Sanasui SP1500 project

[celticguitar6666]

I have this speaker project that I will be working on. Any other sp1500 owners here? I might need two tweets all other drivers are good. The cabinets are fair but will come back with TLC. These are pics from the net to show what this particular model looks like for those who have not sseen these before. mine are not in as good shape. They are a little less bright than my Pioneer HPM 100's but they are not in the same league ofcourse. They have dual crossover adjustments Clear, natural, soft. $10 SA 2 yrs ago.
Dwight

[celticguitar6666]

Well I am moving along I gave the cabinets a good cleaning and liberal coat of pure tounge oil and let it soak in and then a good buff with some pure bee wax. I washed the grilles with murphys oil soap and wow what a lot of dust and what look like beard shavings which I am shure was dust came off the plastic mesh behind the wood grille. They are drying in the sun right now looking much cleaner I can actually see through them now. The sounds seem to be getting better I gave the L-Pads a good cleaning and I can now hear a real difference between settings. Vocals are clean and crisp and bass is satisfactory for my listening pleasures. A very different sound from my HPM100s but very enjoyable more woody sounding especially with classical music.
Dwight

[Elite-ist]

Hi Dwight,

I have a pair of Sansui SP-2000 speakers. So, I'm interested in how you make out with the some of your restoration techniques. I'll try to do the same. Will you be posting "after" shots of the cabinets once you are done with the cleaning? Initially, I didn't prefer the sound of the SP-2000s, as like you, I'm used to lstening to the Pioneer HPM-100s. But, I'll try them again.

Nando.

[celticguitar6666]

*check*Hi Dwight,

I have a pair of Sansui SP-2000 speakers. So, I'm interested in how you make out with the some of your restoration techniques. I'll try to do the same. Will you be posting "after" shots of the cabinets once you are done with the cleaning? Initially, I didn't prefer the sound of the SP-2000s, as like you, I'm used to lstening to the Pioneer HPM-100s. But, I'll try them again.

Nando.
well I didn't take any before pics but I will put up some after pics in a couple of days. They won't be perfect but they won't be going in the living room but downstairs in the mancave. I like the hpm 100's they sound spectacular but they seem bright to me these days. They have been in almost constant use for about 1 1/2 yrs. Maybe my hearing has changed? My taste changed? My memory of the sp1500 was muddy when I first got them but now the seem to have more mid detail and slightly rolled off highs but not sinfully bad. Maybe I didn't clean the L pads enough? I have alot of stuff in my mancave so the highs would be soaked up and the bass nodes really excited. The Hpm 100's bass could be bloated at times could be related to the room. The 1500 less bass but more snappy and they are in a different spot than the 100's . I have them more foward in the room and tipped back and toed in diffently. I had them in the same spot as the 100's now occupy before that could make a big difference too. I think it's me mostly though. *hope*
Dwight

[Elite-ist]

Dwight: It may not be you, as I found the same sort of sonic differences using the Sansui SP-2000s. And since buying them, I haven't used them, extensively. I found the Sansui SP-2000s with a pair of Pioneer CS-66e speakers, and a Sansui QR-4500 quadraphonic receiver. All the pieces were donated to our local Mini Flea Market, when the owner passed away. I bought the whole works for $60. I'll try to post some pictures, later, of the Sansuis.

Nando.

[celticguitar6666]

Dwight: It may not be you, as I found the same sort of sonic differences using the Sansui SP-2000s. And since buying them, I haven't used them, extensively. I found the Sansui SP-2000s with a pair of Pioneer CS-66e speakers, and a Sansui QR-4500 quadraphonic receiver. All the pieces were donated to our local Mini Flea Market, when the owner passed away. I bought the whole works for $60. I'll try to post some pictures, later, of the Sansuis.

Nando.

Good deal How's the receiver work?
Dwight

[Elite-ist]

Good deal How's the receiver work?
Dwight

The receiver works great. I just spent the last hour removing the SP-2000 grilles, vacuuming, and cleaning up the cabinets and exterior surface of the grilles with diluted Murphy Oil Soap. Now, look what you've done, Dwight. I should have pictures posted of the speakers and receiver, today.

