Massive output power, with plenty in reserve Reliable as ever after 20 years, though this should come as no surprise to Sansui ethusiasts. Looks great in a dark room, a light room, or hell - just about any room.

Protect circuit relay prone to stickiness with age, WILL need replacement if it hasn''t been already. Cheapo plastic switch levers (what happened to the machined aluminum lever caps on the 9090DB?) though the aluminum knobs on the other controls are great. Vinyl veneer on cabinet, and cabinet is made of 1/8" plywood, a bit flimsy for a receiver of this calibre.

The G9000, yet another world-class Sansui receiver. I really like this unit both for it''s sound and it''s looks, though it does just a hair in the build quality department versus earlier offerings from Sansui (9090DB, QRX-9001, etc) as more plastic was used in the controls, and the cabinet was finished in cheap vinyl woodgrain, instead of real walnut as was used on the high-end units up to the 9090DB. Looks wise, it is a beauty with it''s gold dial scale inset and side lit dial scal legend (ala McIntosh) such that the numbers just appear to "float" there. The oversized volume and tuning knobs are a really nice touch as well. The meter layout is nice too, and the use of red and green clear lens LEDS for souce and speaker indication gives them a kind of jeweled look that contrasts nicely with the gold dial face. As far as power, look no further. This is more juice than you will ever need at 160WPC rated (but conspiculously conservative) of pure DC power. Some will say that the G22000 and 33000 (at 220WPC and 300WPC respectively) are better BUT bear in mind that with the latter two units, there are no less than 8 output transistors per channel. If you blow the outputs on one of these beasts, you''ll curse the price of repair (likely over $500 per channel). The G9000 while a bit less egotistical at 160 WPC does all you''ll need and only uses 4 transistors per channel, making it a much more reasonable unit to repair. Not to mention the fact that it would seem the 33000 in particular was prone to self-destruction with difficult speaker loads. To the quality of sound: simply outstanding. Admittedly, I still prefer my trusty 9090DB (which I will be buried with when I die) because it has a different tonal quality that just appeals more to my taste, but I recognize true quality when I hear it, and the G9000 is true quality defined. It is unfortunate that a quad version of the G9000 was not made, much as the QRX-9001 was the 4 channel "mate" to the 9090DB, as such a receiver would have been worthy of starting wars over, but even at two channels it is amongst the all time best offerings of any Japanese maker. I will also take this opportunity to settle a misconception about the G9000 vs. G901. Yes, the G9000 was an american market version, and the G901 was made for the european market. The only differences were cosmetic (woodgrain pattern on th

Similar Products Used:

Sansui G901 Sansui G9000DB Sansui 9090DB Sansui 9090 Sansui QRX-9001 Sansui 9900Z

Reliable. Very clean. G-901DB version has better bass control & less solid-state sound.

G-9000DB version- wooly bass, solid-state character. G-901 version- not readily available on used market.

The Sansui G-9000DB and G-901DB are supposedly the same receiver- The G-9000 was targeted for the American market, the G-901 was supposedly targeted for the European market. The G-901 has a darker woodgrain case than the G-9000 and the G-901 has *white* lettering on the front panel. (Both have the peculiar connections on each side of the unit.) I did not open either unit to inspect the inside, but I suspect the power supply might be different, and possibly subtle differences in circuitry which the Japanese manufacturer deemed as to satisfy the "more demanding" European market. But in playing both receivers (the G-9000 in excellent condition, the G-901 in very good condition), I realized there was a *definite* sonic difference between the two models.

(I also want to note the rarity of the G-901 model, which isn't even listed in the 1997 Orion blue book. The service manual for the G-9000 does cover the G-901 model.)

To start, I want to state that I had a long-time "reference" in '70's-vintage integrated stereo receivers- the Onkyo TX-8500 (original, not Mk II). The vast majority of such receivers (and integrated receivers in general, save maybe the Magnum Dynalab receiver made today), don't hold a candle to budget high-end separates. Marantz, Pioneer, Onkyo (except the TX-8500), Sansui (except the G-901), and even Luxman and Tandberg. Most sound downright transistory, and cannot be listened to for extended periods of time without "fatigue." The rare Onkyo TX-8500 was a glaring exception, providing an almost tube-like dimensionality which even the finest of high-end solid state fails to capture. The only weaknesses of the Onkyo TX-8500 are a benign grain at the top end and reliability problems. I figured too bad the receiver didn't have a cleaner top end or better reliability. (The transistor bias seems to drift to the point one has to constantly adjust the balance control to attain equal output from both speakers over time- a common problem of many '70's receivers still in operation. One also has to monitor the heat dissipation.)

