Sansui SP-5500

A 4-way passive loudspeaker system from the late 1970s, part of Sansui's top-tier lineup.

Overview

The Sansui SP-5500 is a 4-way passive loudspeaker system from the late 1970s. Sansui positioned it as one of its top models of the era. It has a horn-loaded midrange and six drivers in a multi-way layout. A restoration has been documented, which tells you these are vintage units that may need maintenance, such as new capacitors in the crossover network. A user manual exists in PDF format.

Specifications

Type	4 way, 6 driver loudspeaker system
Frequency Response	40Hz to 20kHz (conflicting reports exist)
Impedance	8Ω
Sensitivity	98dB
Weight	120 lbs each
Crossover Frequencies	700, 1000, 6500Hz

Design

The horn-loaded midrange gives the speaker high sensitivity and dynamic output. It is a 4-way, 6-driver design, and the crossover network operates at 700 Hz, 1000 Hz, and 6500 Hz.

Context

The SP-5500 was part of Sansui's top-tier speaker lineup in the late 1970s. It was a high-end offering in the brand's audio range, designed for listeners who wanted detailed and powerful sound.

Market

A pair of SP-5500 speakers in Near Mint condition was listed at C$1,091.32. Restoration work has been documented, including capacitor replacement in the crossover. The specific failure modes of the SP-5500 are not confirmed. Similar models like the SP-5500X are known to suffer from blown woofers and tweeters from age and extended use.