Hello Massimo!
First of all i would like to thank you for the bringing the world the information about the Grundig HiFi. I have discovered this site by accident while looking for cheap vintage gear that could be used as studio monitors. Once i bought my first Grundig pair it changed my view on music and audio. Since that day I’ve collected pretty much everything from micro box 320 up to 2500a, including Aktiv 20 and 30 (I only don’t have sl1000 and box300). Currently im using vintage Ikea Kompass stand with great result. Did you try it? I also have v7000, v20, v30, v4080, v1700, R20, R25, RPC500, TS1000 etc…
Although you’ve recommended v35 and v7200 i found the first one quite aggressive and harsh and the other one dull for listening and have sold them quickly. I also find that V7000 is although almost identical in upper midrange and highs to large Receivers, but it is inferior overall due to the worse definition in lows. My favorite pairings are:
R20-box400 (silky, detailed, tube like sound)
V20-box650a (“in your face” details; gives you impression artist is preforming in your room)
v4080 -box850a (laid back, relaxed, huge depth of soundstage and space)
I would like to ask you a few questions.. I have a lot of defective units to be repaired. Since I live in Croatia and im not able to send my devices for CCI check or repair in Italy..
1) I would like to know is there any brand of capacitor that i could use for repairs? Would Elna Slimic work? I know it wont be good as original, but is it a decent alternative?
2) Is the best way for preserving CCI after repair to screw everything tightly?
3) What is optimal height for 850a, and does it need to be tilted back? I’ve tried the 46cm stand, and 18cm (Ikea Kompass) but i have feeling that i cant bring the maximum out of it. It makes huge sound stage when positioned low, but kind of lacks the detail and sparkle the box 400 or 650a has . Everything seems to be little bit further back and distant.
4) Other question i have is: how to sign in to your forum. I have tried it many times but without success? There are a lot of information there that are locked for forum members only.. I would really like to learn few more things to further improve the sound.
Keep on the good work!
Best Regards.
Frane, Croatia
Dear Frane
Sorry for the late reply, your message ended up in spam and only now I did notice it.
1) I would like to know is there any brand of capacitor that i could use for repairs? Would Elna Slimic work? I know it wont be good as original, but is it a decent alternative?
You can use the same type of capacitor for change the original: don’t change tantalium with poliester or with electrolityc. Many brand are good…
2) Is the best way for preserving CCI after repair to screw everything tightly?
Yes, but not only, read my website with attention, many advice are inside.
3) What is optimal height for 850a, and does it need to be tilted back? I’ve tried the 46cm stand, and 18cm (Ikea Kompass) but i have feeling that i cant bring the maximum out of it. It makes huge sound stage when positioned low, but kind of lacks the detail and sparkle the box 400 or 650a has . Everything seems to be little bit further back and distant.
I don’t know Ikea Kompass however the height of box is dependent to others distances of method. If you have 850a very near to rear wall, I advice 45cm stand. Its very very important to understand the distance method to place speakers: https://hifiaudio.altervista.org/metodo-di-installazione-diffusori/
4) Other question i have is: how to sign in to your forum. I have tried it many times but without success? There are a lot of information there that are locked for forum members only.. I would really like to learn few more things to further improve the sound.
Please try now…there is a new method of iscription for spam limitation. If you have difficult tell me.
Best regards
Massimo