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Grundig 4…

6th 2 月 202415th 2 月 2024
by giovanni

Also this reviews will be accompanied by a section with graphs of technical measures of the most important parameters.
There is no such thing anywhere else, as far as I know. Not even the manufacturers themselves detailed the technical features of their own devices at this level.
This new section has been developed for an objective comparison of different devices.
In order to avoid interpreting the measurements incorrectly, it is very important to read the warnings carefully the first time.

The Grundig 4055/56 was the most prestigious model produced by the German company in 1956.

The FM converter stage is particularly interesting. In fact, it is equipped with double amplifier and oscillator circuits that can be selected via two buttons on the front. Furthermore, in the dialglass there are two identical FM bands, FM1 and FM2. Pressing the UKWI button and rotating the tuning knob will move the UKWI scale indicator, pressing the UKWII button and rotating the tuning knob will move the UKWII scale indicator. In this way it is possible to store an FM station in the UKWI band and another FM station in the UKWII band. The Grundig 3055 and 4055 are the only radios in the entire German production of that period to have two FM bands, but the 4055 is the only one to also have a Push-Pull final stage.

Unlike the previous model, Grundig 4055W/3D, the 4055/56 model is equipped with a rear socket for the remote control. The remote control allows you to turn the device on and off, change the volume and choose one of the predefined equalizations on the remote control.

The low frequency stage is an excellent example of a Push-Pull amplifier, with two EL84s with well-known sonic characteristics.
The phase inverter stage is made up of an Ebc41 triode, the preamplifier is made up of the triode section of an EABC80. The circuit is classic and very proven. The high sound quality is given by the excellent quality of the output transformer and its considerable size, which together with the good quality of the air gap laminations and the alternate winding of the copper layers reaches saturation very late.

The feedback circuit as usual, is moderate, and affects the response curve. The resulting sound is very open, with great presence in the mid and high tones and sufficiently damped bass.
The cabinet is very robust and free of vibrations and resonances.

The speakers:
There are five speakers, three on the front and two on the sides.
These is a very bug full-range speakers and two electrostatic tweeters on front. On the sides we find two elliptical widebands.
The entire frequency range is sent to these full-range speakers with a slight cut in the upper part, in reality the actual cut in the high part occurs mechanically.

The front canvas covering the speakers is never completely transparent from an acoustic point of view.
For this reason the only way to obtain maximum performance from the appliance is to eliminate it.
We can build a false frame in which the original canvas is installed. This frame attaches to the speaker panel with magnets.
In this way it is possible to detach it when you want to listen to music with maximum transparency and put it back in its place when the radio is at rest to protect the speakers from dust and to restore the original aesthetic appearance of the device.

All this translates into exciting dynamics, brilliance of sound, lack of canvas oscillations in the presence of low frequencies, making listening to this beautiful device very realistic and pleasant.

The first song is by Pink Anderson, it is Baby Please Don't Go. Pinkney Anderson was born in Laurens, South Carolina on February 12, 1900. At 14 he joined Dr. Kerr of the Indian Remedy Company to sing and dance to the public in the streets while Kerr sold his elixirs which he said had medicinal properties. In 1928 she recorded for the Columbia label. In the 50s and 60s she recorded other albums and performed live. She died in 1974 of a heart attack. The song "Baby Please Don't Go" tell about the anxiety of a recluse over the departure of his lover who is about to leave him to return home to New Orleans.

The second song is by Floyd Council, it is called Looking For My Baby. Council was born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on September 2, 1911. At 15 he performed on the streets of Chapel Hill with two brothers, Leo and Thomas Strowd. In the late 1920s and early 1930s he and Blind Boy Fuller busked in the Chapel Hill area. In the 1930s he recorded some songs for ARC but very few Council recordings remain. In a 1969 interview, Council stated that he had recorded 27 songs over the course of his career, seven of them as backing tracks to Blind Boy Fuller. In the late 1960s he suffered a stroke that partially paralyzed his throat muscles and slowed his motor skills. Peter B. Lowry attempted to record it in 1970 but Council was unable to sing or play. Council died in 1976 of a heart attack.

The third song is naturally by Pink Floyd and it is a rare live recording, Live at the Rainbow Theatre from 1972 . Syd Barrett created the band's name by juxtaposing the first names of the two bluesmen Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Pink Floyd's most famous LP, "The dark side of the moon" was the product of an intense year of laboratory work, tested and perfected thanks to over a dozen live bootlegs such as this recording at the Rainbow Theatre. The arrangements of these recordings often vary greatly from the final LP. Unfortunately the recording is of very poor quality, but for enthusiasts this is certainly not a problem.

The fourth song is O Tempo E O Lugar by Ana Caram. The song is by Sueli Correa Costa, the talented Brazilian singer-songwriter who died last year. She recorded for EMI with important partners such as Cacaso and Tite de Lamos. She sang about love like few others and left a definitive mark on our music, with songs that had the rare combination of sophistication, elaboration and beauty, fluidity and the ability to reach a wide audience. Her compositions, however, have been interpreted by artists such as Simone, Elis Regina, Fagner, Maria Bethânia, Gal Costa, Beth Carvalho among many others.

The fifth song is Litany by Arvo part. A characteristic of his style is that his songs arise from silence, grow, loading themselves with effect and then descend back towards silence. This technique originates from Part's initial twelve-tone influences, especially from Webern, although Part ideologically abandoned this current, realizing that it carried within itself the seeds of a conflict, in particular against capitalism. Coming to the firm belief that every conflict originates within oneself.
Having been commissioned by the Oregon Bach Festival, Litany Part uses the English language for the first time. The text is by Giovanni Grisostomo, a great theologian born in Antioch in Syria (currently in Turkey). The English terms being short do not allow for a structured musical elaboration, however the initial dialogue between the prayer and the immediate, or rather anticipated, response of the violin indicate the response from heaven. Before man can ask God for help, God is already close to him.