Nando.

[celticguitar6666]

The receiver works great. I just spent the last hour removing the SP-2000 grilles, vacuuming, and cleaning up the cabinets and exterior surface of the grilles with diluted Murphy Oil Soap. Now, look what you've done, Dwight. I should have pictures posted of the speakers and receiver, today.

Nando.

Yeah it's funny how that goes, I pulled mine out because of a Sansui speaker thread on another forum and it lit a fire besides I didn't have any new projects from thrifts to work on*hope*.
Dwight

[Elite-ist]

So, I completed a mild cleaning of the Sansui SP-2000 speakers, and together with my Sansui QR-4500 receiver, set it up in the, just completed, master bedroom. I've had the system running for an hour, while playing an FM station. It's good to blow out the cobwebs! I'll have to add pictures of the speaker lattice-work grilles and backside of the cabinets, as I forgot to take those pictures. The glass-door buffet will, eventually, be used to store my records, downstairs. It's not going to be a stereo stand, although, it's skookum enough to hold a few vintage pieces.

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/vintagevet/SansuiQR-4500ReceiverSP-2000Speakers001.jpg

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/vintagevet/SansuiQR-4500ReceiverSP-2000Speakers004.jpg

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/vintagevet/SansuiQR-4500ReceiverSP-2000Speakers005.jpg

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/vintagevet/SansuiQR-4500ReceiverSP-2000Speakers006.jpg

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/vintagevet/SansuiQR-4500ReceiverSP-2000Speakers007.jpg

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/vintagevet/SansuiQR-4500ReceiverSP-2000Speakers008.jpg

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/vintagevet/SansuiQR-4500ReceiverSP-2000Speakers009.jpg

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/vintagevet/SansuiQR-4500ReceiverSP-2000Speakers010.jpg

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/vintagevet/SansuiQR-4500ReceiverSP-2000Speakers011.jpg

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/vintagevet/SansuiQR-4500ReceiverSP-2000Speakers012.jpg

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/vintagevet/SansuiQR-4500ReceiverSP-2000Speakers013.jpg

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/vintagevet/SansuiQR-4500ReceiverSP-2000Speakers014.jpg

Nando.

[ratdude]

My god ! woodgrain overload ! ( I had to make a joke cause that's seriously nice )

Very clean looking rig, Nando.

Rat

[Elite-ist]

My god ! woodgrain overload ! ( I had to make a joke cause that's seriously nice )

Very clean looking rig, Nando.

Rat

Thanks Rat. Yup, that is a whole lot of wood. I'm thinking of incorporating the Sansui QR-4500 into my system for this room. I just quickly set this up for the photos, only. Not to take away from Dwight's thread, but I'm sure both of us would be interested in pictures and feedback on your Sansui SP-X9000 speakers, if Dwight's OK with having you post pictures here, or on the Sansui thread, elsewhere on the forum.

Nando.

[celticguitar6666]

Thanks Rat. Yup, that is a whole lot of wood. I'm thinking of incorporating the Sansui QR-4500 into my system for this room. I just quickly set this up for the photos, only. Not to take away from Dwight's thread, but I'm sure both of us would be interested in pictures and feedback on your Sansui SP-X9000 speakers, if Dwight's OK with having you post pictures here, or on the Sansui thread, elsewhere on the forum.

Nando.

I am cool with that. Check out these monsters whole loota wood and speakers
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=206324&d=1271706155 Badda Big!
Still no pics from me yet mission for today

[Elite-ist]

I am cool with that. Check out these monsters whole loota wood and speakers
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=206324&d=1271706155 Badda Big!
Still no pics from me yet mission for today
Hi Dwight,

Oops, I'm not a member of AK, so I can't view the pictures. But, if you could copy those pictures for here, I would love to see them. When you said you cleaned the L-pads on your SP-1500s, was that done by spraying cleaner from the outside of the speaker's back panel? Or did you remove the speaker's back panel to access the L-pads?

I look forward to your pictures, later. I may connect my Pioneer CT-F9191, or CT-F650 cassette deck (more wood) to the system, today, to see how the speakers sound on tape playback, with different genres of music.

