my wife bought me a 9090 for my 60th birthday . eleven years later it's still awesome . I also have a 5500 sansui receiver , beautiful , love the ratcheting oversize volume control . Most recently bought a QRX 6500 sansui quadraphonic receiver .Lots of speaker selection options ( 3 pairs of sansui speakers ) The 9090 was by far the most expensive ( $800CDN)11 years ago but had been reconditioned . Not bragging just so happy to be able to have what I've wanted for 50 years .
Brethren, even though I live in Serbia, once I get hold of both of these Sansuis I'll find a way to send them over to you for the restoration. Just love such committed and neat folks like yourself. Enjoying your every video.
I have this unit. I need to learn how to tune the driver card. Balance the proper L/R in proper envelope +/- current range. Thank you for this GREAT ! video
I've owned 3 - 9090DB's. Still my main receiver. Had it totally restored a few years back. I've never had a problem with any of the DB circuits (knock wood.)
You did such a beautiful job no surprise . I know what you mean by the appearance of the incandescence lighting over the led but I think I would forgo the visual aspect of the lighting for the long life dependability of led for my own device I mean. I think that is great you can adapt the plugs in the back on the DB that are useless to do another task. I would like to be able to connect my Eversolo streamer DAC device to an old unit like this to bring the old and new together . I will look for one of these based on your under the hood explanation on why this is better than the DB
Excellent presentation, and very informative, cheers. By the way, from the serial #'s in the back, your units were both made in 1976 (June & November)- the third thru fifth digits represent the year and month of manufacture. As you mentioned, Sansui did make various service bulletin changes, which is good to keep in mind when evaluating a unit, depending on if you have an earlier or later-made model. I was aware of the difference in speaker selector settings, though I dont see why the 9090DB, the higher powered amp vs 9090, would be wired in series, such that if two pairs of 8 ohm speakers were being used simultaneously, the equivalent impedance would be 16 ohms (in series) , rather than 4 (in parallel) on the 9090- that seems like quite a difference. If thats the case, then why not have the lower powered amp be wired in series to better protect against low impedances? My #1 Sansui receiver is the G-9000 (G-901), I would be interested to watch a review of yours, and if the dolby circuitry in the G presents the same complicated-repair issues as on the 9090db, as I dont seem to hear as many complaints in-comparison. Ps: your video was posted in my 'Sansui Lounge' facebook group, so I am sure it will be of interest to many of the members there.
Thank you for the clarification on the serial numbers. That really drives home the point that there was a manufacturing overlap on these. This 9090 had all of the service bulletins factory installed.
@@NovaluxStereophonic Yes, the 9090 came out first, and was the top of the line model in 1975, and the 9090db came out a bit later and probably continued a little longer after the 9090 was discontinued, as can be seen in vintage hi fi magazine ads & reviews, as well as Sansui catalogs and brochures.
purchased mine in 1979 in japan while in USAF,still have the box it came in......stopped working years ago...have no idea where to get it fixed or how much it would cost
If there’s a problem with the cards is there a replacement path such as getting from a donor or are they available new from someone , or can be built ???
@@marklloyd4153 there is only one removable card in this unit. I believe someone has recreated the original design on a new PCB. Most boards can be salvaged though so it’s usually not an issue.
I also have a 9090 that i want to get maintenance on and give to my son. Can I ask the cost range for the type of service that you describe in this video?
75uS vs 50uS de-emphasis. This usually is changed with the world voltage switch depending on which country the unit is being used in. For USA it should be set to 75uS (switch to the left when looking at the face)
Great restoration and review of the Sansui 9090! Just curious, I have an all original/unrestored Sansui 5050 that still plays fantastic - it had one repair 6 years ago due to a power supply fault that blew the F604 (.15 amp) fuse. No other issues since. Aside from the wattage difference, how much different does the 9090 sound compared to the 5050 assuming you previously worked on one before?
I have not worked on any X0X0 below the 8080. From looking at pictures of the insides of the lower units in the line it looks like they are completely different. The similarities likely end at cosmetics. As a general rule the budget models with lower power usually have less features. How something sounds is subjective, although the higher powered modes usually have tighter and more accurate bass response.