The sixth song is Il Cielo In Una Stanza performed by Mina. Gino Paoli's most famous song had a very troubled origin. He was judged by Giulio Rapetti (aka Mogol) with phrases like "this is not a song", "it's better for you to change jobs", "it absolutely can't go" and even worse by Miranda Martino who refused to interpret it. Then Mina arrived and wanted her to sing it instead. Arranged by Tony de Vita, Mina, as soon as she finished singing it, started crying and all the musicians stood up moved.
The song talks about orgasm and is dedicated to a prostitute with whom Paoli had fallen in love. In the song the unsaid suggests sensuality with the description of the environment.

BLUETOOTH

Bluetooth receiver embedn

MULTI PLATFORM CONNECTION

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

– Bluetooth receiver embed – The unit is equipped with a BLUETOOTH receiver powered directly by the receiver power supply. This makes it possible to control the amplifier from any external digital device as an IPAD, a Smartphone, or a sophisticated multimedia station. So you can hear your preferred web station or your lossesless file without cables on the room. Wireless Receiver can be equipped upon requests.
– 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

MEASURED TECHNICAL FEATURES

IMPORTANT REMARK
(to be read carefully at least the first time)

The following measures have been carried out in order to compare, from an electrical point of view, the devices that will be reviewed on this site. It is not possible to make comparisons with measurements made by other laboratories on different devices. The instrumentation and measurement conditions are probably very different.
The instrumentation used for the measurements is obsolete and unprofessional. We believe that more precise instrumentation is not necessary due to the tolerances of the human auditory system. Distinguishing a distortion of 1% from one of 1.1% or 1.001% only makes sense from the electrical point of view. Probably no one can hear the difference by ear. Only a child and very few lucky people can perceive the difference between a flat response curve up to 16 KHz and one up to 20 kHz.
The perception of sound depends on many factors, namely the age of the listener, the listening environment, the musical genre that is being reproduced, the listener's expectations, his or her listening habits and knowledge and many other factors, besides of course the quality of the other devices. Therefore, there is no direct and unique relationship between the results of the measurements made and the pleasantness of listening to a specific device.

BANDWIDTH

Normally the measurement of the bandwidth is done on a resistive load. Therefore, the deformation caused by the loudspeakers' inductive load and the effect of the mechanical resonance of the speakers themselves on the feedback circuit are not considered. The effects are by no means negligible, the measurements carried out on a purely resistive load are always very linear but they don't coincide with the real frequency response.

On the other hand, this response curve was measured on an inductive laod, that is, with its own loudspeakers.
The frequency response measurements were made with a sinusoidal generator and a Wandel & Goltermann WM – 20 level meter.
You can see the actual frequency response on the vobulator' screen.

Inside the cabinet there is a dipole for FM reception and a ferrite rotating aerial for AM reception.
Ferrite aerial can be rotated from the outside to achieve a perfect tuning of the device in the AM.
In this picture you can see the rotation mechanism, and the aerial position indicator.
The reception sensitivity with internal aerials is very good. This unit was in fact produced when there were not many radio stations, and those available were far from each other.
Using an external aerial sensitivity is further increased.

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Bang &#03…

28th 5 月 2022
by giovanni

The High Fidelity Stereo Amplifier 608 was produced from 1961 to 1964 and it's the first Hi-Fi stereophonic amplifier by Bang & Olufsen; that explains its great value, both historical and economic.
The second series had a dark gray front panel but no significant technical changes and together with the Grand Prix receiver it marks a groundbraking step for the Danish firm's design.

The inner set up is a masterful piece of work: cables are put in order and wrapped in a waxed twine binding to create a solid unique body. The power tubes’ polarisation is fixed and each of them has an accurate Bias' control by specific trimmers, as shown in the restoration's photos.
The circuit is very stable due to a 22pF capacitor parrallel connected to a 100 kOhm resistance avoid auto-swinging. The feedback rate is very low.
The power tubes’ set up is ultralinear.
The direct coupling (no capacitors) between the voltage amplifier anode ECC83 and one of the two tubes for the phase splitter is another device's distinctive trait.
A differential circuit realise the phase reversal, in this way a perfect half - waves' symmetry and a remarkable voltage's gain are achieved.
The tones control circuit is a Baxandall, making symmetrical regulation curves (keep scrolling for answer's curves pictures).
Each final stage (two in all) is made up of an ECL85 (so, in total, there are four ECL85). The ECL85 is velvety like ECL86 but more powerful, indeed the rated output is highed than the same series' receiver Grand Prix Moderne Stereo 608.
It's very appreciable the chance to switch right and left speakers phase: if they were connected without paying attention the exact phase can be restored thanks to a switch on the frontal panel. The result, with the speakers in phase, is substantial; voices and solo instruments are clearly distinguishable and the scene take shape.
Not by chance, B&O became the official supplier of the Danish royal house.

This device, designed in an extremely sophisticated way, does not disappoint the listener's expectations: at first a well-finished and sweet sound can be gathered but by turning the volume knob and loudness switch (below in this page) its strengh and intensity are revealed.
A refined design, the charm of an old fashioned and expansive object, a precise and powerful sound and, last but not least, a small number of models, are all features of this fantastic device.

Designer: Architect Ib Fabiansen (1928 – 2009)

Fabiansen started developing modular units for radios and televisions complementing each other with the house forniture and establishing a pleasant surrounding.
In 1958 he made some cardboard models and presented them to Bang & Olufsen management, that immediately approved its production. So he started sketching the Beolit series and other B&O devices, including Hi-Fi Amplifier 608.
In 1962 he designed Beocord Belcanto recorder, Horizont television and so on, until his last creation for B&O, the gramophone TV/radio Beovision 2000RG.
In the last years working for B&O, he cooperated with architecs Henning Moldenhawer an Jacob Jensen.
".. there was a time when it was far from a certainty that a radio from Bang and Olufsen was a study in good design..It was horrible, simply horrible” sayed back then Fabiansen.
Ten years later Jacob Jensen would become the company's chief designer.

