RADAR is a price search engine. We link to the original listing — we never sell direct. Transactions happen on the source site.
This is ambitious at £466 for an AU-5500 unless it’s freshly serviced and especially clean. Typical used examples of this 1974–76 32 W/ch Sansui usually trade more like a mid-hundreds-to-high-hundreds GBP vintage piece once you factor in condition and service history, so this ask is sitting at the upper end of the market rather than a casual buy.
That said, the AU-5500 is a very worthwhile little classic: it has the warm, authoritative Sansui presentation, proper phono support, and enough drive for efficient speakers, with a compact but substantial 10.4 kg build. If this one is original, quiet, and all controls work cleanly, the upside is in the sound and the charm; if it’s unserviced or missing proof of recent work, I’d want to negotiate hard at this price because age-related recap and control-cleaning costs can matter on these.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Sansui, a pioneering Japanese audio brand, traces its origins to 1947 when it was founded in Tokyo by brothers Sakurai and Shunichi Yamamoto. Emerging from post-war Japan, the company quickly established itself as an innovator in consumer electronics, leveraging precision engineering to craft components that rivaled Western counterparts. Its heritage is rooted in the golden era of hi-fi, where Sansui's commitment to sonic purity helped define Japan's rise as a global audio powerhouse.
The brand excelled in a broad spectrum of hi-fi categories, with particular renown for its integrated amplifiers, receivers, and tuners that delivered warm, dynamic sound. Sansui also produced acclaimed speakers, turntables, cassette decks, and later digital converters, emphasizing robust build quality and innovative features like direct-coupled circuitry for low distortion. These products catered to audiophiles seeking balanced performance across analog and early digital domains.
Today, Sansui holds a cherished position in the vintage collector market, revered for its mid-to-high-end gear from the 1970s and 1980s—icons like the AU-series amps remain sought after for their musicality and reliability. While no longer a frontline manufacturer, its legacy endures among discerning buyers restoring classics or hunting timeless performers, blending nostalgia with enduring value.
See all Sansui listings on RADAR.