Now enter the Sansui G-9000DB. I personally would not have written a review of this particular receiver alone, had I not tried the G-901DB. (It would have gotten four stars at best.) But I do have several comments. The G-9000 may be one of the most stable and reliable '70's receivers ever made. For the units run extremely stable and sound clean, at least up to moderate levels. But the G-9000 did bring up memories of how I thought Sansui receivers sounded back when they were sold and demonstrated. A "clangy" hardness in the upper mids/lower treble, and an unmistakable transistor character, albeit a relatively clean sound. This made the G-9000 a great convenient integrated unit for those who do not mind listening for *short* periods of time. But not the ideal unit for listening through an entire album or a Mahler symphony. Another curious aspect of the G-9000 is for a high-powered receiver, the bass is ill-defined, yet it didn't seem to be speaker-dependent. Maybe a line-level flaw, for I also heard this problem listening through headphones.

The Sansui G-901DB, however, is in a different beast sonically. (Power supply??) When I first powered the unit up, the differences were apparent right off the bat. The hardness and transistor character, which (along with the cleanness) I always attributed as the "Sansui" sound, was virtually gone. In fact, the top has the refinement which is usually only attainable with finer high-end separates. The Onkyo TX-8500 may just be a tad "sweeter" up there, but in terms of refinement and lack of grain, it's no contest in favor of the G-901. When mated with a fine speaker like the Jean-Marie Reynaud Twin Mk II, this unit can be listened to for hours upon hours, with no desire to turn the unit off. No "solid-state" listener fatigue whatsoever. Playing CD's yielded a dynamic, natural quality that often eludes more highly-regarded separates. The term "character-less" is often a mis-used term in reviews, but other than the **very** slightest of solid-state "hardness" (I actually have to listen hard for it- it doesn't call attention like most solid-state), this receiver is about as close to sonic neutrality below the likes of Rowland or Levinson. (Unlike most Sansui, if the G-901 errs from neutral, it's slightly on the dark side.) The main sonic weakness of the G-901 is still the bass. It has the same problem as the G-9000, but to a lesser degree. The bass may sound slightly exaggerated and "one-note" with speakers which already have accentuation or loose response in the lower regions. (The Onkyo TX-8500, although not a stellar bass performer, does do better there.) The other weakness is the sound stage collapses at volume levels much lower than it would with a typical 160 wpc (or 100 wpc for that matter) high-end amplifier. (Although better than the G-9000 in this regard.) The effective power is about half its power rating when held to high-end standards. If it weren't for the bottom and low effective power for its 160 wpc rating, the Sansui G-901DB receiver would be a high-end killer, and would drop a lot of jaws of audiophiles who have always considered Sansui's electronics to be typical "Japanese mid-fi." Then again, it may drop the jaws of audiophiles anyway... (especially if the speakers provide a benign load.)

For those who rave the G-9000 series units, if you try the G-901(DB), you'll get a taste of high-end which might be addicting. And for those who are skeptical that there exists a Sansui receiver which can deliver true high-end sonics, the G-901 will surprise and satisfy all but the most-finicky audiophile.

The five-star rating is for the Sansui G-901 model. Maybe the poor-man's Magnum Dynalab...

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Onkyo TX-8500 receiver

G-8000/Very Well Made. Full Sound and features.

A little noisy when pushing higher wattages

I am using a G-8000, and am currently restoring a G-9000. All in all, this receiver is fantastic. It is coupled to a Sansui motorized equalizer, and feeds into a Sansui 800 Series Quad Decoder and Rear Channel Amp. The front Speakers are Sansui SPZ-77's and rears are SP 5000 Series. Both Sets of Speakers have adjustable crossovers and very large woofers. You could bring the house down with this if you wanted to, but I think one of the best features of this receiver is how well it sounds at approx 1 watt of output. I have always felt that the 1st watt of output on any reciever or amp is the most important, and the 8000 does alot with 1 watt. Equalizing this receiver does make it sound even better, and as long as you do not run the enormous volume knob much over 5 or 6, noise is kept to a minimum. The seperate bass,mid,and treble controls are great, as well as the tuner section for clarity. You just dont have to run this unit very hard to get decent performance. If you run into one of these, pick it up and hang onto it. It appears to be far better built than anything on the market today. Other than a few additional controls on the 9000, the receivers seem to be identical except the 8000 is 120wpc, and the 9000 is 160wpc. The service manual actually covers both. If you like the hard driving sound of the 70's, and lots of brushed aluminum, then this ones for you!

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Large Technics/Pioneer/Marantz

Abundance of clean, raw power. Excellent tuner. Great features. Sturdy, quality craftsmanship.

None.

I purchased this beautiful, hefty monster from Ebay this past winter for around $385.00, A STEAL! (Considering it retailed for $1,050.00 in 1977-1978). At 160 watts @ 8 ohms no more than .02% THD, she is more than adequately capable of driving most speakers with plenty power to spare. The sound is warm and clean, allowing the full sound of LP's and CD's to be truly appreciated. There are plenty of inputs-(2 phono, 2 tape, 1 aux, 1 4-channel decoder). Bass, Mid, Treble controls (defeatable) with variable turnovers for Bass and Treble.Great backlit Analog tuner, power and signal strength meters.Loudness button, mute (-20db)button, High and subsonic filters, Dolby FM emphasis, Wide and narrow band selection, FM noise suppression. Good, strong tuner. Headphone and Microphone jacks.
I commend the engineers in their design for placing the inputs and speaker outs on the left and right sides of the receiver(making access o so easy) instead of the rear, which sports a large heatsink.The brushed (stainless steel or aluminum?) faceplate looks stunning.
No MODERN black plastic receiver can match the pure power, warmth, cosmetic beauty and sturdy craftsmanship of this Vintage Giant. I love this receiver for ALL of it's features, and have yet to find a single weakness.....
The Sansui G-9000DB competes well against the Pioneer SX-1980, and IMHO gives her a run for her money.
Oh yeah, You can separate the Amplifier and Pre-amp if you so desire- for those of you who love your separate components. It just doesn't get much better than this!

