Best Vintage German Tube Radio? - Videokarma.org TV - Video

#1 10-22-2007, 10:36 PM

SABA Freudenstadt 100, Telefunken Opus 6 or 7, Loew Opta Venus Luxus,
Philips BX998, Sudfunk Meastro, NordMende Tannhauser.

I will be purchasing a restored German tube radio in the near future. Mostly for FM listening. I play low volumes but I want good lows and highs which the better quality radios have and few solid state radios can match. From my limited research the above radios are the top of the line when looking at top end German radios. Am I missing other radios that would meed my criteria? Your commenst are appreciated. Thaks in advance.

mr_fixer · #2 10-22-2007, 11:14 PM

Well from what I have seen on auction sites, the most valuable ones are the Saba Freudenstadt radios. I own a Grundig 2220 , Phillips B5x94a and a Nordmende Parsifal 59.
My favorite for sound is the Nordmende, but for build quality i like the Phillips.It's hard to compare as not many German radios show up in these parts. I would like to find a Tannhauser to see how it compares to the Parsifal. Maybe one day I'll find a nice Saba too. Logan

jeffsod · #3 10-23-2007, 11:13 PM

I am no expert but have been reading into these radios lately myself and Grundig made some good ones too. Like the 5050 & 5040. Those had tremendous bass actually. Seems the earlier (mid fifties) ones were better. The all time TOP TOP TOP I think I recall was the Saba 410 Continental Automatic(thats the export version) AKA as the Vollautomatic 14. Anyway that was an early 60's Stereo model. The trouble with those are the looks. No where near as nice looking as the mid 50's Sabas or the mid 50's Grundigs and Telefunkens for that matter. The Telefunken Opus 7 is supposed to be a very fine radio and seems to hold its value on the bay very well. The only other models that come to mind are the Graetz Sinfonia and Lowe Opta Hellas models. Personally I would love to own any of these in restored condition. I think I do recall though certain models were noted as having twice the output power than others when looking at specs on radio museum. If I had to chose I would really like to get an Automatic six speaker SABA but that is a pretty serious investment in fully restored condition. The bay seller em85 always has some nice radios with most selling for 500-1800 usually.

Let us know what you decide to get and post some pics!

#4 10-29-2007, 09:13 AM

Thanks for your reply's. I have an Opus 7. I just had he caps replaced so I will see how it sounds next week. I also have a Granada 61 restored and a non restored 60. But...I only want to end up with one radio since these are not small and take up a lot of space in my office. I love the sound of the tube radios so I want to end up with one that will have the good sounds of the lows and highs.

Tube Radio · #5 10-29-2007, 09:37 AM

RCA 9-INT-1. Made in Germany with excellent sound and great FM reception or an RCA 9-INT-2 which is the console version (with record changer) of the 9-INT-1. I have the RCA 9-INT-1 and it blows me away with the quality of the sound. Has excellent highs and lows also.

yagosaga · #6 10-30-2007, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70cst

[B]From my limited research the above radios are the top of the line when looking at top end German radios. Am I missing other radios that would meed my criteria? Your commenst are appreciated. Thaks in advance.

Hi,

my favourite German tube radio is the SABA Freiburg W3. I got it for nothing before two weeks from a neighbour who wanted to put it on the dump. It does not look quite good, but it has the best sound I ever heard from a tube radio. Another good SABA tube radio is the Meersburg 7 automatic. But it has not such a good sound as the Freiburg.

- Eckhard

#7 10-31-2007, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yagosaga

But it has not such a good sound as the Freiburg. - Eckhard

Do know what type of speakers the Freiburg has?

yagosaga · #8 10-31-2007, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70cst

Do know what type of speakers the Freiburg has?

Saba Permadyn 25 - 260H 1674 U 15.

The loudspeakers have a treble calotte in front of, unvisible from the back. Diameter of one loudspeaker is 10 inch.

- Eckhard

jeffsod · #9 11-01-2007, 10:08 PM

Very cool radio that W3 Eckhard thank you for sharing the photos! I bet it has nice solid bass with those 10 inch woofers.

Sandy G · #10 11-28-2008, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yagosaga

Hi,

my favourite German tube radio is the SABA Freiburg W3. I got it for nothing before two weeks from a neighbour who wanted to put it on the dump. It does not look quite good, but it has the best sound I ever heard from a tube radio. Another good SABA tube radio is the Meersburg 7 automatic. But it has not such a good sound as the Freiburg.

- Eckhard

I have one of these-EXCELLENT sound, & it WILL run you outta the room if you wanna run it that high. Mine's cabinet is a little rough, but still quite pesentable. I found it in a junkshoppe for $100, that I wore 'em down to $75-it had been there at least 10 years-& I had Terry Dewick "go thru it". It was truly a "sow's ear into a silk purse" kind of deal. I don't think these are that that common, if you run acrost one of 'em, I'd snap it up. You won't be sorry.

sprman55 · #11 11-28-2008, 05:58 PM

Hi few months ago i got a Telefunken Allegro and Telefunken Magnettophon(reel to reel) recorder.Allegro needs new filter caps and dail glass is broken.Not tryed reel to reel yet. Having never owned a German radio from what is see looks like it be a handful to recap it.Sprman

oldradiostar · #12 12-05-2008, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sprman55

Hi few months ago i got a Telefunken Allegro and Telefunken Magnettophon(reel to reel) recorder.Allegro needs new filter caps and dail glass is broken.Not tryed reel to reel yet. Having never owned a German radio from what is see looks like it be a handful to recap it.Sprman

if you find in your country no dial glass for the allegro just contact us maybe we have it in stock.
bye

jeffsod · #13 12-07-2008, 02:41 PM

Picked up this Saba Bodensee WIII a while back and just had some work done to make it usable. Would like to have done a full recap on it but at least now I can enjoy some limited use. The output tube is an EL12. The sound is very warm with very strong bass due to is huge (for a table set) woofer. I love the looks of all the lights from the tuning eye to the dial glass and the keys. Now I have to find a home for the Braun TS1 I have to make room for the new toy

gadget73 · #14 11-02-2007, 02:34 AM

I had a Grundig, I want to say a 940 or 970, that worked rather well. I think it was a victim of the move last year. I had it at the old house playing as I was packing stuff up. Either I neglected to grab it, or someone decided it was trash and packed it up for me. SOunded darn decent considering it had a random 6x9 speaker from a Monte Carlo in there replacing the original dead speaker. Tuner worked rather well too.

jeffsod · #15 11-02-2007, 06:38 AM

Grundig made a 941 and a 960 that I am aware of but had not heard of the 970. The 960 has a remake that is commonly listed on the bay but I haven't heard anything good about the remake. The 941 is a pretty basic model no tuning eye and has AM FM LW no shortwave. I have one and it uses an EL41 output tube. It seems to have a very good sound for a basic radio and as you say just has the one speaker about that size.