Minimod versus Gram/P.U. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

BrianAllen · 19th Apr 2021, 8:36 pm

Good evening all, what are the benefits of using a minimod as opposed to the Gram/P.U, connection.

cathoderay57 · 19th Apr 2021, 8:41 pm

Hi Brian, My thoughts are:

1. No electrical connection to the radio which is safer if a live chassis is involved.
2. If several radios are close to the minimod then sound can be played through any of them without faffing about moving plugs around.
3. Not all radios have gram/p.u. sockets.
4. It's nice to use the complete radio circuit to receive a signal, as opposed to just using it as an audio amplifier.

Jerry

paulsherwin · 19th Apr 2021, 8:42 pm

Originality / authenticity - you are using the entire radio with a microtransmitter. If you plug a signal source into the gram sockets you are just using the radio as an amplifier.

It must be said that using the gram sockets will normally sound better though.

BrianAllen · 19th Apr 2021, 8:44 pm

Thanks Jerry, no 4 explains exactly what I was wondering about; spot on.

Thank you.

Brian

BrianAllen · 19th Apr 2021, 8:46 pm

Well that was a nice simple response; exactly what I was hoping it would be, thank you gents.

Brian

19th Apr 2021, 8:36 pm	#1
BrianAllen Heptode Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 595	Minimod versus Gram/P.U. Good evening all, what are the benefits of using a minimod as opposed to the Gram/P.U, connection.

19th Apr 2021, 8:41 pm	#2
cathoderay57 Nonode Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 2,384	Re: Minimod versus Gram/P.U. Hi Brian, My thoughts are: 1. No electrical connection to the radio which is safer if a live chassis is involved. 2. If several radios are close to the minimod then sound can be played through any of them without faffing about moving plugs around. 3. Not all radios have gram/p.u. sockets. 4. It's nice to use the complete radio circuit to receive a signal, as opposed to just using it as an audio amplifier. Jerry

19th Apr 2021, 8:42 pm	#3
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,947	Re: Minimod versus Gram/P.U. Originality / authenticity - you are using the entire radio with a microtransmitter. If you plug a signal source into the gram sockets you are just using the radio as an amplifier. It must be said that using the gram sockets will normally sound better though.

19th Apr 2021, 8:44 pm	#4
BrianAllen Heptode Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 595	Re: Minimod versus Gram/P.U. Thanks Jerry, no 4 explains exactly what I was wondering about; spot on. Thank you. Brian

19th Apr 2021, 8:46 pm	#5
BrianAllen Heptode Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 595	Re: Minimod versus Gram/P.U. Well that was a nice simple response; exactly what I was hoping it would be, thank you gents. Brian