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Sansui G-7500, Pioneer SX-1980

GREAT FULL BODIED SOUND, ENORMOUS POWER for transients. Flawless and sensitive FM. Superb fit and finish. The craftmenship is nothing short of incredible especially when considering todays run of the mill "plastics".

The only weakness of this Giant is they stopped making it!

I'm not a audiophile..but I love music..especially classical. After buying this beauty off e-bay for approx. $400 I realize that it was the best money I've spent in a long time.The unit is mint. I have the 9000DB hooked up with KEF 104.2's as my main speakers. The first thing I noticed was that all other things being equal, fit finish craftmanship etc. Power is what makes a receiver "sing". This unit is 160 watts a channel into 8ohms with 0.025% thd. Amazing! It is the first time I was truly able to hear an audible difference in all applications of music reproduction ie: CD,tape, VCR, Phono etc. Usually there are subtle or incremental differences in the better receivers of this era not so the Sansui. It is heads and shoulders above everything else made at this time with the "POSSIBLE" exception of the Pioneer SX1980. and in my humble opinion not that great so as to justify 3X's the price difference. On to the Sansui ..The Fm section is truly astounding. Not a hint of hiss or background noise with only a terk Fm antenna hooked up. All the pots on this model are basically up and down toggle switches clad in the same brushed aluminum as the faceplate. The main knobs for tuning and volume are ridged on the edges and give a great "feel" when using them. The tuning gang is heavy and smooth and just plain feels expensive which it was when new.
My KEF's are great and I thought I knew their capabilities and limits until I hooked them up to the 9000DB. WOW!!!! They never sounded better. I am now a truly happy camper. If there is any kind soul out there with a manual and can make a copy for me I will be happy to reimburse you for your time and effort.. If you can find one of these rare beautys buy it, don't hesitate, buy it..you'll thank yourself over and over again just as I am doing. The only thing you might find a drawback is the lack of inputs..I considered that as well, but when you consider the incredible audio experience in store for you, the limitations are vastly outweighed by the sonic splendor of this "work of art". I know I may sound like I'm making a great deal over this receiver..I AM NOT! It is magnificent. It represents an expression of beauty and craftsmanship in an era of beautiful and well crafted receivers. When each major brand Pioneer, Marantz, Sony and Sansui competed with one another directly, and as a byproduct produced some incredibly well made receivers. Here's wishing you all great listening... John My e-mail is Jonopono1947@aol.com for anyone who has the Sansui instruction and set-up manual...Thanks again.

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Pioneer SX1010 (100WPC).. Sansui 7500 (90WPC) and a Marantz SR7000G (circa 1980..120WPC).

Beauty and POWER

Large, Heavy Unit

I bought this Sansui G9000DB not only because of its enormous power, seemingly much in excess of its published 160 watts/ch., but because it has the pre-out/main in jacks(lacking, for some odd reason, on the newer G8700/9700 series receivers) that come in handy for the equalizer that must be ran with Bose 901 speakers. A cleaner sound can be had by hooking it up to these instead of using the usual tape monitor jacks.Although I don't like the 901's when hooked up to other amplifiers/receivers, they distort much, much less with the Sansui G9000DB that with any other receiver I've ever used. These speakers are notoriously power hungry, and this receiver apparently has the ability to satisfy their appetite! We're talking power here, folks. The soung potential is great, not to mention its striking good looks. As sexy as they come.

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Sansui 9090DB, G9700

The whole unit.

Couldn't find any, but the weight.

Well, I don't want to say much, but: IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO BUY ONE OF THESE, PLEASE, BUY IT, SELL YOUR OLD RECEIVER AND YOU WILL BE HAPPY.
I actually have a G-901 which I heard that sounds better that G-9000, but I don't know yet.
Great unit.

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Pioneer, Yamaha.

The look, the feel, the power! the power! THE POWER! :)

Honestly can't find any.

I bought this reciever from a friend. I'm sorry to say.. but I ripped him off! :o) anyways. I nearly crapped myself when I finally hooked her up. I blew up my infinity Qa's in a matter of minutes, The voice coils just couldn't handle that much power. So I hooked up my Sun 18's at 2000 watts each, Doubt the G-9000 could harm them. Mmm Mmmm the sound was termendous. There are no words to describe the awesomeness of this reciever. Words cannot tell its beauty, and God-like power. If anyone runs across one of these creations of Sansui, GRAB IT! even if it means back stabbing a friend to get it.

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Harmon Kardon 500+