The survival of the fittest.

@ mahgister
Sansui? They folded many moons ago!

Yes but they are sold used for the last 50 years with glorious review to this day, not bad for a company that is no more for the last 20 years.. .... I own 2 amplifier Sansui....one of the alpha series and the older Au 7700....

They are very good each one  and offer more flexibilities than almost any contemporary amplifier....Particularly my AU 7700...( separable pre-amp section that is very good, filters, tone controls of quality, and many other possibilities too numerous to list here)

Soundwise i cannot fault them....

I will upgrade who knows when, for a Berning amplifier but ,but for 150 dollars versus many thousands dollars, the quality and appeal of the Sansui is without doubt one of the best deal i ever make....Look at my link below what this experienced reviewer say about the AU 717 which is soundwise between my AU 7700 And the so called superior "alpha" series :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsTIDagHbMI&t=149s


Sansui lost when their time and "timing" plays no more in the good direction around 1995....Their history is interesting...

Vintage does not equal lower quality by no means....

I dream sometimes of my future Berning amp but i am in no urge and perhaps i will die with these 2 Sansui.... Except for the Zotl Technology anyway i would be afraid to upgrade Sansui with anything under 10,000 dollars.....The Zotl technology should beat the Sansui, that i am pretty sure...

For the speakers it is more difficult, in my small room on a desk, the 50 dollars almost vintage Mission Cyrus 781 are so good on all counts, that i am also afraid to upgrade.... Which small speakers will give me 45 hertz clear bass, liquid mid range, non fatiguing highs, imaging perfect and holographic soundstage (thanks to my embeddings controls also for sure) ?

I sold my 2 pairs of Tannoy dual concentric after 40 years because they were too big for my desk.... when you are older the house decrease ... :)

The Tannoy speakers were more than good speakers but alas! i did know nothing about embeddings controls at these times and i never listen to them at their optimal output, like most people dont even know what S.Q. their own audio system can output because they do not embed it at all or not enough....




Small Tekton perhaps ? The designer Erik seems very interesting creator like Berning is.... I am fond of new tech..... 😎

I am glad that you are enjoying your older Sansui gear. But the topic was speaker manufacturers survival not vintage gear. All the best to you!

I speak also about Tannoy, a brand name actually living strong, not only a vintage brand, that sell easily( i sold my 2 pairs of dual concentric gold paid 400 dollars 45 years ago 2,000 dollars)...

Their dual concentric tech was new and very amazing and the timing right...

Why do Tannoy succeed and go on living so long? For me the 2 essential factors are design quality/pricing and timing, amongs others important factors (advertising, esthetic, workers and transmission of technology, innovative new produtcs, standadization of line products etc).

If an innovative technology works , it can work even better for ever, magneplanar tech for example....When a new tech, is so revolutionary, then the product is unique, irrepleacable it can even grow stronger.... Magneplanar is an example...

Perhaps the new Tekton technology with an array of drivers is on the same road.... Electro-acoustic speakers are.... Horn speakers also....

It is the reason why design quality/pricing and originality is one of the most important factor in longevity.... All the others factors for me are subordinate to the timing factor, except perhaps the transmission of skills in a new generation of works....This tradition of transmission of skills with all his requirements were no more possible in the case of Sansui  and were broken, amongst other factors, by the exigencies of the new emerging competitive mass market at the times....The same forces act and plays for or against any audio product, speakers or amplifiers....

My best to all....

Sansui used to make speakers, too. Some were stand-outs (those with white membranes). I am not sure how sound would compare to more recent technologies. Therefore, longevity of a speaker manufacturer Sansui...

...well, it was good while it lasted.

I think that Sansui speakers were not so well reviewed at any times like their amplifiers always were .... It was more a side product by a great amplifier designer....

For the longevity question, i think it speak volume when 50 years after their creation some product, be it speakers or amplifiers, Tannoy in one case and Sansui in the other, some products become mythical well designed sought after products... When the state of the company, being alive or dead, do not change the product value at all, it speaks volume about the importance of the quality and innovative design factor ....The main factor for me indeed with the right pricing and the timing factor in the survival of the company....

After some decades the main new intervening factor being the transmission of the traditions and innovative genius to the successive generation....It was no more the case with Sansui tradition in around 1995, but for Tannoy the company kick always at the time being other speakers companies "butts" so to speak.... :)


Just a last word to say that the survival of a company is not ruled by the same exact factors than the survival of a product in the market... The Company and the product are not synonymus and do not partake to the same fate completely...

Sansui company is dead for many decades, Sansui amplifiers kicks butts today; Tannoy dual gold sell for gold today and the company create new design that dont replace or kill the old one at all.... That say something also....


My best to you....