To make the most of this device I chose four songs. The first one is “Una ragione di più” by Ornella Vanoni, a beautiful song with lyrics by Franco Califano, Ornella Vanoni and Luciano Beretta, music by Mino and Franco Reitano. Presented in 1969 on the tv show “Senza rete”, the song is about a woman questioning her relationship, and her hard choice between leaving her partner and trying to revive their love from ashes. Ornella's voice is warm, deep and with a great vocal range, which the B&O 608 conveys in all its richness.

The struggle of a love song counterpoints the struggle for exile and oppression is in the second song I propose. It's of an Angolan songwriter, José Adelino Barceló de Carvalho aka Bonga. The title of the song is “Mona Ki Ngi Xica” ad it was written in 1972, while Angola was under Portuguese rule and the author had to flee to the Netherlands because of his politics involvement to free his nation. The lyrics are in Kimbundu, an Angolan dialect. Here, too, a rough and peculiar voice is reproduced in its wholeness by the 608.

Going on with love sufferings (that's the mood of the day), the third track is about a young man and his love, not returned by the girl he loves. It's the well-known song “Say Say Say” by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson, recorded in 1983 before their quarrel. It seems that McCartney was quite afraid of dancing together with Jackson in the song's videoclip (we can't blame him), but still a true friendship was born, until Jackson bought the Beatles' recording royalties for 47,5 million dollars, snatching them from McCartney and Yoko Ono.

The fourth and last track is Mahler's Symphony N. 5, written between 1901 and 1902. Its theme, sentimental and painful, turns away from the preceding four symphonies, which are about medieval german poetry. The mighty first movement is driven by trumpets and the vigorous orchestral cue does not scare the 608. It's important that the speakers are properly in order.

BLUETOOTH

Bluetooth receiver embed

MULTI PLATFORM CONNECTION

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

- Bluetooth receiver embed - The unit is equipped with a BLUETOOTH receiver powered directly by the receiver power supply. This makes it possible to control the amplifier from any external digital device as an IPAD, a Smartphone, or a sophisticated multimedia station. So you can hear your preferred web station or your lossesless file without cables on the room. Wireless Receiver can be equipped upon requests.
- 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.

1925 - Two Danish engineers, Svend Olufsen and Peter Bang, start the production of radio equipment in the attic of the Olufsen family, in Struer.
1927 - The first device, called the “Eliminator” (as it allowed to eliminate the battery power and to connect the device directly to the power grid), is commercialized.
A production plant is built in Struer.
1929 - The "Five Lamper" model (five valves) is marketed and is a great success.
1938 - The beautiful Master 40 model arrives, which allows to memorize stations from the keyboard.
1939 - Beolit 39 is launched, the first radio with a bakelite cabinet. From this moment on, the prefix “Beo” will be used for the most prestigious products of the brand.
1941 - During the German occupation, B&O puts on the market the Grand Prix 42CH which has the characteristic of having a tambour door that covers the scala parlante when it is not used.
1945 - The B&O factory is completely destroyed.
1948 - After a rapid reconstruction of the factory, the production of the Grand Prix 48 CH mobile radio is started, the first high-fidelity radio of the Danish company.
60's - A revolution at B&O. The designer Ib Fabiensen designs the new line of devices, Hi-Fi Stereo Amplifier 608, Grand Prix 608 Moderne, Dirigent 609. Also the Beogram 42 turntable is commercialized. It is with these models that the legendary design of B&O devices begins.
70's - In the 60s and 70s, the devices that make B&O famous in the world are produced. The Beomaster 1200 and 3000, the Beogram 1200 and the Beogram 4002, the beautiful giradischi tangenziale. The devices are designed by Jacob Jensen.
80's - The evolution of design continues with the different Beocenter units and the Beogram cd players.
90's - The company decides to market its products through a network of its own exclusive stores. It expands its interests with the production of mobile phones and Mp3 players.
2008 – It suffers considerable losses and a staff reduction and in the following years it returns to devote itself exclusively to the production of High Fidelity devices.
2015 - B&O becomes a partner of HP.

Year of production: 1961-64

Power supply: 110-220 V - 75W

Loudspeakers: Screw Plugs for External 4-16 ohm loudspeakers

Output power: 15W each channel
Distortion: <0.5 % a 10W, <2 % a 15 W
Channel separation: - 50 dB
Noise level: - 60 dB
Frequency response: 20-20,000 Hz <1 dB
Min. input level:
Magnetic Pickup 2 mV, DIN 45547 RIIAA equalized
Piezo Pickup: 50 mV
Aux: 100 mV,
Microphone: 160 mV
Tuner: 50 mV

Measurements (LAP): 465 x 180 x 208 mm / 18.3 x 7 x 8.2 inch
Net weight: 10.5 kg / 23 lb 2 oz

5 Tubes: ECC83 ECL85 ECL85 ECL85 ECL85
8 Transistors: 2xAC107, 6xAC126(OC75)

In these pictures we can see how much the tune's control system is efficient: in the ones above there's the controls' position in the amplifier, in the ones below the real response curve measured with Wandel&Goltermann WM-20 wobbulator. Measurament done on 4 ohm resistive load.
In the first two pictures on the left we can see the tunes in Flat position: the answer, from 20 to 20000 Hz, stays between ± 1 dB. Others pictures explain themselves.

