Grundig KS690 Help and Support

Hello Phonoland!

I have been searching the internet for information (Not a value ) on this system I just picked up. It is heavy!

The unit appears to be in excellent condition and it turns on and plays. I have been slowly trying to work on each little issue
that I'm technically able, but have reached a stumbling block.

I would also like to say I run a forum for vintage drums and usually help people with fixing and restoring drums, which technically speaking
pale in comparison to something like this.

The main issue:

The entire right side of speakers does not work. I checked all of the wiring and everything is connected and soldered well. All of the tubes appear to be glowing and getting hot. I will and can include photos, to at least start this post and see if anyone has any first hand knowledge of a unit like this.

The other issue is the turntable. I need to get a new stylus and not sure where to turn for that.

I will update the post with fresh photos of the back of the unit, the stylus and more details.

I'm not sure if this link will work, but I put the photos on a slide show http://www.go2album.com/album/l/u/c/k/y/luckypennyshop/4c8c3ecc1fe/bmV3IGZvbGRlcg%3D%3D.swf?fs_path=http://www.go2album.com/album/l/u/c/k/y/luckypennyshop/4c8c3ecc1fe

Thanks in advance and I will take some photos of the parts and interior.

David
VintageDrummer

I just added the photos for the back of the unit.

There are two large center speakers and 3 speakers on each side.

All 8 speakers connect to the same point.

This is the right set of speakers looking from the front of the unit.

http://www.go2album.com/album/l/u/c/k/y ... c8c45db0e0

Here is the stylus that is currently on the unit. When I search online for the same version, I find nothing. If I swap this out with another stylus which should I get and does it matter which wires connect to where on the new stylus?

http://www.go2album.com/album/l/u/c/k/y ... c8c463c11f

Also, I play all types of records.

Thanks again and I will await any discussions.

David

Any reasonably priced magnetic cartridge should work in that Dual branded turntable.

As for one channel not working, it could be any number of issues due to aging.

Unless you're well-versed in tube amplification, (and its high voltage dangers) I'd suggest contacting a reliable and experienced service person.

Just because tubes "get hot" and "light up" doesn't mean snot, because non-visible under-chassis components start to fail over time.

Continuing to use vintage equipment in that condition is asking for more trouble.
A transformer could be stressed out from failing components and overheat/fail.
Then, you've got a huge added expense on top of the original problem.

Save yourself the additional money....Get it worked on, THEN enjoy it.

Ok thanks, does reliable and experienced also mean expensive?,

I prefer not messing with it, so I have not touched it since the post I made.

Thanks for the help.

David

David, and all,
Expensive ? IMHO it's all relative--I sat in my Dentists chair the other day for about 3 hours, and $8000.00 (US). So I think any one like me who depends on his knowledge and skill, in this, or any field, to earn a living, should be paid at least what the going rate for an auto parts changer (currently over $109.00/hour in this area). ----Ron Rich

VintageDrummer wrote:Ok thanks, does reliable and experienced also mean expensive?,

I prefer not messing with it, so I have not touched it since the post I made.

Thanks for the help.

David

As Ron stated, it's all relative.

Consider this...
Continuing to use the set "as is".... and say, a power or output transformer burns up due to weak/failing parts.
Perhaps taking out a few tubes in the process, more costs.
You now have a couple of expensive components to replace in addition to what was going bad.
I suggest to everyone to get proper work done before these things possibly happen, to insure overall costs don't mount up and skyrocket.
I've seen too many "horror stories" due to negligence and putting off things, and the customer then whines about having to spend lots of money, or gets frustrated and junks the set.

Additionally, German sets are way more complex to service than American sets, and I as a servicer, do charge substantially more to do repairs on these types.

Some replacement parts are just expensive, mainly due to them being hard-to-find, or few.
Just servicing a record changer... rebuilt/replacement drive tires are $25-45 each... cartridges are $15-50 and more.
A teardown and re-lubrication is usually needed as well.... this is labor-intensive.

If you want to play the vintage game, you have to realize the investments involved.

I stongly recommend professional service over blind tinkering with things and making it worse.
In the end, it's worth it to have peace of mind knowing the set will perform properly, safely, and last a long time.

I guess I was asking on different level and did not ask the question correctly. I know you get what you pay for in business and it is relative to the services and the experience of the craftsman you are hiring.

There are also people in the business I gather that are professional and reliable that do not do the process for a living and such do not require overhead and expensive to keep such a business going?

In regards to this Grundig is there a place where the repairmen/restorers/hobbyists hang out. Is there such a community that exists for this hobby/profession? I have not opened the phone book yet to see if there is even a person that does this kind of work.

Is there a realiable source that lists people that can repair this? I can search google and find one place in my area, but there must be a "Hang Out" for this profession or is it a lost art/profession?

I'm guessing there are a handful of people in the country that can even do this for a living.

Any ideas, avenues or roads to travel on my quest on that level would be much appreciated.

David

VintageDrummer wrote:I guess I was asking on different level and did not ask the question correctly. I know you get what you pay for in business and it is relative to the services and the experience of the craftsman you are hiring.

There are also people in the business I gather that are professional and reliable that do not do the process for a living and such do not require overhead and expensive to keep such a business going?

In regards to this Grundig is there a place where the repairmen/restorers/hobbyists hang out. Is there such a community that exists for this hobby/profession? I have not opened the phone book yet to see if there is even a person that does this kind of work.

Is there a realiable source that lists people that can repair this? I can search google and find one place in my area, but there must be a "Hang Out" for this profession or is it a lost art/profession?

I'm guessing there are a handful of people in the country that can even do this for a living.

Any ideas, avenues or roads to travel on my quest on that level would be much appreciated.

David

I, for one, am qualified and highly experienced in restoring vintage equipment over here on the east coast.
Our repair shop mainly does modern repairs such as plasma tvs, but I've diversified and added vintage restorations quite a few years back, seeing that there's a need for this service.

From what I gather, there's certainly not many of us guys around, because I get customers as far away as Virginia, Maryland, and NY, asking for my services.

But all in all, it's nice to know this sort of thing is in demand, and that there's people out there who appreciate vintage stuff enough to get it serviced for their own enjoyment and nostalgia.

What bugs me is, the internet is full of tinkerers/diy's out there, giving weak advice to others, and creating more of a mess to these things in the process.
They're certainly not capable technicians, obviously not having a hint of technical background or theory in them.
You can't skip the theory and dive into something, messing it up, then poking around internet blogs for info from other stooges.. sorry, it just doesn't work that way.

All my years of schooling in this trade have given me the right to wear a professional badge and give my customers the best quality of service they deserve.

We are out there... you just have to find us.

Hi everybody,
I am a newbie. I just bought a KS 690 and it was delivered with the cords in the back unplugged. I have tried to figure it out on my own as well as with the pictures you posted. If I would not be too much trouble, could anyone who has one of these take a couple of more picts and fire them off to me? Is there a schematic available somewhere on this site?
I would love to get this baby up and playing!
Many Thanks
Bob
RAKilroy@aol.com
/Users/drbob/Desktop/photo 1.JPG
/Users/drbob/Desktop/photo 2.JPG

Before buying a magnetic cartridge for that grundig check the GOOD channell and i think you will find that that is a ceramaic cartridge in that Dual. during the tube era all the Grundigd I've seen used ceramaic cartridges. Try radiomuseum for a print for it if needed