Grundig music 800 (1958–1959)
The Grundig music 800 is a floor-standing tube music console, a "Musikschrank", built from 1958 to 1959 as part of Grundig's Klang-, Musik- und Studio series. It was a top-of-the-line living-room unit. Radio, phono and tape playback all sat in one cabinet under Grundig's "HiFi-Phono-Multimaster" configuration. It sold for 1,848 DM in Germany at launch.
The amplifier is a push-pull EL84 output stage delivering 2 × 10 W, with an EZ81 rectifier and an EM80 magic-eye tuning indicator. The three-way speaker system uses a woofer covering 40-4,500 Hz, plus separate treble and "Klang" drivers handling 8-12,000 Hz. The radio section covers FM (87.5-100 MHz), MW, LW, and two shortwave bands. FM sensitivity is rated at 5 µV (limit 1.8 µV), and the IF is 10.7 MHz. There is a magnetic phono input and there are DIN tape sockets. The cabinet measures 112 × 66 × 38 cm and weighs a substantial 44 kg.
The set runs on 110-127 V or 220-240 V mains and draws about 100 W. Contemporary coverage of this model is thin. It shows up in period dealer advertising rather than in technical reviews. Studio Sound (July 1961, p.6) listed Grundig among the brands carried by a high-quality tape recorder specialist, which confirms the marque's standing in the audio trade of the time. No detailed test of the music 800 itself has surfaced in the archive.
The record on this model is otherwise modest. Basic specs are corroborated across two or three sources. Nothing is documented about the internal record changer or tape transport, and no owner reviews or repair discussions are known.
- Power output: 2 × 10 W push-pull (EL84)
- Speakers: 3-way — woofer 40–4,500 Hz; treble/Klang 8–12,000 Hz
- Radio: FM, MW, LW, SW1, SW2; FM sensitivity 5 µV
- Tubes: EL84, ECC83, EZ81, EM80 magic eye
- Dimensions: 112 × 66 × 38 cm; 44 kg
- Original price: 1,848 DM (1959)
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