The device has a remarkable loudness control system. We know that our ears, listening at low volume, perceive better medium frequencies, losing the low and high ones. If low frequency sounds are emitted, medium frequencies are easily perceptible by human ear than low, very low and high ones. That's why, for these listening levels, manufacturers implemented automatic mechanism to amplificate low and high frequencies.

Today this control practice is seen as a forced sound's alteration and is not implemented in amplifiers. Sometimes is not inserted at all, but if it's stil present there's the possibility to exclude it with a knob on the front panel.

On B&O Hi-Fi Amplifier 608 there is a switch for low, medium, high, referring to the listening volume.
With the switch on LOW, loudness control (exalting low and high frequencies) applies at 10 Phon on the Fletcher – Munson curve; with this setting, sound level acheivable operating on volume knob is gentle and is suitable for listening at a low volume.
Putting the switch on MEDIUM, loudness control applies at 50 Phon; low and high frequencies are slightly exalted, you can get a higher sound level and it's good for listening at a medium volume.
With the switch on HIGH there's no more loudness control and response is linear on all frequencies but sound level you get operating on the knob is not maximum. Thanks to this setting you reach amplifier's full power and it's right for listening at its highest volume.

This stadio amplificatore is gifted with noticeable transparency and detail.
The coupling with high-efficiency loudspeakers with neutral tone is therefore very suitable to enjoy these peculiarities to the fullest.
The loudspeakers must be connected with banana plugs on the outputs, respectively:

Højre - Right channel
Venstre - Left channel

The Bang & Olufsen loudspeakers, designed to be coupled to the Grand Prix Moderne Stereo 608, were the Type S (left) and Type L (right) models.
The recordings I posted on this page were made with TRIO-KENWOOD KL333 loudspeakers. I chose these speakers for their efficiency and the very high cut-off frequency that makes them sound almost like full-range speaker.

Beginning from the left in the upper part, the first knob you meet is that of inserting the filters. The switch has 4 positions.

OFF - No filter is active - Linear response
RUMBLE - Very low frequencies are attenuated to avoid reproducing the mechanical noises of the turntable
SCRATCH - The high frequencies are attenuated to attenuate the defects of damaged discs when listening.
RUMBLE + SCRATCH - Both filters inserted
Attentions! The RUMBLE filter introduces a 45 degree phase shift at the cut-off frequency and both filters proportionally attenuate all the frequency band of the respective working range. Avoid using them if possible, better couple the amplifier to a good turntable and treat the records with care.

Below we find the INPUT SELECTOR
PHONO - Turntable with magnetic head
TAPE - Recorder / AUX
RADIO - Tuner / AUX
MICR - Microphone

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Saba Frei…

9th 5 月 202223rd 11 月 2022
by giovanni

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Nordmende…

9th 5 月 202218th 3 月 2023
by giovanni

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Bang &#03…

25th 6 月 201928th 5 月 2022
by giovanni

The Grand Prix Moderne Stereo 608 is the first stereo receiver produced by Bang & Olufsen.
From this derives its great historical and economic value.
Produced in 1961, it represents not only an evolution, but a real epochal changeover in the design of the Danish brand.

In the inside, the execution is exemplary. The cables are well arranged and wrapped in a ligature with waxed string that collects them in a single, very solid body.
The power supply consists of an independent block, separate and far from the amplifiers.
The AM / FM radio section is equipped with a medium-frequency double stage to improve the selectivity of the device.
A section of a ECC83 double triode is used to compensate for the attenuation introduced by the Baxandall tone control section.
Very few radios, even among high-class models, were equipped with a Baxandall circuit for tone control. The builders almost always preferred simpler and cheaper circuits, even if the circuit response were not completely symmetrical.
The two amplifiers, one for each channel, are made of a couple of ECL86s. For a total of four ECL86s.
All are mounted on their own vertical board so that the final valves, the four final valves, are arranged horizontally in order to better dissipate the heat. In this way, in fact, the tubes cool uniformly throughout their length.
The triode sections of the ECL86 ensure phase inversion while the pentode sections are connected in Push-Pull and constitute the outuput amplifier.
The power supplied is approximately 10W per channel.
Everything about this device was based on the search for quality. On the other hand, the B&O was proud to be the official supplier of the Danish royal house.

The restoration of this device was thorough.
The amplifier stages have been completely renewed. Each component has been replaced with a high quality correspondent or audiophile.
All the old carbon composite resistors have been replaced, with 10% tolerance but almost all altered and very noisy.
The excellent but unfortunately aged Mustard condensers have all been replaced with Auricap audiophile.
All electrolytics have been replaced with components capable of withstanding high temperatures.
The original bakelite socket of the tubes have been replaced with new high-quality ceramic sockets and high-quality gold contacts.
The valves have been selected all with equivalent characteristics, so as to avoid imbalances between one channel and another.

The results of this excellent project and of the very high quality of the components used in the process are the extreme definition and the sweetness of reproduction.
I believe the Grand Prix Moderne Stereo 608 is especially suitable for recordings with voices or solo instruments.
New Age and electronic music is reproduced with great satisfaction.
The fact that this warm and precise sound is played by a fascinating and rare machine from the 60s just complements the invaluable magic.

The sweetness this machine impresses me with makes me think that it might be possible to use it in music therapy or sound baths. Although for this purpose the use of live instruments is unsurpassed.
But this is a complex and controversial topic and it will be the subject of in-depth studies and discussions in the future.

