Added a Schiit Freya+ to a Sansui 8080

rar1:  Did you enjoy your EPI 100’s?  I held onto mine for 20 years through high school and college (hung onto Dynaco Stereo 70/ PAS3X Thorens TD121/Grace707) until I replaced them with Martin-Logan CLS’s in the 90’s.  Linear the EPI’s weren’t, with a big scoop in the midrange.  But I loved them for the way they could make Jan Gabarek’s acerbic tenor saxophone tone listenable.  I swear his reeds were made of metal..

@steam_engine enjoy what sounds good to you.  It’s really easy to chase tweaks and changes in the pursuit of better and lose the magic of what got you excited in the first place.  If you like your vintage Sansui, enjoy it!  Measurements and specs will tell you even a really modest amp / receiver is light years beyond the 8080 but that in no way means it will sound better to you.  Digital measure “better” than spinning records yet look at how many Audiophiles prefer the later.  Also look at how big the “Vintage Audio” market has gotten, there is large group of folks that swear by the right vintage gear being better than new, more modern gear.  Find what you like and enjoy it, your ears are the only ones that matter.  If it were me, I’d keep both the Freya and 8080, grab an amp for the Freya and then you can compare the different set ups.  Rich gives some great advice and insight on vintage gear, in essence it was designed to make the different mediums available sound their best, FM Tuners, Tapes, Records.  They were far from perfect, units were designed to make the front end of the equation sound as good as it could.  If you pair new, high end gear from today with those sources from back in the day, likely would sound terrible, would highlight every weakness, all that’s missing or flawed.  Good luck!!  Enjoy!!

@porchlight1 - Did I enjoy the EPI 100s?  I was thinking the same thing when I was answering this.  

I enjoyed them very much.  I had paired the EPIs with a Pioneer 3600 receiver and Dual 1229 TT.  The EPIs were my first good speakers that were sold as separates.

They did a good job with the music I listened to (rock, pop, country, vocals).

I ultimately only had them for about 8 years.  Separating from my ex looked like splitting up the stereo and I wound up with the Dual.  

My separation present to myself was a pair of KEF Q55s and Adcom separates.  I soured on the KEFs and was happy with EPOS 11s for a good while.  

I did go back to the New England sound with a pair of Acoustic Research 302s for about 10 years.  I am a big fan of Zu Audio Dirty Weekenders these days, as I feel the same level of excitement I felt with the older speakers I had.

Rich 

I believe what you’re hearing is the Sansui capacitor coupled designs they were known to be a warmer sounding amps than the later designs that went more neutral sounding and had more detail.   The AU999 was the first of the later designs for example.

Curious, why you added the Schiit Freya+ in the first place? What were you trying fix? 

Vintage gear can sound just as good as new gear, it has to be maintained, and used correctly. Do you know if your Sansui has ever been recaped, or checked out? Might need all the electrolytic caps replaced, some diodes are out of spec along with a few resistors. Might as well swap out some noisy transistors while you are in there. This can/will transform the sound in a good way, more dynamic range, better soundstage,  lower noise floor, better separation, end to end better. While still having the warm sound they are known for. 

Would not try to EQ in the Wiim, most of the time they just add noise with a side of distortion. It's a cheap device, would just use the standard output untouched. If you "need" an EQ get the Schiit one, add it in the proper place. 

Or as others have said, sell the Sansui, get the Schiit matching amp, it will sounds glorious.