Great video and very detailed information. Thanks for sharing. I have a 9090 and a 9090DB. I actually like both of them but use the 9090 currently due to some problems on the DB unit. One question I have is, on my 9090, my source/selector lights are not working. I did manage to get the dial lights going. (not led) I'd like to have the source and stereo indicator light up again. Any clues on why this would be?
Your issue with lights is almost certainly related to heavy corrosion of the input selector switch. If you search for my video on LED conversion for xoxo models I go over this in some detail. I would start by cleaning the selector switch and see if you can at least get the input lights to come on dimly. You could also try checking all of the fuses but IIRC the dial lamps and all other lamps are on the same circuit.
@@NovaluxStereophonic I will do a proper cleaning. Do I need to remove parts? Or can I attempt to clean the source knob leaving it attached? Other than than that, my 9090 works great! Your vids are awesome.
@@NovaluxStereophonic I was going to order DeoxIT to to clean the switch. Would you happen to have a vid on the best way to do this? I've read that people have removed it to clean. I don't have soldering tools.
Yes, had to do that for my dad's 9090DB. One amp channel has issues and I wasn't going to carry the &^%& thing to fix it so I got him a cheap Class D amp and hooked it to the pre-out. Ran fine. Didn't sound near as good but my Dad was 80 at the time and his hearing just wasn't all there.
Larry I am located in NYC and am currently not accepting ship in work. You can contact me on my facebook business page if you are in the area otherwise I may be able to recommend a tech near your area.
my wife bought me a 9090 for my 60th birthday . eleven years later it's still awesome . I also have a 5500 sansui receiver , beautiful , love the ratcheting oversize volume control . Most recently bought a QRX 6500 sansui quadraphonic receiver .Lots of speaker selection options ( 3 pairs of sansui speakers ) The 9090 was by far the most expensive ( $800CDN)11 years ago but had been reconditioned . Not bragging just so happy to be able to have what I've wanted for 50 years .
Brethren, even though I live in Serbia, once I get hold of both of these Sansuis I'll find a way to send them over to you for the restoration. Just love such committed and neat folks like yourself. Enjoying your every video.
Great video. Probably the best of this type I've seen in almost a decade! This is my last DREAM receiver - non DB all the way! 😊
I have this unit. I need to learn how to tune the driver card. Balance the proper L/R in proper envelope +/- current range. Thank you for this GREAT ! video
I've owned 3 - 9090DB's. Still my main receiver. Had it totally restored a few years back. I've never had a problem with any of the DB circuits (knock wood.)
Excellent info here. Thanks!
Awesome review thanks
My Sansui 9090DB is literally my favorte thing I own.
You did such a beautiful job no surprise . I know what you mean by the appearance of the incandescence lighting over the led but I think I would forgo the visual aspect of the lighting for the long life dependability of led for my own device I mean. I think that is great you can adapt the plugs in the back on the DB that are useless to do another task. I would like to be able to connect my Eversolo streamer DAC device to an old unit like this to bring the old and new together . I will look for one of these based on your under the hood explanation on why this is better than the DB
Excellent presentation, and very informative, cheers. By the way, from the serial #'s in the back, your units were both made in 1976 (June & November)- the third thru fifth digits represent the year and month of manufacture. As you mentioned, Sansui did make various service bulletin changes, which is good to keep in mind when evaluating a unit, depending on if you have an earlier or later-made model.
I was aware of the difference in speaker selector settings, though I dont see why the 9090DB, the higher powered amp vs 9090, would be wired in series, such that if two pairs of 8 ohm speakers were being used simultaneously, the equivalent impedance would be 16 ohms (in series) , rather than 4 (in parallel) on the 9090- that seems like quite a difference. If thats the case, then why not have the lower powered amp be wired in series to better protect against low impedances?
My #1 Sansui receiver is the G-9000 (G-901), I would be interested to watch a review of yours, and if the dolby circuitry in the G presents the same complicated-repair issues as on the 9090db, as I dont seem to hear as many complaints in-comparison.
Ps: your video was posted in my 'Sansui Lounge' facebook group, so I am sure it will be of interest to many of the members there.
Thank you for the clarification on the serial numbers. That really drives home the point that there was a manufacturing overlap on these. This 9090 had all of the service bulletins factory installed.