The first track of the playlist I chose in order to test this device is Sit tecum timor suus, from Giacomo Carissimi's Historia di Job (Marino 1605 - Rome 1674).
It belongs to the musical genre called Oratorio, and in particular of the Oratorio in Latin and with a biblical subject, of which Carissimi is one of the greatest exponents.
This musical genre has very ancient origins, as it comes from Passions and Mottetti. This is very interesting, because being detached from the liturgical function it exalted the practice of music for the purpose of spiritual elevation. Music as an instrument of diffusion of elevated principles was strongly pursued by Filippo Neri who, similarly to the Lutheran rite, intended to bring the evangelical message closer to the people.
Going back to Carissimi, chapel master in the Basilica of Assisi and then choirmaster in the Germanic College of St. Ignatius of Loyola in Rome, in the Historia he uses both monody and polyphony, emphasizing, according to some critics, the expressive power of the work. From the manuscripts it appears clear that the instrumental element is the pipe organ, rarely accompanied by bowed or wind instruments.
After Carissimi, the Latin Oratorio will lose importance while the vulgar Oratorio will continue to be practiced.
In Naples, Alessandro Scarlatti writes La Vergine Addolorata, a mature work with alternating refrains, arias and instruments that accompany the recitative. This use of the orchestra brings the work closer to the genre of drama. The second track of the playlist is drawn from this wonderful Oratorio.
In Venice the Oratory, clashing with the profane melodrama prevailing at the time, is expressed in the works of Giovanni Legrenzi, Baldassare Galuppi and Benedetto Marcello, up to Juditha triumphans by Antonio Vivaldi, which will be discussed in a future review.

BLUETOOTH

Bluetooth receiver embed

MULTI PLATFORM CONNECTION

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

Inside the cabinet there is a dipole for FM reception and a ferrite rotating aerial for AM reception.
Ferrite aerial can be rotated from the outside to achieve a perfect tuning of the device in the AM.
In this picture see the rotation mechanism and the position indicator of the aerial.
The reception sensitivity with internal aerials is very good. This unit was in fact produced in a period when there were not many radio stations and those available fairly apart from each others.
Using an external aerial sensitivity is further increased.

Højre - Right channel
Venstre - Left channel

The Bang & Olufsen loudspeakers, designed to be coupled to the Grand Prix Moderne Stereo 608, were the Type S (left) and Type L (right) models.
The recordings I posted on this page were made with Grundig 306A loudspeakers. I chose these loudspeakers for their detail and for the very deep bass they can express.

The front side can be imagined as divided into two horizontal sections.
In the upper part, the first knob is that of the volume with built-in loudness.
Coaxially, the ferrite antenna control knob can be seen.
Then, we see the AM scale for short, medium and long waves. The FM scale.
In the center we find the Magic Eye, which indicates the best tuneing of the different stations.
On the right of the dialglass, then, we see the two separate tuning controls.
The rear knob, bigger, controls the FM band.
The frontal knob, smaller, controls the AM bands.

uncategorised - cn

Graetz Si…

4th 1 月 20194th 2 月 2019
by giovanni

Dalla seconda guerra mondiale fino agli anni Sessanta, Graetz è stato considerato uno dei più prestigiosi produttori di radio, anche se non ha mai raggiunto performance di vendita elevati a causa del costo elevato e delle condizioni economiche dell'Europa in quell'epoca.
Gli apparecchi Graetz sono sempre stati apprezzati sia per la loro finitura curata ed elegante ma soprattutto, per la ricerca costante di soluzioni acustiche innovative ed i relativi brevetti.
La serie Sinfonia è la più prestigiosa tra produzione Graetz con stadio finale in classe A.
Tra queste la SINFONIA 522 è l'ultima dotata di Raumklang mit Schallkompressor (Surround sonoro con Compressore). I modelli successivi, certamente per questioni economiche, verranno privati di questo geniale, ma costoso, sistema di diffusione del suono.

Lo Schallkompressor verrà descritto approfonditamente più avanti, nella pagina, basti dire per ora che alcuni altoparlanti diffondevano il suono attraverso un percorso appositamente progettato che rendeva impossibile localizzare esattamente da dove arrivasse il suono, rendendo l'ascolto esattamente identico in tutti i punti di una stanza.

I toni medio-alti si diffondono in tutte le direzioni attraverso la griglia, che sembra una semplice decorazione, posta nel lato superiore del mobile.

L'effetto che ne deriva è entusiasmante, una dolcezza dei toni acuti derivante dal tweeter a cono anteriore, unita ad una profondità del basso provocata dai muscoli dei due grossi woofer, con una ampiezza dell'immagine sonora, derivante dal supertweeter compresso a flauto, che non ha eguali in apparecchi monofonici.
Non parlo di alta fedeltà naturalmente, ma di gradevolissimo rapimento sonoro.

La Graetz aveva 4 linee di apparecchi con ShallKompressor:
- la Musica (la più piccola, 1 woofer, 1 mid, 1 tweeter)
- la Melodia (la media, 2 woofer, 1 mid, 1 tweeter)
- la Sinfonia (la grossa, 2 woofer + grandi, 1 mid ellittico, 1 tweeter + grande)
- la Fantasia (come la Sinfonia ma con finali 2 EL95 al posto di una EL84)

Grandi radio, dal suono piacevolissimo, da ascoltare per ore.

ESTENSIONE BANDA FM

La frequenza della banda FM è stata estesa a 88 - 108 MHz

CONTINUA >

BLUETOOTH

Ricevitore Bluetooth integrato

CONTINUA >

CONNESSIONE A DISPOSITIVI DIGITALI

Ogni apparecchio viene dotato di un cavo adattatore per connettere qualsiasi dispositivo digitale.

