Sansui 5000x

Sansui 5000x

Here we have the Sansui 5000x receiver. It was produced in the early 70’s and was a very popular unit. It puts out 55 watts per channel and weighs in at around 40 pounds.  It features dual tuning capacitors, two phono inputs and a tunable FM IF circuit. There are a few different versions of the 5000. I believe the original Sansui 5000 was introduced in 1967 followed thereafter by the Sansui 5000a in 1969 and then the Sansui 5000x in 1971.

Sansui 5000x Dial

There is a known issue with some of the 5000 series Sansui’s. The early version of the amplifier driver board tended to get hot.  Very hot. Sansui remedied this by changing the board in later production runs.  The defective board is numbered F1040 or F-1020-1 while the upgraded board is numbered F6013.  If your 5000 has the older board you may want to think about having it upgraded by a competent tech.  Most 5000 and 5000a models probably had the defective board while some of the early 5000x units had the board. If you want to see what’s involved in repairing this issue there is a great thread on it at AudioKarma.org.

The Sansui 5000x uses the C7 wood case. The 5000 and 5000a wood cases looks to be slightly different.

Sansui 5000x Inside

As I mentioned Sansui made quite a few of these receivers so they are not uncommon. They are good performing units but just be sure to get a later model 5000x to avoid the defective circuit board.  A good working 5000x will sell for $600-$1000 fairly easily.

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29 thoughts on “Sansui 5000x

  1. I have a Sansui 5000x. It is a really good receiver, but the Power Switch (part# S11 Stock# 1130090)has broken. Where can I get a replacement part for this great receiver? Also, where can I get other parts if needed?

  2. The 5000 was out in 1968-1969…the A & X 70 & 71 respectfully. The 5000 is 75 wpc through 4 ohm speakers (65/8 ohm), the A is 55 wpc thru 8 ohm & the X is 60 through 8 ohm

  3. Like many US Viet-Nam vets, they bought their Sansui receivers and speakers straight from Japan. So did my father. He bought the 5000X, SR-1059 turntable and SP-1700 speakers. He set it up at his office on Base, then after his duty, had it shipped home where this system remains in the family to this day. As a toddler growing up, I remember it being loud at times when the parents hosted parties or get-togethers. Most of my youth, all I had known was this system. The funny part was visiting other friends and noticing their receivers were just not that great sounding compared to what I was used to listening to. Around 1980 the family moved a little further north in California. The 5000X blew a fuse so my father had it serviced at a place called Turntables Unliminted where I remember an older Japanese tech working there, examining the system while my dad and he talked. The old man, my guess, probably worked at Sansui back in the day because the receiver has never needed servicing since! The 5000X could be best described as a “tank”. This receiver is pure military grade sound system hardware on reliability. Before I knew what the Ohms Law was, I had hooked the 5000X up to 2ohm speaker boxes of the live soundstage type. The 5000X handled these speakers with ease, never overheating or popping a fuse. Of course later, as I learned of Ohms, realized how badly I could have potentially damaged any other receiver other than the 5000X. It’s a pleasant beast. It sounds classically ‘warm’ and is definitely under-rated on power. It claims 60watts per channel, but ‘feels’ more like 150 watts per channel by today’s standards. The 5000X really lights up the speakers when it wants. Add an aftermarket graphic equalizer through the tape loop and holy schmoly! Sound!! The tuner is absolutely insane, it will ‘grab’ distant stations where newer quartz tuners will not. Though my G-4700 is my all time favorite listening receiver for it’s pure clarity and zero receiver hiss, I can’t push it due to its frail FET transistor amp circuit that will overheat in no time flat. However, the 5000X (and 9090) are my “CRANK IT UP” receivers. (RIP pictures on the wall)

  4. Dear Gabe V. I concur. I have a 5000X in perfect condition. I run Sansui SP 300’s, 1000’s, and 2000’s. Its a wonderful receiver. I also am the original purchaser of a Sansei 3000A that I just had serviced and re-capped. Either the 300’s or the 2000’s are all the sound one needs powered by either receiver.
    Regards,

  5. I have one of these Sansui 5000X from the Vietnam era and love it. However, it is having several issues, and I would like to find someone who knows what they are doing with it – and that is difficult these days. Can someone recommend an honest repair source for me? I am ok with a hobbyist who knows what he/she is doing!! I live in Ohio but obviously can ship it if required.

    1. do not take it to ( play it again sam) in lakewood oh used to be good,,,worked with them for thirty years,,had them work on a 5000x replaced the volume pot,,took it home,same problem,,took it back charged me again..wrong part installed( lost loudness control..) and a au999 replaced a couple caps called me 3 times, its done ,,made them have it running when i got there ..then in front of the tec the problem accrued..tec just droped his eyes,,promised i,ll fix it…..3rd time…
      ,,,,$800 later still not right….would not honor warranty..i,m talking 4 days out of the shop,,,(well it worked when it left here…)don’t like t o talk bad but it seems to be about the money,,,,lost my business after 32 years,,,,, and yes got off both units,,,sold them as is i lost $500,,,robed with out a gun,,,,

      1. If you are still working on Sansui’s and are interested, I have a few that need some maintenance. I live in Goodyear.

        Jim

  6. Finished cleaning a 5000a – looking for recommendations on speakers. Looks by reading most articles 8ohm are preferred that can handle 65wpc or less. Any recommendations?

