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Sansui AU-8500 Integrated Amplifier Beautiful 100V Sansui AU-8500 in very good condition and perfect working order. Comes with a quality step-down transformer. The amp has been serviced by Kimil in the past couple of years and sounds wonderful. I am selling to fund the restoration of an AU-9500. Condition: Very Good Payment Method: Cash, EFT, PayID Region/State: (NSW) New South Wales/Australia By Crampoli 0 Comments AUD $1,500 Date: May 18, 20241 yr
This one is not a new-release gamble — it’s a 1973-era Sansui, so the real question is condition, because the platform itself is long past the point where originality matters more than age. At A$1,500, the asking price looks a bit ambitious against recent used examples I found around A$995 for an excellent-condition listing and roughly A$1,800 for a fully restored unit with warranty, so this sits toward the upper end of the market rather than the sweet spot.
That said, the AU-8500 is well regarded for a reason: it’s one of Sansui’s classic integrateds, with the kind of weighty, authoritative presentation that keeps vintage buyers interested. If this one is genuinely clean, unmolested, and has had proper servicing, the premium can make sense; if it’s just “very good” cosmetically with no proof of recap or bias work, I’d want the price closer to fair-market territory before jumping.
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.
