I've gone vintage - no turning back

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic. Read 6980 times.

HAITIMAN

I've gone vintage - no turning back
« on: 15 Oct 2014, 01:12 pm »
I finally put her back together after an extensive restoration. The radio was recapped by an experienced tech, and the cabinet was stripped, sanded, and refinished. (not an easy job with the thin veneer). I have attached an Edcor S2M stereo to mono coupler to the back of the cabinet in order to connect stereo sources ie. Squeezebox, iPad, etc.. She is monaural. The electrostatic tweeters are functioning, and the sound is rich and detailed. (single EL84 power tube)
Listening sessions go on for hours.......I haven't fired up my Salks for days. All of this for less than the price of a new DSD DAC.
GRUNDIG MAJESTIC 8090 WF/3D (1956)














ArthurDent

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 15326
  • Don't Panic / Mostly Harmless
Re: I've gone vintage - no turning back
« Reply #1 on: 15 Oct 2014, 01:25 pm »
Nice Haitiman. Looks to be a turntable in the right side cupboard ? Spun any vinyl yet ?  :thumb:

thunderbrick

  • Volunteer
  • Posts: 5449
  • I'm just not right!
Re: I've gone vintage - no turning back
« Reply #2 on: 15 Oct 2014, 01:34 pm »
WOW!  Beautiful!

The irony is that we are ALL going vintage, and there's no turning back.......  :wave:

JohnR

Re: I've gone vintage - no turning back
« Reply #3 on: 15 Oct 2014, 01:52 pm »
Nice!!! Love it  :thumb:

RDavidson

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 2863
Re: I've gone vintage - no turning back
« Reply #4 on: 15 Oct 2014, 02:04 pm »
WOW!  Beautiful!

The irony is that we are ALL going vintage, and there's no turning back.......  :wave:

Actually, I think you guys mean, there's no going forward.:thumb:
Awesome console, BTW. Beautiful.

Guy 13

Re: I've gone vintage - no turning back
« Reply #5 on: 15 Oct 2014, 02:53 pm »
Hi Haitiman.
Really, really a nice piece of furniture with a superb radio console.
I would be really proud to display such a beauty in my living room.
Nice work, congratulation.
It's a German piece, what about the operating voltage?
120 or 220V.?
With a nice unit like that who cares if it's only mono.
For a mono unit, that look like there are lots of drivers,
is it a three way crossover?
Look like: woofer (Oval), midrange, tweeter and super tweeters.

Guy 13
 

HAITIMAN

Re: I've gone vintage - no turning back
« Reply #6 on: 15 Oct 2014, 03:42 pm »
Hi Haitiman.
Really, really a nice piece of furniture with a superb radio console.
I would be really proud to display such a beauty in my living room.
Nice work, congratulation.
It's a German piece, what about the operating voltage?
120 or 220V.?
With a nice unit like that who cares if it's only mono.
For a mono unit, that look like there are lots of drivers,
is it a three way crossover?
Look like: woofer (Oval), midrange, tweeter and super tweeters.

Guy 13
It's an export model, therefore 120V. The woofer fires downward and is centered in the middle-bottom of the cabinet. All other drivers are located behind the brass grill which extends around the top/sides. The two smaller midrangers are side-firing.......which is why they called these models "3D". Supposedly, this configuration gave some "ambiance". With the Squeezebox connected and playing a 24/96 vinyl rip, (Metheny - 80/81, Turnaround),.....the sound is astonishing. Internet radio.....amazing. It is a high-quality tone.
The whole thing began as a $50.00 Craigslist find.

Thanks to all for your compliments!

240sx4u

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 3
Re: I've gone vintage - no turning back
« Reply #7 on: 27 Feb 2015, 09:38 pm »
So, I bought one of these very similar to yours today. I have a question for you, how do you get the "reciever" part out? sounds like a dumb question but mine isnt working right.

Bob2

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 1835
  • De gustibus non est disputandum
Re: I've gone vintage - no turning back
« Reply #8 on: 28 Feb 2015, 12:38 am »
Very Nice!
Ya got me thinkin!

WireNut

Re: I've gone vintage - no turning back
« Reply #9 on: 28 Feb 2015, 12:46 am »
 :thumb:

Tyson

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 11090
  • Audio - It's all a big fake.
Re: I've gone vintage - no turning back
« Reply #10 on: 28 Feb 2015, 01:21 am »
That's the thing about those old consoles, and vintage gear in general - they were built to sound pleasant and be enjoyable to listen to, above all else.  In our modern obsession with "accuracy" we've lost our way.

SteveFord

  • Facilitator
  • Posts: 6384
  • The poodle bites, the poodle chews it.
Re: I've gone vintage - no turning back
« Reply #11 on: 28 Feb 2015, 01:29 am »
That is true.  You can listen to one of those consoles all day without it driving you insane. 

neekomax

Re: I've gone vintage - no turning back
« Reply #12 on: 28 Feb 2015, 01:29 am »
Cool, man. I picked up a 1963 Zenith console last year for $65, had it 'half' restored sonically (tubes and stuff), but I'd love to get it to sound really good somehow.






That's the thing about those old consoles, and vintage gear in general - they were built to sound pleasant and be enjoyable to listen to, above all else.  In our modern obsession with "accuracy" we've lost our way.

Not sure about that one. Pursuant to your signature line, accuracy might be the least fake thing about audio. It is, after all, about high fidelity, right?

S Clark

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 7356
  • a riot is the language of the unheard- Dr. King
Re: I've gone vintage - no turning back
« Reply #13 on: 28 Feb 2015, 01:34 am »
So many of those rigs used EL84/6QB5 based amps.  Those little guys make fantastic low power amps with great mids and capable of excellent stereo separation and imaging.

opnly bafld

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 2412
  • 83 Klipsch LSIs
Re: I've gone vintage - no turning back
« Reply #14 on: 3 Mar 2015, 10:33 pm »
So, I bought one of these very similar to yours today. I have a question for you, how do you get the "receiver" part out? sounds like a dumb question but mine isnt working right.

rocker9999

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 106
Re: I've gone vintage - no turning back
« Reply #15 on: 3 Mar 2015, 10:45 pm »
That is just freakin' astonishing!

240sx4u

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 3
Re: I've gone vintage - no turning back
« Reply #16 on: 4 Mar 2015, 02:04 am »


I did get it out of there! Thanks buddy!

opnly bafld

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 2412
  • 83 Klipsch LSIs
Re: I've gone vintage - no turning back
« Reply #17 on: 4 Mar 2015, 02:26 am »
I did get it out of there! Thanks buddy!

Hope you didn't use the James method.  :green: