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Sansui 331 stereo receiver - $350 (Sublimity)
condition:
good
make / manufacturer:
Sansui
model name / number:
331 receiver
size / dimensions:
16 3/4 x 5 x 10 1/2 inches
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You can use the amp instead of the radio and hook up your iPhone or CD player etc ..
Don’t let the modest specs fool you though. The Sansui 331 is a bit of a hidden gem. It punches well above its weight, delivering a sound that’s way more impressive than you’d expect from a 12-watt unit. The FM tuner is surprisingly crisp, and the whole thing just feels good in a way that makes you appreciate vintage audio gear. It’s one of those components that proves you don’t always need to spend big to get great sound.
Aesthetically, the 331 looks great. The front panel is brushed aluminum. The inset dial face extends about two thirds of the way across the front panel and has a black background. The dial scale is backlit in green and the station numbers in white. Overall, it has a very appealing color combination.
Front Panel
The front panel on the Sansui 331 is pretty straightforward. There are controls for volume, balance, bass, and treble. The speaker selector switch doubles as the power switch. You can also disable both speaker sets to listen to headphones. There are three push buttons that control Loudness, Mono, and the Tape Monitor. A signal strength meter sits at the top left corner.
The bass tone control provides a ±12 dB adjustment at 50 Hz, while the treble control offers a ±10 dB range at 10,000 Hz. The loudness compensation switch automatically boosts both high and low frequencies when listening at lower volume levels.
Tuner
The 331 has an excellent tuner. A heavy sintered alloy flywheel makes dialing in stations smooth and precise. The FM front end has a precision-finished, frequency-linear variable capacitor and a low noise MOS FET to improve sensitivity to even the faintest of FM signals while raising the signal-to-noise ratio. Two bi-resonator ceramic filters and high-density ICs make for pinpoint FM Station selection even in FM congested areas.
With an IHF sensitivity of 2.5 micro volts, the receiver can capture weak radio signals with precision. Its capture ratio of 1.5 dB gives it the ability to distinguish between closely spaced broadcast frequencies.
The receiver’s selectivity and rejection metrics are really good as well. Alternate channel selectivity exceeds 60 dB, meaning it effectively filters out adjacent radio station interference. Image rejection stands at over 50 dB, while intermediate frequency (i.f.) and spurious response rejection both surpass 70 dB. This gives you a clean, interference-free signal.
The signal-to-noise ratio for FM reaches more than 65 dB, and stereo separation extends beyond 35 dB at 1,000 Hz. Harmonic distortion is minimal—less than 0.8% in mono mode and under 1% in stereo giving it good clarity and fidelity.
Specifications
Power output: 12 watts per channel, will drive down to 4Ω
Frequency response: 25Hz to 30kHz
Total harmonic distortion: <1%
Signal to noise ratio: 80dB (line)
Dimensions: 16 3/4 x 5 x 10 1/2 inches (424 x 125 x 266mm)
Weight: 12.6 lbs (5.7kg)
To drive a 12-watt Sansui 331 stereo (12 WPC @ 8 ohms), speakers should have high sensitivity, ideally 88dB to 90dB+ SPL (1W/1m) or higher, ensuring ample volume without distorting the amplifier. Vintage speakers with efficient designs or efficient bookshelf speakers work well for typical home listening levels.
Recommended Speaker Characteristics for the Sansui 331:
Sensitivity: High efficiency is crucial (preferably >88 dB).
Impedance: 8 ohms is ideal, though 4-8 ohm speakers can work if they do not drop too low.
Power Handling: Moderately low wattage handling (e.g., 10-50 watts) works well, as the 331 cannot drive high-power speakers to their full potential.
Matches and Considerations:
Optimal Pairing: Vintage speakers, such as Sansui SP-2500 (98dB), are excellent matches.
Bookshelf Pairing: Pairings like Bose 301 Series II are suitable for normal listening levels.
Usage Notes: If the amp runs too hot, the speaker impedance may be too low for the 331.
High efficiency ensures that the 12 watts from the Sansui 331 are used effectively to create a loud, clean sound in a small-to-medium room.