1970s Sansui AU-888 Integrated Solid State Amplifier Restoration

We’ve been lucky enough to receive a multitude of photos showing a customers restoration of the highly sort after AU-888. After previously upgrading the electrolytic capacitors. The rest of the cabinet restoration included restoring the wood with a new veneer job, restoring the front faceplate with a custom glossy piano black finish, and finally upgrading rear connectors.

He had to say,

“After restoration the amp worked perfectly, but I was kind of disappointed!  Before I find the culprit I had a much lower right channel power gain. Let’s say I had 100% on Left and 55% on Right channel.

It took me a long time checking everything, transistors, swapping cards, etc…Until I could not find anything wrong. Until I started suspecting the double stereo original 250K volume potentiometer.

I was right something was wrong with that pot which gave me the unpleasant and unmatched channel level rendition. I was very lucky to find on the net the replacement a brand new old stock Noble stereo volume potentiometer.

Noble 203Y 250K . With that one everything was Ok and giving a perfect sound and finally enjoying the full recapping job! Swapping the resistors is the last work I am doing on that amazing amp more than 55 years old!”

It looks absolutely fantastic. We’ll let the images below speak for themselves.