CONTINUA >

- Banda di Frequenza FM allargata a 88 - 108 MHz. Le radio a valvole prodotte in Germania negli anni 50/60 sono famose in tutto il mondo per la loro eccellente sonorità, la bellezza delle loro finiture, la robustezza ed il loro standard di costruzione senza compromessi.
Purtroppo la banda FM di estende dai 87.5 ai 100 MHz per cui ricevono solo alcune stazioni.
Dopo attenti studi ed un gran numero di provesiamo stati in grado di allargare la banda ricevibile da 88 a 108 MHz.
Naturalmente abbiamo dovuto ricostruire anche la scala parlante, identica all'originale, fatta con gli stessi materiali e le stesse tecniche, ma con il nuovo intervallo di frequenza.
Il risultato è perfetto. Un apparecchio originale ma con la possibilità di ascoltare qualsiasi stazione in qualsiasi parte del mondo.
– Ricevitore Bluetooth integrato – Questa unità può essere equipaggiata con un ricevitore BLUETOOTH alimentato direttamente dall'apparecchio Questo rende possibile usare l'amplificatore da qualsiasi dispositivo digitale esterno, come IPAD, Smartphone, o sofisticate stazioni multimediali. Potrete ascoltare le vostre Stazioni Web o le vostre musiche preferite senza cavi in giro per la stanza. Su richiesta è possibile anche montare un Ricevitore Wireless.
– Connessione Multi-Piattaforma – L'apparecchio viene fornito di un cavo di adattamento che permette di collegarlo a qualsiasi dispositivo digitale come A Iphone, Smartphone, Laptop, CD Player etc. Questo cavo speciale permette di adattare l'impedenza tra l'apparecchio ed i moderni dispositivi. Inoltre i due canali stereofonici vengono fatti confluire in un unico canale monofonico senza incrementare il carico dell'unità sorgente.

La Ehrich & Graetz AG fu fondata nel 1866 a Berlino da Albert Graetz (1831-1901) e dal commerciante Emil Ehrich (morto nel 1887) con il nome di "Lampen-Fabrik Ehrich & Graetz OHG" (E & G).
PetromaxNel 1897 l'azienda passa sotto il controllo dei figli di Albert, Max Graetz, e Adolf Graetz. L'azienda cresce rapidamente, e nel 1899 vengono costruiti nuovi complessi industriali a Berlino, negli Stati Uniti, Francia, Regno Unito, e Bombay.
Intorno 1910-1916 Max Graetz sviluppa la famosa lanterna Petromax. Intorno al 1925 la fabbrica produce anche radio e altri apparecchi elettrici chiamati Graetzor.

Altena Graetz FactoryDurante la seconda guerra mondiale, proprio come nella prima guerra mondiale, la società fa parte dell'industria bellica. Con l'uso di lavoratori forzati da Francia, Russia, e nei Paesi Bassi la società fa enormi guadagni.
Alla fine del mese di aprile 1945 la fabbrica viene rivendicato dall'esercito russo.

Nel 1949 l'azienda entra a far parte del programma del "Popolo", "VEB-VolksEigenerBetrieb" e dal 1950 "VEB Fernmeldewerk, Berlin Treptow (RFT)." VolksEigenerBetrieb, significa che la fabbrica era di proprietà del popolo per il popolo.

Nel 1948 Erich, e Fritz Graetz fonda una nuova società a Altena, in Germania nota con il nome Graetz, come successione della azienda di famiglia persa a Berlino. La nuova società produce principalmente radio e TV.
Nel 1961 l'azienda viene poi venduta a standard Elektrik Lorenz (SEL) AG, e dal 1987 è di proprietà della società finlandese Nokia.

Nella naturale evoluzione del modello Sinfonia alla Graetz hanno iniziato ad usare altoparlanti a tromba.
Gli altoparlanti a tromba hanno il vantaggio di avere una membrana molto piccola e leggera. Questo si traduce in una capacità di raggiungere frequenze molto elevate con una ridottissima distorsione.
Come tutti gli strumenti musicali questo tipo di altoparlanti è composto da generatore del suono e da un risonatore. In un violino le corde vibrando emettono il suono, ma è la cassa armonica che lo amplifica e lo colora.
Negli altoparlanti a tromba la piccola e leggerissima membrana vibra e poi la tromba amplifica, e talvolta modifica, il suono.
La tromba ha lo svantaggio di essere fortemente direttiva. A pochi cm dal suo asse l'intensità del suono cambia notevolmente. Il sistema a tromba, pur essendo molto efficiente e con bassa distorsione non è adatto
Gli ingegneri Graetz hanno preferire una tubazione accordata invece della tromba per le caratteristiche di maggiore direzionalità.
La pressione dell'onda sonora via con il quadrato del rapporto tra diametro e lunghezza del tubo. Per questo motivo alla Graetz parlano di compressore sonoro.
Quindi dalla piccola emissione della membrana del cono si ottiene una grande radiazione sonora all'uscita dei tubi.
Inoltre poichè il rapporto tra lunghezza e diametro del tubo è molto grande si ottiene una propagazione simile alla propagazione su un condotto di lunghezza infinita. Le fessure di uscite sono poste a distanze diverse per ottenere questo effetto di assenza di risonanza. Lo schema equivalente è quello di un ciruito LC dove i fori si comportano come induttanze.
Il risultato di questa caratteristica, unita alla particolare forma e posizione delle fessure di uscita del suono è che la frequenza di risonanza è attorno ai 12 kHz e questo sistema viene fatto lavorare nella fascia che va dai 700 Hz ai 10 kHz, proprio dove si ha la massima sensibilità dell'orecchio umano, e dove si colloca la voce e la quasi totalità degli strumenti musicali.
Oltre ai vantaggi di assenza di distorsione e di efficienza la assenza di risonanze ha come risultato una notevole morbidezza di ascolto.
Da ultimo questo condotto produce un lieve ritardo, di pochi ms che inducendo un minimo riverbero naturale ottiene come effetto finale quella profondità scenica che rende questo apparecchio incredibilmente appagante all'ascolto, pur essendo monofonico.

Come già detto in precedenza Schallkompressor significa Surround sonoro con Compressore.

