German Radios

German Radios: Stereo FM sets, 1960 and up
Index of the models in this section
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Saba Freudestadt 100
Saba Freudestadt 125
Saba Meersburg 125
Telefunken Hymnus Stereo 5014WK
Braun TS31
Graetz Fantasia 1022
Loewe Luna-Stereo 6761W
Saba Meersburg 11
Blaupunkt Florida 42250
Metz Belform 120
Nordmende Rigoletto 3/614
Telefunken Opus 2430
Graetz Fantasia 1318
Graetz Musica 1316L
Nordmende 3004 5/634 Teak, Stereo
Grundig 2000 ph (3 tube)
Philips Saturn 641
Telefunken Opus 2430 & 2650
1959
1960
1960
1960 *Service in progress!
1961
1961
1961
1961
1962
1962
1962
1963
1964
1964
1964
1965
1965
1963/1965
Saba Freudenstadt 100, 1959 - 1960
This radio is a good example of average quality production from Saba, with its push-pull
audio amplifier and four speakers, two large elliptic ones asymmetrically disposed on the
front and two round tweeters on each side. The radio has three AM and one FM bands, with
double index driven by a single tuning knob through a double clutch mechanism actuated by
the band change keys. Treble and bass tone controls, plus tone register key. The AM ferrite
rod can be oriented from the panel. A remarkable feature, also found in other Saba radio sets,
is the alternate action power switch key: the radio can be switched off leaving unchanged the
latest selection, so to start again from it at the power on.
Eight tubes plus the selenium bridge rectifier: EC92, EC92, ECH81, EBF89, ECC83, EL95,
EL95, EM84, B250C100.
Key features:
 Push-pull audio amplifier
 Four speakers
 Top sound, full of deep bass notes!
A note about the confusion existing at the time in Europe on stereo equipment. No doubt from
the schematic diagram that this radio is monophonic at all, but there are ‘Stereo’ and ‘Mono’
pick-up keys, just beside the On/Off key, and mono/stereo indicator lights, as shown in the
picture below. The same pick-up DIN connector has both right and left channel pins, 1 and 3,
wired togeter The ‘Stereo PU’ key just opens the connection from audio output transformer
to speakers; when the stereo key is depressed, the radio can then be used as speaker box for
another true stereophonic amplifier.
Keep them alive!
Saba Freudenstadt Stereo 125, 1960 - 1961
This radio looks very similar to the model Freudenstadt 100. Indeed it differs for the stereo
audio amplifier: depressing the ‘Stereo pick-up’ key, the two EL95s operate as independent
class A amplifiers, each driving a couple of speakers; when the ‘Mono pick-up’ is actuated or
the tuner is selected, the two power amplifiers are driven with opposite polarity, operating in
a push-pull-like mode. Four speakers, two large elliptic ones asymmetrically disposed on the
front and two round tweeters on each side. The radio has three AM and one FM bands, with
double index driven by a single tuning knob through a double clutch mechanism actuated by
the band change keys. Treble and bass tone controls, plus tone register key. The AM ferrite
rod can be oriented from the panel. A remarkable feature, also found in other Saba radio sets,
is the alternate action power switch key: the radio can be switched off leaving unchanged the
latest selection, so to start again from it at the power on.
Eight tubes plus the selenium bridge rectifier: EC92, EC92, ECH81, EBF89, ECC83, EL95,
EL95, EM84, B250C100.
Key features:
 Push-pull mono or single ended stereo audio amplifier
 Four speakers
 Top sound, full of deep bass notes!
Keep them alive!
Saba Meersburg Automatic 125 Stereo, 1960 – 1961
A huge radio from the early sixties Saba production. Four bands, LW, MW, SW and FM. The
design and the manufacture were at the top levels. Automatic, motor driven tuning. Stereo
capabilities from record sources; the dual audio amplifier was switched into a push-pull like
configuration when mono operation was required; four speakers.
Nine tubes, EC92, EC92, ECH81, EF85, EABC80, ECL86, ECL86, ECL80, EABC80, EM84,
plus B250C125 and E25C2 selenium rectifiers.
Key features:
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Automatic, motor tuning. Antibacklash fiber reduction gears
Lighted keys
Stereo amplifier, four speakers
Top sound, full of loud and deep basses!
Keep them alive!
Braun TS 31 Stereo, 1961
This is a high performance radio, remarkable for its design, very modern for its age, 1961.
Despite its look, it uses very traditional techniques, including a metallic chassis and glass
tuning dial.
The radio has three AM and one FM bands, with two separate tuning indexes driven by a
single tuning knob through clutches actuated by the band selection keys. Treble and bass
controls plus key register for voice. Built-in antennas, with the AM ferrite rod which can be
oriented by a knob on the panel. Stereo audio amplifier with three speakers: two large
elliptical speakers, one on each channel, plus one smaller elliptical tweeter on the left channel.
DIN connectors for two external record players, for tape recorder and for external speakers.
The chassis, model RC 82 C, has nine tubes plus two germanium diodes and the selenium
bridge rectifier. Tubes are ECC85, ECH81, EF89, EBF89, ECC83, ECC83, EL84, EL84,
EM84, plus B250C150.
The radio gives a loud sound, crystal clear and full of deep basses. Very good its AM
sensitivity because of the double stage IF amplifier.
Key features:
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Two tuning dials, single knob
Two IF amplifiers
Stereo audio amplifier, three speakers
Top sound
Keep them alive!
Graetz Fantasia 1022 Luxus Stereosuper, 1961
This top radio was built around 1961. Its name, Luxus Stereosuper, is fully justified looking at
its huge cabinet, full of warm colors and of gold. The tuner has four bands, three AM and one
FM, with indexes driven by the tuning knob and selected by the band switch keys. Two IF
amplifiers for high sensitivity, to receive the weakest signals. A switch, driven by the largest
knob on the right, selects the AM bandwidth.
The stereo audio section has been designed to simply give the best. It uses seven tubes plus the
triode section of the EABC80, as noise silencer. Each channel uses three triode section (one
half ECC83 per section) and two EL95 connected in push-pull. There are four dynamic
speakers, two large elliptic on the front and two round tweeters on the sides. There are treble
and bass tone controls, plus three register keys, orchestra, solo, voice, and three function keys,
space sound, full stereo and magic eye power off. On the left there are three coaxial knobs: the
central one controls the volume of both channels, in the middle there is the balance control,
while the rear knob rotates the ferrite AM antenna.
The radio uses thirteen electron tubes, plus the selenium bridge rectifier: ECC85, ECH81,
EF89, EF89, EABC80, ECC83, ECC83, ECC83, EL95, EL95, EL95, EL95, EM84, B250C125.
Key features:
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Top class stereo
Four bands, two tuning indexes, driven by a single knob
Two IF amplifier stages; variable AM bandwidth
Stereo amplifier: about 7 Watts per channel; four speakers
DIN connectors for turntable, tape recorder and for external speakers
Thirteen tubes plus the bridge rectifier
Keep them alive!
Loewe Opta Luna Stereo 6761W, 1961
This is a nice radio from Loewe. The radio has stereophonic audio amplifier. Three AM and
one FM bands, with two tuning indexes driven by a single knob through clutches selected by
the band-switch keys. Treble and bass controls plus key registers. Two elliptic speakers. Clear
and loud sound, full of deep bass notes.
Six tubes plus the bridge rectifier: ECC85, ECH81, EBF89, ECL86, ECL86, EM84.
Keep them alive!
Saba Meersburg Automatic 11 Stereo, 1961 – 1962
This huge top radio well represents the golden age of equipment using only electron tubes.
Inside the modern looking wooden cabinet it collects the most refined solutions available in
the early sixties. As usual, the radio covers three AM (LW, MW and KW) and one FM bands.
All was designed and built to simply give the best, with no compromise. Some of the
remarkable features include: automatic, motor driven tuning; stereo audio amplifier,
switched into a push-pull like configuration when mono operation was required; four
speakers. The class of the equipment can be well understand just considering the impressive
figure of 13 lamps and indicator lights inside the front panel!
Nine tubes, EC92, EC92, ECH81, EF85, EABC80, ECL86, ECL86, ECL80, EABC80, EM84,
plus B250C125 and E25C2 selenium rectifiers.
Key features:
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Automatic, motor tuning. Antibacklash fiber reduction gears
Lighted keys
Stereo amplifier, four speakers
Top sound, full of loud and deep basses!
Keep them alive!
Console Blaupunkt Florida 42 250 stereo, 1962
For its deep basses and for its clear high notes this radio is one of the best: its sound is loud
and crystal clear. Radio has four bands, FM ranges up to 104MHz. Two tuning dials, for AM
and for FM, with coaxial knobs. Band spread available over SW. Four speakers in two
acoustic chambers in the lower section. DIN connectors for external tape recorder, for echo
chamber and for additional speakers. On the left there is the Perpetuum Ebner model 66
record changer equipped with the 186 stereo cartridge. Seven tubes plus the selenium bridge
rectifier: ECC85, ECH81, EF89, EABC80, EL84, ECL86, EM87, B250C100.
Key features:
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FM ranges up to 104 MHz
Two tuning dials; band spread over SW
Stereo audio section
Four speakers: crystal clear sound full of deep and loud basses
Keep them alive!
Metz Belform 120, 1962
This is a fair example of the late generations of tube radios, built around the early sixties.
Three bands, medium and short waves, plus FM. Quite unusual for a German radio, the FM
band tunes up to 108 MHz. Two tuning dials, with common tuning knob through shift gears
driven by the bandswitch keys. The audio section is stereo. Treble and bass controls. The
cabinet, modern in its design, is very compact, with the two speakers in the sides. The chassis,
model 215R, hosts a wide PCB panel, holding most of the IF and of the audio frequency
components. Tubes: ECC85, ECH81, EF85, ECC83, ELL80, EM84, plus germanium diodes
and the selenium bridge rectifier, AEG B250C150.
Key features:
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FM ranges up to 108 MHz
Stereo audio stages, two speakers
Compact size
Big sound!
Keep them alive!
Telefunken Opus Steuergerät Hi-Fi 2430, 1963,
Opus Studio 2650, 1965
These are top performance radio sets from the mid sixties, well representing the excellence reached
by tube equipment before the solid state age. Their style, the walnut cabinet with straight lines and
flip over front cover, recalled the look of hi-fi equipment from U.S. manufacturers. And, just like
any American built hi-fi, the steuergerät radios required external speaker boxes. Inside the cabinet
there are two major subassemblies: the tuner, including IF stages, stereo decoder and audio preamp,
and the power module, which includes the two push-pull audio amplifiers and the power supply.
Both have three AM bands, LW, MW, SW, and the FM ranging up to 104 MHz. Two tuning dials
with coaxial drive knobs on the right: the FM tuning knob also acts as band spread (Lupe) in short
wave reception. Radios came already equipped with the stereo decoder. There are two DIN input
connectors, for turntable and for tape recorder.
The semiconductor era contamination is visible in these models: Telefunken made extensive use of
printed circuit boards and advanced assembly techniques. To save space many components were
grouped into some hot welded and partially molded single-in-line subassemblies. A piggyback
board hosted the FM stereo decoder. Another subassembly contained the output stage feedback
network. Unfortunately the solder side of the boards is not easily accessible and it is hard to trace
any signal and to replace faulty components.
Opus 2430, in the upper pictures, was built around 1963. It still uses vacuum tubes in the audio
power amplifiers, even if semiconductors are making their entrance in several circuits. The radio
uses 13 tubes, 1 transistor, 8 germanium diodes, 1 silicon varactor and 2 selenium rectifiers:
ECC85, ECH81, EF89, EAF801, ECF80, ECC808, ECC83, ECC83, EL95, EL95, EL95, EL95,
EM84, AC117, E15C125EP, BA110, 2 x AA113, 6 x OA161, B250C250.
Opus Studio 2650, below, was made just a couple of years later and looks almost identical to the
2430. Nevertheless, the audio amplifier section is all solid-state. The result is a curious hybrid, with
a lot of HV and LV supply voltages, AC filament voltages too. In this hybrid you can find vacuum
tubes controlled by semiconductors, as the varactor diode in the AFC circuit, which controls the
oscillator section of the ECC85, as well as semiconductors driven by vacuum tubes, as the same
varactor diode whose bias voltage is stabilized by a neon tube. A total of 7 tubes, 11 diodes, 19
transistors and 4 selenium and silicon rectifiers are used through the radio. Tubes are ECC85,
ECH81, EF89, EAF801, ECF80, EM87 and ZA1004.
Key features:
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Two tuning dials, dual coaxial knob
Automatic tuning control on FM. Band spread on SW
Two IF amplifiers, high sensitivity
FM stereo decoder
Stereo audio amplifier, push-pull output stages
External speakers, top and loud sound
Keep them alive!
Radio Graetz Fantasia 1318 Luxus Stereo Super, 1964
Here is the big sister of the Musica 1316L. It is one of the latest high performace tube radios,
introduced in 1964. 3 bands AM plus FM. Solid-state stereo decoder; push-pull audio amplifiers,
delivering about 7+7 W; treble and bass controls plus tone register keys. 8 tubes, 2 germanium
diodes and 1 selenium rectifier, plus 3 or 4 Ge transistor and 6 Ge diodes in the stereo decoder.
Tubes: ECC85, ECH81, EBF89, ECC83, ECC83, ECLL800, ECLL800, EMM803. The same
chassis was used in the Praeludium steuergerat.
Key features:
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Push-pull stereo audio amplifier
Stereo decoder
DIN connectors for record player, tape recorder and external speakers
Clear, impressive sound
Keep them alive!
Nordmende Steuergërat 3004 5/634, 1964
This is a top performance radio from the sixties, well representing the perfection reached
by tube German radio just before the switch to the advancing Japanese solid state. Its style,
the walnut cabinet with straight lines and flip over front cover, as other so called steuergerat
equipment, recalled the look of hi-fi equipment from U.S. manufacturers with external
speaker boxes.
The Nordmende 3004 has three AM bands, LW, MW, SW, plus the FM ranging up to 104
MHz. Two tuning dials driven through a clutch system by the large knob on the right. AFC is
provided by a varactor diode in the FM tuner. Three IF amplifier stages grants an excellent
operation of the built in FM stereo decoder. Two DIN input connectors plus a connector to
external amplifier. The dual channel audio amplifier has push-pull power output stages, each
delivering 8.5 Watt. The radio still uses a metal frame with a IF PCB in the middle.
12 tubes, 1 transistor, 11 diodes and 1 selenium rectifier: ECC85, ECH81, EF89, EBF89,
EF80, ECC81, ECC808, ECC808, ECC82, ELL80, ELL80, EMM803, AF117, BA110, 2 x
OA79, 7 x OA81, B250C185.
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Two tuning dials, single knob. Automatic frequency control over FM
Three IF amplifiers, high sensitivity
Built-in FM stereo decoder
Stereo audio amplifier, push-pull output stages
External speakers, top and loud sound
Keep them alive!
Grundig 2000 Ph, 1965
This radio must be included in the list of top models because of its superb engineering.
Designers resorted to all their masterhip, to get the same performance of average sets in a
radio using only three tubes. Indeed this is one of the very few superheterodyne sets where a
single tube, ECC85, performs both AM and FM frequency conversion. The IF amplifier,
EAF801, also acts as AM detector, while two AA119 germanium diodes are used in the FM
discriminator. A ECL86 operates as audio pre and power amplifier. The radio also uses a
selenium bridge rectifier in the power supply circuit.
The 2000 Ph was equipped with a Perpetuum Ebner PE31 record player.
Key features:
 Radio and record player
 LW, MW and FM bands
 Only three tubes!
Keep them alive!
Philips Saturn B6D41, 1965
This is one of the latest vacuum tube radio sets, made by a German branch of Philips. It can well be
classified as a true tube radio, even if there are several transistors and semiconductor diodes, since
solid state devices are carefully used in marginal circuits, as the stereo decoder, the AFC and the
detector/discriminator.
The Saturn B6D41 was a top class radio, with its 11 tubes and 15 semiconductors. It was equipped
with FM stereo decoder. Other remarkable features include a 12 keys push-button switch, including
3 register keys, the stereo selection key and the AFC key; push-pull audio amplifiers, with internal
speakers.
ECC85, ECH81, EAF801, EF184, ECC808, ECC808, ECC83, ELL80, ELL80, EM87, EM87, plus
4 transistors, 10 diodes and one selenium bridge rectifier.