Nando.

[Elite-ist]

More pictures of the SP-2000 speakers. I did hook up the Pioneer CT-F650 to try out a few different mix tapes and listen to the Sansuis.

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/vintagevet/SansuiQR-4500ReceiverSP-2000Speakers001-1.jpg

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/vintagevet/SansuiQR-4500ReceiverSP-2000Speakers002.jpg

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/vintagevet/SansuiQR-4500ReceiverSP-2000Speakers003-1.jpg

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/vintagevet/SansuiQR-4500ReceiverSP-2000Speakers004-1.jpg

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/vintagevet/SansuiQR-4500ReceiverSP-2000Speakers007-1.jpg

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/vintagevet/SansuiQR-4500ReceiverSP-2000Speakers008-1.jpg

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/vintagevet/SansuiQR-4500ReceiverSP-2000Speakers009-1.jpg

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/vintagevet/SansuiQR-4500ReceiverSP-2000Speakers010-1.jpg

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/vintagevet/SansuiQR-4500ReceiverSP-2000Speakers011-1.jpg

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/vintagevet/SansuiQR-4500ReceiverSP-2000Speakers012-1.jpg

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/vintagevet/SansuiQR-4500ReceiverSP-2000Speakers013-1.jpg

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/vintagevet/SansuiQR-4500ReceiverSP-2000Speakers014-1.jpg

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/vintagevet/SansuiQR-4500ReceiverSP-2000Speakers017.jpg

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/vintagevet/SansuiQR-4500ReceiverSP-2000Speakers018.jpg

Nando.

[celticguitar6666]

Hi Dwight,

Oops, I'm not a member of AK, so I can't view the pictures. But, if you could copy those pictures for here, I would love to see them. When you said you cleaned the L-pads on your SP-1500s, was that done by spraying cleaner from the outside of the speaker's back panel? Or did you remove the speaker's back panel to access the L-pads?

I look forward to your pictures, later. I may connect my Pioneer CT-F9191, or CT-F650 cassette deck (more wood) to the system, today, to see how the speakers sound on tape playback, with different genres of music.

Nando.
Nice pictures! I find the sound appears to be getting better the more they play. The Lpads are inside of back cover (many screws). My L pads are open so easy to clean just spray rotate back and forth sound should be much better if they are dirty. Dust and oxidation find their way in. Tape through them from my Denon deck sounds great as do CD's on my Sony CDPC7ESD. Vinyl needed a little bass treble adjustment on reciever to get best sound. I am driving them with a Sherwood 7450 rated at 45 watts which at at little more than half way is quite a loud wall of sound clear with plenty of bass.*eyepop* Who said Sansuis are bass shy?*Hi5*
Pics to follow soon I am bad about posting my own pics it's my wifes camera
Dwight See attached pic of monster Sansui's not the largest home speakers I have seen but close vintage at least

[Elite-ist]

Had you not posted a picture of the Sansui SP-11000s, I wouldn't have known they existed. Do you know of anyone owning a pair? I found this ad for a pair: http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/86502-sansui_spx11000_speakers__biggest_baddest__rarest_ _350_watts__dual_17_woofers/

I think, I'll have fun just playing tapes the rest of the afternoon. The rain is not supposed to let up for the next few days, and the foot of snow we had three days back should be all washed away.

On my receiver, I have the bass control up two notches from flat, and the treble set flat. The controls for the speaker crossovers are set at "Natural." At the higher volume, the speakers sound better. I'm playing a Maxell XLII 90 LP recording of "Frampton Comes Alive."

You'll have to show a shot(s) of your whole system, Dwight.

Nando.

[celticguitar6666]

No never but I would love to have a pair but the wife would divorce me. She loves the sound of my sytems throughout the house but syas I have ot much stuff (read Junk). I am going to change my TT out today so i will take some pics afterward going from Technics SL-5 with grado red back to my Dual 1219 with pickering XV15. I just keep mixing and matching
Dwight

[Elite-ist]

Well, even, if she divorces you, one of the two Monster Sansuis gets to go home with you (wherever that might be after legal proceedings). Kidding aside, could you tell her they would make beautiful nightstands, perhaps, with her favourite crocheted doilies on top?