Faccio notare che questa azienda applicava questi concetti e queste soluzioni (surround, compressione del suono) alle apparecchiature commerciali, e siamo nel 1958.

Come ormai oggi sanno tutti le note basse per loro natura si diffondono in maniera omnidirezionale nell'ambiente, per cui è piuttosto difficile localizzare un subwoofer ad occhi chiusi.
Gli altoparlanti che diffondono le note acute invece sono estremamente direttivi per cui il loro posizionamento rispetto alla posizione d'ascolto è molto critica, per cui basta spostarsi un poco dalla posizione d'ascolto prevista per perdere parte del messaggio e del dettaglio della parte più alta dell'informazione sonora.

Questo problema è stato affrontato nell'evoluzione degli impianti Hi-Fi con i sistemi più diversi.
La Graetz lo risolse all'epoca in maniera estremamente efficace con il sistema 4R nei modelli Sinfonia precedenti e Schallkompressor nei modelli dalla 422 in poi.

A sinistra si trova il comando del volume (con loudness incorporato) ed assialmente a questo il comando di rotazione dell'antenna in ferrite.
Si vede l'indicatore della posizione dell'antenna.
L'occhio magico che indica la perfetta sintonizzazione di ciascuna stazione.
La scala AM per le Onde Lunghe, Medie, Corte e la scala FM.
Sotto da sinistra troviamo nell'ordine la manopola del controllo dei bassi, i tasti di accensione, giradischi, registratore, i tasti per sintonizzarsi sulle Onde Lunghe, Medie, Corte, FM, la manopola del controllo degli acuti.
Sotto ogni tasto è indicata la banda di frequenza interessata.
Vi è infine la manopola della sintonia, il cui movimento è molto piacevole essendo supportata da un grosso volano.
Sotto ancora troviamo le due grosse manopole del controllo dei bassi e degli alti.
Assialmente alla manopola di sintonia si trova un selettore per il controllo della selettività in AM.
I registri ed i tasti di esclusione sono stati visti precedentemente nei particolari.

uncategorised - cn

Westingho…

4th 1 月 20196th 6 月 2022
by giovanni

philips - cn

Philips U…

8th 11 月 20178th 11 月 2017
by giovanni

Philips products in Italy have always been a little ignored in the HI-FI world: they were linked to the other thousands of low technological content products, appliances, consumer products and so on that this producer has made through the years.

Giorgio Vasari – La mutilazione di Urano da parte di Crono, XVI secolo – Palazzo Vecchio, Firenze

Nothing more wrong and superficial.
Philips is a manufacturer with a huge know-how. One of the best tuners in the world comes from them, the AH673.
One of the most broadband speakers in the world the AD9710 comes from them.
Even the invention of the compact cassette and then of the Cds comes from them.
They made maybe the best CD mechanism in the world, the CDM1, the first DVD recorder, the technology of the devices produced from a certain date with the Grundig, Marantz, B&O and other marks.
So, who snubs Philips does it for lack of knowledge.

Presented the manufacturer, let's talk now about the machine.

In greek mithology, Uranus god of the sky, Gaia's husband, threw his children in the bowels of the earth as long as they born to avoid their supremacy. Gaia, horrified, made for her 12th son, the titan Cronus, the adamantine sickle. Cronus evirated Uranus and from his genitals thrown in the sea was born Aphrodite.
Probably in the choice of the name at the Philips headquarters refered to the magnitude of the divinity, but it's a fact that the Uranus Tonmeister B7D52AS is one of the best tube receivers ever made by this manufacturer.
Built to compete with Telefunken Opus, Nordmende 3004, Grundig Stereomeister, owes the second part of its name “Tonmeister – Master of Sound” surely to the care it has been studied with, in any detail.

The output stages are made of couples of pentodes in Push-Pull with Voltage Negative Feedback without frequency correction. In this way it is ensured the maximum linearity with the less compression effect possible, undesireable effect typical of the Negative Feedback circuits. Other manufacturers made other choices and this determines the different personality of these devices.
The Philips by this point of view distinguishes for its timbre neutrality.
The pre-amplifier stage is provided with many equalization possibilities but I prefere to listen excluding them: I don't feel the necessity with these loudspeakers there's no acoustic deformation to correct.

The radio-frequency stage is of a very high level and classical setting provided with excludable AFC. Interesting the typical little IF transformers, difficult to de-tare and insensitive to fashes.

Even in this case I matched for this try-out the Uranus with its cousin Marantz CD94 MKII, wonderful machine with CDM1 component and a pair of TDA1541A in antiphase, one of the best existing machines, and to a pair of Cabasse Dinghy 222, high efficiency speakers described later.

The stations stay perfectly stable thanks to the AFC, so the listening of the tuner is very relaxing. The listening from the CD or other sources is timbrically very balanced.
Listening from an Ipod is possible and comfortable.

Even in this case its an authentic vintage Hi-Fi System with no compromises, for those who know exactly what they are buying.

STEREO DECODER

The device is equipped with the rare Stereo Decoder, allowing you to listen to a multitude of FM Stereo broadcasts in stereo

DETAILS >

SEPARATE LOUDSPEAKERS

It is possible to connect any speaker, preferably with high efficiency.

DETAILS >

BLUETOOTH

Built-in Bluetooth receiver

DETAILS >

MULTI PLATFORM CONNNECTION

Each radio is equipped with a special cable that connects with any digital source.

- Separate loudspeakers - Using separate loudspeakers is an important option for stereo receivers. This allows you to couple the receiver to speakers best suited to particular space, design or acoustic performance requirements. The most suitable loudspeakers are analysed later, under loudspeakers.

- Stereo Decoder - The device has an integrated Stereo Decoder. This allows you to listen to stations that use this transmissions system in stereo. Many stereo receivers are not equipped with a Multiplexer so they work in stereo only when you select the record player’s /Recorder/Aux input . Such receivers, in listening to the radio, send the same signal to both channels, so listening is monaural. This is not the case with the Concertino 2380, which is totally beyond stereo.

