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Grundig 4010W – en

11th October 201716th March 2023
by giovanni

Produced in 1952 and 1953, the Grundig 4010W was one of the high quality models of the manufacturer, and, of course, of the entire German production.

VIntage Radio Cabinet
Let’s start by describing the cabinet.
The dimensions are obviously important. The device does not want to pass by unnoticed. The wood veining is deliberately pronounced.
The furniture is enriched by further refinement, to clear lines that slim down the sides and the front are not drawn. These are authentic inlays of light wood.
Today, it is inconceivable to do such a thing, both for cost and for mastery.

In Grundig 40101W the band of the Short Waves is divided into three autonomous sections:

SW1 - 50,8 to 35 mt (5,9 - 8,6 MHz)
SW2 - 35 to 24 mt (8,6 - 12,5 MHz)
SW3 - 24 to 16,7 mt (12,5 - 18 MHz)

In this way, the tuning on the bands is very accurate because each band has the entire extension of all the musical scale.
In the devices produced in the following years, the Band of the Short Waves were compressed into a single musical scale.
The Medium Waves are also divided into three sections:

MW1 - 585 to 318 mt (515 - 945 kHz)
MW2 - 321 to 185 mt (935 - 1620 kHz)

Moreover, the memorization of one Medium Wave station is planned. Pressing the ORT-S button, the head of a threaded plank appears, allows the button to be rotated and tune into a favourite station.
Each time that you press the ORT-S button, the radio will tune in to the memorized station.
The FM Band ranges from 87.5 to 100 MHz. The installation of Bluetooth is highly recommended on this radio.

The amplifier section consists in a classic EABC80 tube as a preamplifier. It is equipped from controls of the high and low tones.
The output stage is a powerful EL12 polarized to operate in A-Class.
It is provided with a negative feedback system, elaborated for linearize the response in the frequency of the output stage.
However, the circuit does not introduce a high feedback factor, so the sound remains very natural.
The output transformer is well dimensioned, so it is impossible to have saturation effects.

The result of all these expensive technical solutions allows a high quality of the sound.
This was another excellent realization of the Grundig engineers.

BLUETOOTH

Bluetooth receiver embed

MULTI PLATFORM CONNECTION

Each radio is equipped with a cable for connection to any digital device.

- Multi Platform Connection - A customized adaptation cable to connect any digital device as Iphone, Smartphone, Laptop, CD Player etc. will be provided with this radio. This special cable suits the different impedances between the modern equipment and the receiver. Furthermore the two stereo channels flow into one without increasing the load to the input unit.

1930 - At 22 years old Max Grundig begin a radio repair business.

1939 - The II world War start. Grundig works primarily for the Wehrmacht and repair of telecommunication equipment.

1945 - Immediately after the war, the demand for repair work was very great. Max Grundig built the first two Grundig appliances: the Tubatest tube tester and the Novatest testing device.

1947 - Start the sale of a kit radio, the Heinzelmann. The unit is the basis of success, sold more than 15,000 pieces.

1950 - Very high frequency (VHF) is introduced to Germany and places new demands on the industry. Grundig launches the 380 W on the market.

1952 - The first television channel starts up in Germany. After intensive research, Grundig launches the FS 080 onto the market. In the same year the first portable tape recorder Reporter 500 L is created.

1956 - After a lot of radio produced with progrssively high performances was produced the Concert Radio 5080 equipped with an equaliser, which has five controls and a visual display.

1965 - A new factory is established in Braga, Portugal. The Satellit 205 is one of many appliances in the Satellit series. This product marks the beginning of Grundig production of high-quality global receivers.

1970 - The Audiorama 7000 Hi-fi was produced, it has twelve dynamic speaker systems in one speaker.

1976 - The Reel Tape Recorder TS 1000 is equipped for semi-professional use.

1980 - The slim-line Hi-fi Tuner ST 6000 and the Monolith Hi-fi Dynamic Flat Top Antenna, which has 22 speaker systems, are two particularly popular appliances in the new hi-fi range.

1984 - After severe drop in sales Philips increased its stake in Grundig 31.6 percent and takes over the corporate management.

1997 - Philips pulls out of its involvement with Grundig.

2003 - The company files for bankruptcy.

2008 - Turkey's Koç Holding took full ownership of Grundig Multimedia B.V., the parent company of Grundig Intermedia GmbH in Nuremberg.

Courtesy of: Grundig

The tones control system is very efficient. Above the large tone control knobs there is a band that lights up gradually indicating the emphasis on the band on which it acts.
Interesting the high-tone control knob linked to two thin ropes. One of them is for the position indicator of the control itself, whereas the other changes the position of the ferrite in the MF transformers modifying the inclination of the transformer’s curve.
By doing so high tones were attenuated/accentuated even before getting to the BF stage. Tone control was usually put into effect with the potentiometer on the voltage amplifier stage

There are two loudspeakers.
This couple of loudspeakers are very oversized.
In fact, it is the same couple used in the 5010 models, that assembles two EL12 by push-pull mode.
The main wide band measures 13.8 in of width for 7.9 in of height. It covers a part of the radio’s width ..... that is so big.
Grundig produce both loudspeakers.
A very interesting feature is that they are equipped with an adjustable basket.
This allows me to centre the cone movement with respect to the magnetic system.

The mid-tweeter has an oversized magnet. It has to tolerate considerable power peaks because it is cut very low.
The acute are unexpectedly crystalline whilst remaining very sweet.

The cones are cellulose treated and they are to this day in perfect condition, without any deformation or structural failure.
Objects built when they had to last “at least” the life time of the owner.

3012 - en

Grundig 3012 – en

2nd September 20176th December 2017
by giovanni

The Grundig 3012 is a very special device called friendly "The bufferfly" because the loudspeakers position. The classification of Grundig devices is as follows:

Serie 1 xxx – Economic Class (ie.1060)
Serie 2 xxx – Economic - Medium Class (ie.2035)
Serie 3 xxx – Average Class (ie.3012)
Serie 4 xxx – Medium – High Class (ie.4035)
Serie 5 xxx - High Class (ie.5010)
Serie 6 xxx – Very High Class (ie.6099)

The Grundig 3012 belongs to the Medium Class but it has some features of the Upper Class.
Firstly, the final tube is a powerful EL12, normally used on Serie 5 devices.

The EL12 is a large pentode that delivers until 8W in A- Class.
The output transformer is a very large, almost like the power transformers in a normal radio, so it hardly goes into saturation.

Another important feature is the two elliptical loudspeakers.
Together, they can reproduce very low notes. Being smaller, they are faster and for this reason the bass is very limited, pleasant and modern.

Finally, the central tweeter and the symmetrical arrangement of the two broadband loudspeakers simulate a sound emitting point source. In this way, it is possible to get a remarkable “soundstage” effect and great depth of environment.

The cabinet of the radio is very beautiful and contains a surprise.
The clear frames that you can see on the sides are not painted, but they are inlaid.
All of these architectural choices do not belong to a Medium Class device, in fact Grundig 3012 is not a device of that class.