So, you're changin' up your turntables. I have a Pickering XV15 cartidge I haven't mounted, yet. If I pull the Sansui turntable out (it's not easily accessible, right now) I wouldn't mind trying it. I finished playing a pre-recorded cassette of a Canadian band "Bootsauce" and played a few tunes from "The Brown Album." The Sansuis love half volume and more acoustic to synthesized type music, for sure. Hard-driving rock is not quite as spectacular. But, to be fair I haven't tried relocating the speakers to the best spot. And why such a large speaker port on these SP-2000s? It's the size of a sewer pipe, about 5" diameter. I should have measured it while I had the grilles off.

Nando.

[celticguitar6666]

Well here are some pics not the best pics but it will show what I have hooked up right now one grilles is damaged but it's in the man-cave, you can see the HPM 100's lurking behind the SP1500 they are( sp1500) in a temporary spot until I can rearrange things.*bananadance*
Dwight

[Elite-ist]

Dwight: Thanks for getting your pictures up! Nice! Mainly, which type of music is in your LP collection? Like me, you, probably, spend more time playing records than using any of the other analog formats.

Nando.

[celticguitar6666]

Nando,
It depends on the music which format gets put into play I have alot of classical on both 78's and 33 1/3. as well as rock. The Dual has both speeds and I have the stylus for both formats that fits the Pickering. People don't beleive when I tell them a prime 78 sounds wonderful alot like a 50's mono vinyl not all crackle and pop sizzle. I have alot of cassette tapes of which I forgot to take a shot of and some home recorded RTR. I would put it as Vinyl #1 when I am in the mancave followed by Cd Tape and 78's not in that order I have alot of each so it depends on the peice or conductor or orchestra or mood. Upstairs in the bedroom system it's tape then CD for reading music and that first half hour of going to sleep. HE systyem is all digital with MP3 player and CD the sources for my wife. Alot to listen to and little time which gets less by the minute*fit* but all in all a good time*Hi5*

[Big Tuna]

Wow, fellas! Some Really cool pictures, and awesome looking gear!!*eyepop**eyepop**eyepop**eyepop**eyepop*

[Elite-ist]

Nando,
It depends on the music which format gets put into play I have alot of classical on both 78's and 33 1/3. as well as rock. The Dual has both speeds and I have the stylus for both formats that fits the Pickering. People don't beleive when I tell them a prime 78 sounds wonderful alot like a 50's mono vinyl not all crackle and pop sizzle. I have alot of cassette tapes of which I forgot to take a shot of and some home recorded RTR. I would put it as Vinyl #1 when I am in the mancave followed by Cd Tape and 78's not in that order I have alot of each so it depends on the peice or conductor or orchestra or mood. Upstairs in the bedroom system it's tape then CD for reading music and that first half hour of going to sleep. HE systyem is all digital with MP3 player and CD the sources for my wife. Alot to listen to and little time which gets less by the minute*fit* but all in all a good time*Hi5*

Hi Dwight,

I, never, thought to play 78s, as I thought the fidelity was somewhat compromised. There are plenty of good to excellent quality used 78s available at my local stores. I don't have a turntable with that speed, but I do have an old Grundig stereo console which was gifted to me by a workmate. It was his dad's, and it sat unused for quite sometime. I have to replace the plug on the power cord, but other than that it's complete.

Do you have any older jazz like Stan Getz on 78?

Nando.