- Built-in Bluetooth receiver - This unit can be equipped with a BLUETOOTH receiver powered directly from the device. That makes it possible to use the amplifier from any digital device, IPAD, Smartphone, or sophisticated multimedia station. You can listen to your wireless Web Stations or favorite music around the room. On request, we can also mount a Wireless Receiver.

- Multi Platform connections - Along with the device, we can also provides you an impedance adapter cable to connect any digital source, such as iphone, smartphone, computer, CD player, etc. This purpose-built cable adapts different impedances of modern digital equipment. Also the two stereo channels are collected into a single flow without increasing the load input unit.

In 1891, the brothers Gerard and Anton Philips, started to produce the first incandescent bulbs in Eindhoven.
Later, Philips specialized in the production of electro- medical equipment, and in 1918 introduced the first X-ray tube.
In the following years, Philips began specializing in the broadcasting industry. In 1932 the company succeeded in selling over one million radio equipment and became the world’s first producer.
During the Second World War, Philips transferred to the Netherlands Antilles, and returned to the Netherlands at the end of the conflict.
In the second post- war period, began the production of the first televisions, then the launch of the music cassettes in 1963 and the production of the first integrated circuit in 1965.
In 1982 Philips launched with Sony the first compact disc player.
In 1984 Philips acquired the control of the German Grundig.
In the 90's Philips faced a financial crisis.
In 1991 it inserted on the market the Video CD and it is one of the first companies in the world to develop high definition television.
In 1999 Philips established a joint venture with LG Electronics, named LG Display, which ends in 2009.
In 2006 together with Sony launched the first Blu-ray.
In 2009 Phillips launched the first full-HD LCD TV in 21:9 format.
Phillips holds 48,000 registered patents.
Currently, the production is focused on low- energy lighting products and LED systems and services for diagnostics and production of medical devices.

I used the Dinghy 221 and 222, prefering the last ones even if more expensive, because they keep almost every feature of the single-driver (the woofer is cut at 5000 Hz) with an extension, on the tops and on the lows that the 221 can only dream.

Because of the crossover the efficiency is lower than 2db but still remains very high, settling at 96db.

This feature allows the Telefunken to be used normally at a fraction of its real power, for the benefit of linearity.
The Dinghy sound very fast despite the appearence, the string instruments come out of the speakers with an effortlessness that makes them get close to the Open Baffle.

The loudspeakers are of very high quality, made on Cabasse detailed bill.
The cabinet is well finished and its dimensions are incredibly limited for the performance they offer.
The material published is taken from the very interesting trans-apline forum dedicated to this prestigious brand: vedi

分类： <span>uncategorised – cn</span>

Grundig 4055/56 enhanced

BLUETOOTH

MULTI PLATFORM CONNECTION

TUBESOUND IMPROVEMENT

HISTORY

MAIN FEATURES

MEASURED TECHNICAL FEATURES

IMPORTANT REMARK (to be read carefully at least the first time)

TONE CONTROL WITH LEVEL INDICATION

AERIALS

TUNING INDICATOR

FERN-DIRIGENT

CONTROL PANEL

REAR SIDE

THE USUAL AMAZING LAST IMAGE

Bang & Olufsen - High Fidelity Stereo Amplifier 608

BLUETOOTH

MULTI PLATFORM CONNECTION

TUBESOUND IMPROVEMENT

HISTORY

MAIN FEATURES

Controllo toni

LOUDNESS CONTROL

LOUDSPEAKERS

REAR SIDE

RESTORATION STEPS

THE USUAL AMAZING LAST IMAGE

Bang & Olufsen – Grand Prix Moderne Stereo 608

Bang & Olufsen - Grand Prix Moderne Stereo 608

BLUETOOTH

MULTI PLATFORM CONNECTION

TUBESOUND IMPROVEMENT

HISTORY

MAIN FEATURES

AERIALS

SEPARATE CONTROL TUNING BETWEEN AM AND FM

TUNING INDICATOR

LOUDSPEAKERS

CONTROL PANEL

REAR SIDE

RESTORATION STEPS

THE USUAL AMAZING LAST IMAGE

GRAETZ Sinfonia 522 (88 – 108 MHz)

GRAETZ SINFONIA 522

ESTENSIONE BANDA FM

BLUETOOTH

CONNESSIONE A DISPOSITIVI DIGITALI

ELABORAZIONI TUBESOUND

LA STORIA

CARATTERISTICHE PRINCIPALI

ALTOPARLANTI

CONTROLLO TONI CON INDICAZIONE DEL LIVELLO

ILLUMINAZIONE INDICATORE TONI

ABSCHALTUNG

KLANGREGISTER

ORIENTAMENTO ANTENNA

CONTROLLO SINTONIA SEPARATI TRA AM E FM

INDICATORE DI SINTONIA

COMANDI

LATO POSTERIORE

RESTORATION WORKS

LA CONSUETA BELLISSIMA NOTTURNA FINALE

PHILIPS URANUS TONMEISTER B7D52AS

PHILIPS URANUS TONMEISTER B7D52AS

STEREO DECODER

SEPARATE LOUDSPEAKERS

BLUETOOTH

MULTI PLATFORM CONNNECTION

TUBESOUND ENHANCEMENT

HISTORY

MAIN FEATURES

OUTPUT POWER STAGE

AERIALS

BANDBREITE SCHALTBAR

TONE CONTROLS

SEPARATE CONTROL TUNING BETWEEN AM AND FM

TUNING INDICATOR

AUTOMATIK BUTTON

CONTROL PANEL

IMPORTANT REMARK
(to be read carefully at least the first time)