Sansui FR-D3 turntable

Sansui Direct-Drive Turntable Automatic-Return/Shutoff

 

Emphasis on extremely accurate platter speed and long-life reliability is a Sansui hallmark in all our turntables; Sansui uses much the same high-technology drive designs in all models, whatever the price. In the case of the FR-D3 with automatic return/shutoff the drive is direct, offering a phenomenally low wow/flutter of only 0,028% (WRMS) and a very high Signal-to-Noise Ratio of 72 dB. For convenience, we've gone beyond the basics to create a tonearm return system that causes absolutely no drag on the tonearm during play.

For good looks, the Sansui designers have retained the slim profile and uncluttered lines you'll find in turntables costing much. Much more/ hear the FR-D3 in action at any audio showroom offering the best from Sansui where it's all hi-fi.

 

High-Torque Saturable-Core Motor - The specs are spectacular

Sansui patents are now pending on this unique and highly effective motor. It is basically a so-called "brushless" design, eliminating physical switching to offer virtually noiseless operation at all times.

We use the time-tested pole/slot technique. But with more poles and slots than usual. This provides higher torque generation, smoother rotation and higher speed accuracy. As mentioned, the specifications achieved are spectacular: 0,028% (or less) wow and flutter (WRMS) and an excellent 72 dB Signal-to-Noise Ratio.

 

Material/Matching: Patience equals precision when it comes to making the motor.

Super-hard carbon chrome steel is used for the motor shaft in the Sansui FR-D3. this high-quality material - one of the hardest known to man - is mirror finished to a roundness tolerance of only 0,2 µ or better, then fitted into a mirror-finished thrust sleeve to reduce friction.

The entire assembly then rides on a disulphide-mixed nylon thrust bearing and is constantly bathed in a special lubricant developed for the aerospace industry. All parts are machined to match with very high precision - your assurance - that the original performance specifications will be available over years and years of operation.

 

Smooth & Automatic: Tonearm return system is a convenience you can't refuse.

Sansui has perfected a tonearm return system that does not rely on crude mechanical linkages; the tonearm is entirely free to track the record during play and its sensitivity is never compromised.

Simply set your record on the platter, cue the tonearm over the selected band and operate the Cue lever, tonearm descends and play begins. When the lead-out groove is reached and the tonearm begins to accelerate, the auto return system is triggered, the tonearm is lifted and returned gently to its rest, and power is automatically shut off. You never need touch the tonearm.

 

Trackability: A gram or so is all you need

Proof of the high sensitivity in the tonearm is in its ability to track even the most heavily-modulated record grooves with about a one gram stylus pressure. But at at whatever setting, the support with its 52 super-hard steel bearings (five each for the two horizontal pivots plus 21 each for the two verticals) performs faultlessly, freeing the arm from undue friction in all directions.

 

Lightweight Arm: Worth its weight in gold.

Inside the "S" shaped tubing of the FR-D3's tonearm is acoustic absorbent (pet.pend.), at the "tail" is a resin weight shaft, dynamically de-coupled from the arm via a rubber device to further damp resonance. The headshell is no less important. Clean reproduction (without the "mud" caused by headshell resonance) is achieved by casting the unit of low-porosity aluminum in a onepiece unit. Two additional features also deserve mention; one is the anti-skating device on the tonearm to prevent unbalanced stereo reproduction and the other is the use of gold-plated connection pins to assure always-clean electrical interface with the cartridge.

 

Pitch is Perfect: strobe and ±3% speed change control

For normal use you'll watch the wideband strobe at the front of the platter, tuning the speed control until the strobe dots appear to be "standing still". When you wish to slow down or speed up the platter, however, the latitude of pitch change is a wide plus/minus three percent, permitting you to tune the musical pitch on your record with your piano, etc.

 

Disc-Hugging Mat: Slips, slurs and resonance are ended for good.

Today's long-playing records are tapered from the center to the edge in a gradient of 1:350. that's barely enough of a "hill" to be seen by the naked eye, but it's more than a small thread to quality sound reproduction if the mat under the record on a turntable assumes it doesn't exist. So, rather than making our mat perfectly flat, we've cupped it on that same 1:350 ratio. It "hugs" your record to prevent slips and slurs, and to cancel any dead space under the record that might cause resonance.

 

Smart & Simple; Stylish cabinet features up-front controls.

All controls on the Sansui FR-D3 except the Cue lever are positioned on the easily-accessible front panel. For the cabinet itself we have chosen a proven "no-how" design, featuring slim, smart looks. The four isolators in the cabinet suspension system end acoustic feedback before it reaches your record.

When mounted on a strudy shelf - or better yet, on a custom-made audio rack from Sansui along with your other Sansui hi-fi components - the FR-D3 makes a fine addition to your listening room both in looks and performance. It's the model that goes beyond the basics to offer accuracy and convenience for a fair and affordable price - from Sansui.

 

Sansui High-Resolution Cartridge

In some areas, the FR-D3 comes complete with a high-resolution Induced Magnet cartridge Sansui SC-50. it offers crisp and solid sound.

 

Specifications

Type:  two-speed direct-drive automatic return

Motor:  20-pole, 30-slot DC brushless

System:  Direct spindle drive electronically servo controlled

Platter:  Aluminum alloy die-cast

Diameter :  300 mm

Weight :  1,1 kg (2,4 lbs)

Speeds:  33-⅓ and 45 rpm

Fine Speed Adjust.:  ±3%

Wow and Flutter:  less than 0,028% WRMS

Signal-to-Noise Ratio:  better than 72 dB DIN-B

Tonearm:  S-shaped damped tonearm with two-point pivot support with gold plated terminals

Length:  220 mm (8-11/18") pivot to stylus tip

Overhang:  17,5 mm (3/4")

Offset Angle:  24,5°

Minimum Tracking Force Setting:  1 g (when using cartridge guaranteed to operate at 1 g stylus pressure)

Acceptable Cartridge Weight:  2 to 10 g

Cartridge:  SC-50

Type:  IM type

Frequency Response:  10 to 20,000 Hz

Output Voltage:  3 mV per channel (1,000 Hz, 35,4 mm/sec)

Optimum Load:  47 k Ω

Tracking Force:  2,5 g ±0,4 g

Stylus:  0,6 mil diamond spherical

Cabinetry:  Slim-line cabinet with fully front controls, anti-howling insulators and hinged free-stop

Dust cover

Power Requirements:  100, 120, 220, 240 V 50/60 Hz

Power Consumption:  5 watts

Dimensions (W x H x D):  440 x 130 x 385 m (17-5/16" x 5-1/8" x 15-3/16")

Weight:  6 kg (13,2 lbs) net