Sansui AU 719 (1978–1980)
The AU 719 was the flagship integrated amplifier of Sansui’s Alpha series. Sansui chose it to pair with their TU-717 tuner when the time came to retire that tuner’s original amp partner. Audio (October 1979, p.19) carried the announcement: Sansui was “breaking up a very successful relationship,” and the TU-717 had a new mate in the AU 719. The ad copy credited Sansui’s DD/DC technology, claiming it delivered both low THD and lowest TIM at the same time, and that complex musical passages stayed clean rather than turning harsh.
Inside, the AU 719 is a serious piece of engineering. It has a dual power supply with a toroidal transformer, a DC amplifier design with direct coupling, and Sansui’s X-Balanced circuit. The preamp and power amp sections are independent, and the phono stage uses low-noise FETs. It is rated at 80 watts per channel into 8 ohms (20 Hz - 20 kHz, 0.03% THD), with line sensitivity of 150 mV and MM phono sensitivity of 2.5 mV. It was built to compete head-on with the high-end integrated amps from Pioneer and Marantz. The sound is described as exceptionally clean, detailed and neutral, with tight bass control, a wide soundstage and excellent transient response. One of the most transparent solid-state amps of its era.
On the collector market, the AU 719 typically fetches between $800 and $1,500 depending on condition and restoration status, which fits its 8/10 collectibility rating. Things to watch for: aging electrolytic capacitors (especially in the power supply), relay contacts that may need cleaning, occasional protection-circuit glitches, and original fusible resistors that are worth replacing preemptively.
Known Specifications
- Years produced: 1978–1980
- Power output: 80 W/ch (8 Ω, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.03% THD)
- Sensitivity: 150 mV (line), 2.5 mV (MM phono)
- Key features: Dual power supply, toroidal transformer, DC amplifier, direct coupling, X-Balanced circuit, independent preamp/power amp sections, low-noise FET phono stage
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