@@NovaluxStereophonic Yes, the 9090 came out first, and was the top of the line model in 1975, and the 9090db came out a bit later and probably continued a little longer after the 9090 was discontinued, as can be seen in vintage hi fi magazine ads & reviews, as well as Sansui catalogs and brochures.
purchased mine in 1979 in japan while in USAF,still have the box it came in......stopped working years ago...have no idea where to get it fixed or how much it would cost
If there’s a problem with the cards is there a replacement path such as getting from a donor or are they available new from someone , or can be built ???
@@marklloyd4153 there is only one removable card in this unit. I believe someone has recreated the original design on a new PCB. Most boards can be salvaged though so it’s usually not an issue.
I also have a 9090 that i want to get maintenance on and give to my son. Can I ask the cost range for the type of service that you describe in this video?
What have you done to keep the dial always on, on the 9090?
ua-cam.com/video/Bc2rptE73i4/v-deo.html
21:15
Very nice overview. Can you tell me what the switch on the FM board does? Thanks.
75uS vs 50uS de-emphasis. This usually is changed with the world voltage switch depending on which country the unit is being used in. For USA it should be set to 75uS (switch to the left when looking at the face)
as the owner of a non-DB 9090 I thoroughly enjoyed this video and will be contacting you soon for repair .
Great restoration and review of the Sansui 9090! Just curious, I have an all original/unrestored Sansui 5050 that still plays fantastic - it had one repair 6 years ago due to a power supply fault that blew the F604 (.15 amp) fuse. No other issues since. Aside from the wattage difference, how much different does the 9090 sound compared to the 5050 assuming you previously worked on one before?
I have not worked on any X0X0 below the 8080. From looking at pictures of the insides of the lower units in the line it looks like they are completely different. The similarities likely end at cosmetics. As a general rule the budget models with lower power usually have less features. How something sounds is subjective, although the higher powered modes usually have tighter and more accurate bass response.
Great video and very detailed information. Thanks for sharing. I have a 9090 and a 9090DB. I actually like both of them but use the 9090 currently due to some problems on the DB unit. One question I have is, on my 9090, my source/selector lights are not working. I did manage to get the dial lights going. (not led) I'd like to have the source and stereo indicator light up again. Any clues on why this would be?
Your issue with lights is almost certainly related to heavy corrosion of the input selector switch. If you search for my video on LED conversion for xoxo models I go over this in some detail. I would start by cleaning the selector switch and see if you can at least get the input lights to come on dimly. You could also try checking all of the fuses but IIRC the dial lamps and all other lamps are on the same circuit.
ua-cam.com/video/Bc2rptE73i4/v-deo.html. Start around 21 minutes.
@@NovaluxStereophonic Thanks for the quick response. I switched the connectors earlier today and was able to get the dial lights working.
@@NovaluxStereophonic I will do a proper cleaning. Do I need to remove parts? Or can I attempt to clean the source knob leaving it attached? Other than than that, my 9090 works great! Your vids are awesome.
@@NovaluxStereophonic I was going to order DeoxIT to to clean the switch. Would you happen to have a vid on the best way to do this? I've read that people have removed it to clean. I don't have soldering tools.
Very nice. How is the ROI on the Panasonic Audio Analyzer? Is it worth the investment?
For a full time tech it certainly saves a lot of time. If you don’t work on amplifiers Daily it’s likely overkill.
@@NovaluxStereophonic thanks! Let me know when you're ready to sell the PA-81. ;)
@@Wil_Bloodworthdon’t hold your breath :). If I find another one I’ll be buying it as a backup.
i see there are 2 pre in/out's...is it possible to hook up to power amps?
Yes, had to do that for my dad's 9090DB. One amp channel has issues and I wasn't going to carry the &^%& thing to fix it so I got him a cheap Class D amp and hooked it to the pre-out. Ran fine. Didn't sound near as good but my Dad was 80 at the time and his hearing just wasn't all there.
Does this unit have flabby or sloppy bass? The damming factor is very low
Not that I recall. This is one of the most balanced sounding vintage receivers.
Hey Ben, Do you want to rebuild my 9090? Let me know if you can and where are you located. Thanks Larry
Larry I am located in NYC and am currently not accepting ship in work. You can contact me on my facebook business page if you are in the area otherwise I may be able to recommend a tech near your area.
Hasta ahora me acuerdo de mi 9090DB >>> me arrepiento averlo vendido 😪😪😪😎😎❤🩹❤🩹❤🩹❤🩹