  7. Audio Services in Virginia Beach, VA are superb. Their lead tech (Peter) was setting this stuff up in the 70s and knows the gear well.

  8. I brought my 5000 home from service in 1971. One I went in for a bath and could hear the unit playing in the living room. Suddenly there was no sound. My spidy sense went off and I dashed to the living room to find a six inch flame dancing out of the top of the unit. I took a chance and sent it to New York with a note questioning the performance. One day I came home from work and on my porch was a brand new 5000. The enclosed note said that the recently replaced 4amp fuse was a light duty rather than a standard fuse.
    It then read, We hope you will enjoy many hours of listening enjoyment. No charge.
    It’s June of 2020, it’s hooked up in my bedroom and was serviced once since. It makes the pair of 8 ohm Venturi speakers light up with the volume barely on. I haven’t the courage to crank it up.
    Have a 5000a in the garage with vintage huge Pioneers and a pair of something else my son gave me.
    Hooked up all at the same time in the turntable, a dual cassette deck, and a Teac reel to reel.

  9. I am enjoying this site!!! My father like many others mentioned in the post brought back Stereo Equipment from their tours of duty and I have a handed down 5000x that was used at many home parties. I also have the QR 6500 that my father was upgrading to when it came out which is a nice receiver but I must admit for this non-oficiando the 5000x just sounds so much better to me. It still plays very strong but I think finally in need of some service but here in Alabam haven’t been trusting enough to let anyone operate on it. I am thinking of shipping off but hard to depart from it for such a long distance it just means that much to me. The sound is absolutely wonderful and can push a myriad of speakers. Far from an expert but this is one fantastic piece of equipment that is highly coveted.

  10. I served in Vietnam and brought home a 5000X, along with other stereo system pieces. Stupidly, I sold the 5000X to a co-worker a few years later to ‘upgrade’ to a Marantz 2275. I retired in October 2020 and decided to look for another 5000X
    since I have acquired a Thorens TD-160 and a Teac A-4300 RTR. Even though prices have gone through the roof on these gems, I found a very nice 5000X this week and pulled the trigger. I cannot wait for it to arrive, install it with the TD-160 and A-4300, plus a pair of large Advents. This will be like traveling back in time when 2-channel stereo was the king of home entertainment and equipment was built to last almost forever.

      1. Just got your question about the 5000X because this is a site I don’t visit very often (thus this answer is over a year late). I had the Sansui hooked up in a space-challenged system along with a pair of large Advents, a Thorens TD-160 Super TT, and a Sony XA20ES CD player/MSB Link DAC and the sound was really nice. Then I picked up a Pioneer SA-9100 integrated, along with a pristine Sansui TU-517 tuner (to go with my two TU-217s, TU-717, and TU-9900).
        The tuner section on the 5000X is a little out of whack – probably needs realignment – so that made going with the SA-9100 an obvious choice. It is not as warm-sounding as the 5000X, but it boogies pretty good nonetheless. Plus, its controls are really advanced for that time period. It is just a pleasure to use and mates really well with the Sansui TU-517. It is the system I listen to with my early-morning coffee while reading a couple of e-edition newspapers ( a little bit of the old yin/yang there).

  11. Just inherited my father’s 5000x, Dual 1219, and two Pioneer CS33As that he bought while he was in Vietnam.

    The speakers needed a rebuild, and the EQ needed a rebuild, lamps replaced, but the stereo I grew up with lives again.

  12. I still have a 5000x I bought used off of a GI back in 1973, it still works fine and the walnut is high quality. The speaker controls of A, B, C, A+B & A+C have come in handy over the years….could fill the house with sound no matter where I was. Upgraded to some high end Yamaha separates in the mid 80’s and am updating to some new equipment soon. Unfortunately the pandemic has made most products “out of stock” right now.

  13. I have a Sansui 5000x still in the box, never used. I have opened the box, but never took out the receiver. Still in the plastic wrapped in the factory, dust cloth, manuals, fm antenna, absolutely mint condition. Would anyone know the value? You can email me at cdk61@hotmail.com

    Thanks

    1. I’ve seen fully restored units sell for near a $1000, so a mint, in-the-original-box, and unused unit I would guess would be even more. Just have to find the right buyer/collector.

    2. Hello Calvin,
      I am a 71 year old retired Army veteran (1971-1974), and I would absolutely love to purchase your 5000x. You see, I brought one back from overseas, but since no one was hiring combat arms veterans back in those days (we were called baby killers), I quickly grew desperate for money and had to sell my equipment, which included a Technics SL-1200 (yes, the first direct drive turntable). So buying your unit would bring me back full circle to my younger years, and would help me to finally get over the anger that is still In my soul for the way we veterans were treated back then. But I will never forgive the woman in the Atlanta airport who spit on me and called me everything but a white man as I was traveling back home after my tour of duty. So please consider selling it to me for a fair price. Thank you for your consideration of my request. Terry

      1. I’ll sell you mine.. Everything works .. Exterior is in good condition. Only thing that’s different is I had to replace the tuner knob. Email me @ tylergmays@gmail.com. My price was 600. But I’ll sell it for 450- 500 to you

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