Sansui 310

The Sansui 310 is a compact receiver from the early 1970s. Documentation on this specific model is thin, and most of what survives comes from period advertising rather than independent reviews. What the record shows: it was a modest, all-around receiver rated at 12 watts RMS per channel, with total harmonic distortion listed at 0.8%. Frequency response stretched from 30Hz to 40kHz, and the phono stage accepted 2.5mV input with a 65dB signal-to-noise ratio — the auxiliary input was rated at 180mV and 90dB S/N. It weighed 6.4kg and measured 410 x 135 x 255mm.

Sansui's own advertising in Studio Sound (February 1973, p.32) positioned the 310 as the step-up sibling to the smaller 210, pairing the two in a comparison table. The ad copy emphasized clean FM reception and the ability to connect all necessary source components plus a pair of speaker systems. Notably, the same advertisement listed the 310's IHF music power at 44 watts at 4 ohms — a considerably more optimistic figure than the RMS rating, which was typical of how Japanese manufacturers quoted power in this era.

Beyond that advertising presence, there is little else on record. No production years, original price, or design lineage details have surfaced. It appears to have been an entry-level or mid-compact offering in Sansui's early-70s receiver lineup, aimed at buyers who wanted a straightforward, competent receiver without chasing the flagship models.

Known specifications: