todays recievers this is high, but you must hear this unit.It just sounds sensational. In fact, I'm not sure I knew what I had until I purchased a couple other recievers(junk).I just recently decided to try the seperates thing.I have alsays heard that for music listening,seperates is a better way to go. I decided I wanted to be able to use a remote to operate my whole system,and have some pre-set FM tuning. This is not possible with the old Sansui.I purchased a seperate 5-channel amp, Pre-amp,Dolby Digital Processor, C/D player with digital out and DVD. Well, this is fine gear, all pieces rated highly. Well, I am thinking of going back to my old Sansui. I can't say what it is for sure, but I just like the sound better. I will never sell this unit, my wife thinks I am kind of silly sbout it, but I as I have read here in these other reviews, I am not the only one!! This reciever deserves more stars!!!

The au 9090DB RICH sound and awesome power

not

I have been search for the 9090 for 6 months and while dropping into a local Good Well Shop ,the musically gods were with me! There in front of me were a set of celestion bookself dl 6's for $15, a set fo 70"s Pioneer speakers for $10, and and piled on top of them was the au 9090db, listed at $35. Would't you just loose it at this sight!
the SWEETEST power one could hear, but carrying it home could be a source for a hernia, it feels close to 60 to 70 lbs. Some Goodies: 2 pre out spots, mid ranges tonal control,just unique, ability to cancel out all tonal controls makes for natural sound, mute out on tuner selection while using FM am, and the best clean power out curcit I've seen only on a type A descreet amps, that cost 1000's, it's the best,,,,,at 1 to 2 watts my JBL century 100's along with my AR b48's are roaring loud enough too hinder room communications. It's a pure beast of a beast that has lasted for 28 years and most likely, will be past on to my grandchild. Don't buy any other reciever.

Similar Products Used:

pioneer sx 1980
pioneer sx1980

Beautiful sound,Classic style,Impressive build quality

None

I thought I was going to leave the only review of this fantastic machine. Happy to be wrong.
I bought mine new in 1977 in Houston. It has survived 7 moves with a total of $40 in repair. In '96 I had the bulbs in the dial replaced and some contact cleaner shot to the knobs [one dead bulb and one noisy knob].
I retired it yesterday for a new Pioneer Elite VSX26TX, but it sits there on my shelf under a clear dust cover, still [and always] King of the Gear in my house. [It sits next to a still working Pioneer H-R100 Dolby 8-track recorder I bought in Corpus Christie in '74 or '75.]
I love the Pioneer digital, but if one of them ever had to go it would be adios Pioneer. That Sansui has given too much happiness for too long.
I hope you all appreciate what you've got and take care of them.
The site made me assign a model year before it would accept this review, so disregard that 1995.

Sound quality,the brand name and the powre output.

none at all

The best I got it for $65.00 form this guy i know.It is really loud i was tolled it is 125 watts a channel sounds like more.I also found if you hook up an eq to it you can't find a better stereo it is still good with out an eq.It was hard to find speakers that would handle the output power so I got some cerwin vega tower speakers and now i can't get over the sound quality.For the system being from 1970s it takes a cd player well i also hooked up my vcr to it and it really kicks a$$.IF you ever get a chance to buy a sansui 9090db don't let it pass you up i see them all the time on ebay but all in all it is a good stereo.

Similar Products Used:

sansui A-1200