[celticguitar6666]

No Stan getz but I do have some Benny Goodman Gene Krupa. Carful withthe 78's wash them in mild dish dteregnt but the main problem is wear. Th e real popular stuff is going to worn no matter what, bad storage, etc. but classical 78's especially those from the 30's through 50's in really good condition sound excellent. I have a small collection of John McCormack from 1908 to 1920's that I play on my "audiophile" 1912 Victrola with homemade bamboo needles that are a kick in the pants but I do play them on the Dual also. My recording of Adestes Fidelis of him from the 19 teens is a joy to listen to. I have alot of female opera singers from turn of the century to the 20's even Yehudi Menhui the violinist on 78 and other violinist solo works. the early 78 records are an aquired taste because there is some noise it's just the nature of the beast. but it's fun I was going to spin some 78's today to see how they sound with current setup below is pic of my deicated 78 player restored sound box rebuilt
Dwight

[Elite-ist]

No Stan getz but I do have some Benny Goodman Gene Krupa. Carful withthe 78's wash them in mild dish dteregnt but the main problem is wear. Th e real popular stuff is going to worn no matter what, bad storage, etc. but classical 78's especially those from the 30's through 50's in really good condition sound excellent. I have a small collection of John McCormack from 1908 to 1920's that I play on my "audiophile" 1912 Victrola with homemade bamboo needles that are a kick in the pants but I do play them on the Dual also. My recording of Adestes Fidelis of him from the 19 teens is a joy to listen to. I have alot of female opera singers from turn of the century to the 20's even Yehudi Menhui the violinist on 78 and other violinist solo works. the early 78 records are an aquired taste because there is some noise it's just the nature of the beast. but it's fun I was going to spin some 78's today to see how they sound with current setup below is pic of my deicated 78 player restored sound box rebuilt
Dwight

Thanks for the tips, Dwight. Now, I recall your 1912 Victrola. That's a museum piece! I may consider buying a few 78s to listen to.

Nando.

[ratdude]

I am cool with that.

Well I dont want to litter up your thread with my setup . ( OK, they are too dirty to photograph ).

Here's a link to a pair of SP-X9000's in great condition ( not mine )

http://www.randallareed.com/Sansui_X9000.htm

But in a nutshell , SP-X9000's
1 16 " woofer
1 8 " midrange
2 6" x 2" horn tweeters
2 2" round " super tweeters "

Capable of getting stupid loud on amazingly little watts , My Kenwood is only 40 wpc If I remember correctly.

Great rock and roll speakers , they literally shake things on the adjacent walls when they get rocking ( my wife hates these things for some reason ).

And Dwight, I have some damage on the latticework grills on mine too , them things get fragile over the years . To think I almost passed on mine ( I dont really dig the grills )

I would think yours would be a bit more.... errrrr , balanced sounding than mine . I dig that setup your working on.

When I get my setup cleaned up and arranged better I'll take some pics and start a new thread on em

Rat

[Elite-ist]

Hi Rat,

I spied the same link when looking up Sansui SP-X9000 speakers on the internet. Were the speaker's efficiency ratings good? More pictures available here: http://www.sansui.us/SP_XSeries.htm

I'd love to see your system pictures, later.

Nando.

[ratdude]

Honestly , I have no idea what the efficiency ratings were.
They supposedly handle 220 watts , but my god, these things are seriously loud hooked up to my low power Kenwood.

I didn't even know Sansui made speakers till I bought mine

Rat

[Elite-ist]

Honestly , I have no idea what the efficiency ratings were.
They supposedly handle 220 watts , but my god, these things are seriously loud hooked up to my low power Kenwood.

I didn't even know Sansui made speakers till I bought mine

Rat

Hi Rat,

Here's an ad: 100dB @ 1 watt @ 1 metre. That's impressive!

Nando.

[celticguitar6666]

Hi Rat,

Here's an ad: 100dB @ 1 watt @ 1 metre. That's impressive!

Nando.

That is excellent the HPM 100's are rated 94
Dwight

[Elite-ist]

That is excellent the HPM 100's are rated 94
Dwight

Yes, every 3dB increase of SPL requires double the amount of amplification. So, comparatively, the SP-X9000 are quite efficient to our HPM-100s.

Nando.

[ratdude]

Thanks , that's very cool , I hadn't found that yet. I like to learn about my " finds".

And I got a question for Dwight .

Are you running your Pioneers and your Sansuis all at once ? Or is it a either/or arrangement ? I am assuming either set has its own pluses, minuses .

Hi Rat,

Here's an ad: 100dB @ 1 watt @ 1 metre. That's impressive!

Nando.