Flag Lowering on Grundig G4000A
The Grundig G4000A (Passport 2008, pp. 83-84) has been discontinued by Etón and is slowly fading from the retail scene. For example, both Amazon and Universal Radio show it as no longer being available either new or refurbished.
Nevertheless, Googling—or, better, using Ask.com, which unlike Google does not store your search history for more than three months—reveals that the G4000A is,
for now, still widely available for as little as $90.
The G4000A’s replacement is the $150 Etón E5. —David Zantow
January 26th, 2008 at 2:41 PM
I am sorry to see an old trooper like the YB400 A.K.A. the G4000A go, I have owned three of them in my life time and each of them brought me many hours of listening joy. Good bye old friend you will be missed.
January 26th, 2008 at 3:32 PM
The Etón E5/Grundig G5 is superior to the G4000A in most ways (speaker quality excepted), and its price is comparable to what the G4000A/YB400 used to cost. For example, tuning around the bands with an E5 and its dial is so much easier and more enjoyable than living through the button pushing and “chuffing” that goes with the G4000A. And the nod for reception—though comparable—must also go to the E5. Given that both products are under the same corporate roof, I suppose this move makes sense and was just a matter of time.
All that being said, I am glad that I purchased a couple of these units last Fall—when I could see the writing on the wall. Certain aspects of the G4000A/YB400 are quite charming and at least I will have it around for a while to enjoy them.
January 29th, 2008 at 1:29 AM
Good little radio. I got mine a couple of years ago for free because it came with the E1XM I bought from Universal Radio. Compares favorably with my Sony 7600 and I think it has better front end resistance to MW overload when hooked up to my Wellbrook ALA1530. The only thing that is weird is the volume knob operates in a direction that is the opposite of other manufactures and messes with my muscle memory. The SSB mode is not as good as the Sony 7600 as it has no provision for selecting LSB/USB and for the life of me I can’t figure how they made work that way. In the end though I bring it along with the 7600 and the E1 because it does have it’s good points. Definitely like the radio.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:48 AM
Shame to see another veteran retire. I bought the YB 400 version back in the mid 1990’s after reading excellent reviews in Passport to World Band Radio that year. It was quite unusual at the time to have a Grundig model made in China, as they were still manufacturing the Satellit range in Portugal. I suppose this was the start of what we know now as the Etón range of sets.
I still have the YB 400 and always enjoy its rich tones on the FM band, compared to the Sony ICF-SW7600G, which I use more for shortwave, as it has the synch detector. As my set is around 12 years old and has had a good amount of use (not to mention 2 house moves!) must say the build quality is above average…even if it does eat batteries!!
August 28th, 2008 at 9:44 AM
I really like this radio very much, it is simple and nice! Ergonomics is good. Etón should keep the design but change the internal circuits with better nowadays technology, better sensitivity, good dynamics, lower noise level, better SSB reception and tuning (retain the ATS function). And most of all uses 4 nos of AA batteries with recharging function…
I prefer this radio compared with my Tecsun PL230, Sony ICF-SW7600G and Tecsun BCL-2000. This radio is a keeper until Etón comes out with another YB400 that is even better.
I like the silver finish, it look stylish!