The Sansui 221 receiver is a hidden treasure. Despite its small size and modest power rating of 8 watts per channel, this little powerhouse delivers sound quality that often surprises people. Offered by Sansui in 1975, with a price tag of around $180, it was definitely their budget oriented unit in a lineup that included the 331 and 551. Sansui also offered the 9090, 8080, 7070, 6060 and 5050 at the same time which took over for the earlier 661, 771, and 881 models.
The 221 has all the basic functionality you’d need without any fluff and it performs very well. Sansui cut costs on the cabinet and knobs, and by eliminating extraneous features, but they didn’t skimp on the quality of the circuits. Some sources show the 221 producing 10 watts per channel while others state 8 into 8 ohms. The Sansui advertisement below states 8 wpc. Either way, with such low power output, you’ll need to pair it with some efficient speakers.
Front Panel
The Sansui 221 has a very nice look to it. The green and amber dial with a black background is functional and yet sophisticated. The faceplate is brushed aluminum. While the knobs are aluminum over plastic they have ridged edges that give them a quality look. A signal strength meter is at the left of the dial face. It has bass and treble controls but no mid control.
Perhaps the only drawback with regard to aesthetics are the black pushbuttons for the Loudness, Mono, and Tape Monitor controls. Toggle switches may have looked nicer. The cabinet on the 221 is vinyl covered plywood. Not the highest quality cabinet but remember, this was a budget oriented stereo.
Specifications
- Power output: 8 watts per channel into 8Ω (stereo)
- Frequency response: 25Hz to 30kHz
- Total harmonic distortion: 1%
- Damping factor: 30
- Input sensitivity: 2.5mV (MM), 150mV (DIN), 150mV (line)
- Signal to noise ratio: 70dB (MM), 80dB (line)
- Channel separation: 45dB (MM), 45dB (line)
- Output: 150mV (line), 30mV (DIN)
- Speaker load impedance: 4Ω to 8Ω
- Dimensions: 17″ x 5″ x 10 1/2″ (424 x 125 x 266mm)
- Weight: 11.7 lbs (5.3kg)
- Year: 1975-1977
- Retail Price: $180
Above is the full Sansui xx1 lineup from the budget 221 to the top of the line 881. Here are the stats for the entire lineup including the model, watts per channel, dimensions, weight and retail price:
Reviews
Warm and sweet even with the low wattage.
Excellent receiver for everyday listening. Clear sound and very good bass. Underrated power that will surprise you.
This is probably my best value receiver.
One of the best sounding receivers I’ve heard for the low WPC. Tuner is very sensitive.
Although this receiver puts out what would seem to be a paltry 8 wpc, you’d be hard pressed to believe it.
With efficient speakers, this little gem has that rich, warm, Sansui sound.
The Sansui 221 is very well built. Both the phono circuit and headphone circuits are very good. It has a MOS FET FM front end as well as a sensitive AM tuner. Many owners have mentioned its very sensitive FM tuner.
Rear Panel
The Sansui 221 stereo has inputs phono, Aux, and Tape and outputs for two sets of speakers. There are two outlets, one is switched and the other is not. You can attach a CD player or MP3 player through the Aux input.
The Sansui 221 is an excellent budget receiver. It has clear, rich sound and strong bass, and can drive a variety of speakers. It can compete with, and sometimes even outperform, more expensive and well-known receivers in certain areas. It includes a sensitive radio tuner and an excellent phono input for record players, matching the quality found in pricier units. The receiver handles all types of music well, from classical and jazz to rock and electronic, creating a wide, detailed soundstage. It also does a great job with headphones, providing plenty of power and clarity. While Sansui may have cut some corners to keep costs down, they clearly focused on sound quality. As a result, the 221 remains a favorite among audio enthusiasts, offering impressive performance at a budget-friendly price.
