The Sansui TU-666 is the matching tuner to the AU-666 amplifier, released in the early 1970s during Sansui’s golden era of HiFi. Built with the same brushed aluminum faceplate, precision controls, and solid metal chassis, the TU-666 delivers both refined performance and timeless vintage aesthetics.
This tuner was engineered with a sensitive front end and low-noise circuitry, allowing it to pull in FM broadcasts with clarity and stability. Its wide/narrow IF bandwidth switch helps reduce adjacent channel interference, while the precise tuning dial and smooth flywheel action make station selection effortless.
Sonically, the TU-666 is praised for its natural, warm presentation, matching the musicality of Sansui’s amplifiers of the period. Whether for casual radio listening or as part of a full Sansui AU/TU setup, it adds both functional enjoyment and collectible appeal.
The TU-666 remains a desirable tuner for vintage enthusiasts—not just as a companion to the AU-666, but as a standalone piece that embodies Sansui’s attention to detail in both design and sound.
Sansui TU-666 Stereo Tuner
The Sansui TU-666 tuner is designed to deliver high-quality FM and AM stereo reception with precision and reliability. It features a large illuminated round dial made of smoked acrylic, which provides excellent visibility and adds a distinctive vintage aesthetic to the unit. The tuning scale is finely divided, allowing users to make very accurate manual selections of radio stations. The FM front end utilizes advanced components, including a frequency-linear 3-row varicon and FET-based RF amplification, which together improve the signal-to-noise ratio, reduce distortion, and enhance stereo stability.
The tuner is equipped with both wideband and narrowband intermediate frequency (IF) filters that enhance selectivity and reduce interference, helping deliver clearer reception in both strong and weak signal areas. Its multiplex circuit employs a reliable MPX design along with an LC-type carrier leak filter and SCA filter, which work to minimize beat interference and distortion during stereo broadcasts.
Automatic FM stereo and mono switching are built into the tuner, with a stereo indicator lamp lighting up to signal stereo reception. The AM section benefits from a large ferrite bar antenna and ceramic filters, which improve the tuner’s selectivity and reduce ambient radio noise. The unit supports both balanced 300 Ω and unbalanced 75 Ω antenna inputs, increasing its versatility across different reception setups.
Constructed with a robust metal chassis combined with elegant wooden side panels, the TU-666 embraces a durable build and classic styling characteristic of Sansui’s premium products from the era. Stabilized power supplies with ripple filters are incorporated to ensure frequency stability and clean, uninterrupted operation. Additional features include a muting circuit that suppresses noise during tuning adjustments and a semi-fixed output level control to facilitate compatibility with a wide range of amplifiers.
Overall, the design of the TU-666 reflects a careful balance of sophisticated engineering, user convenience, and timeless aesthetics, making it a highly respected and sought-after vintage tuner among audiophiles and collectors.