Pre 1970 Tube SW Radio for Casual AM Listening

[D31245]

Looks like the SABA Freiburg 11 is pretty well regarded in audio circles. Huge front firing speakers (looks like 5 all together) - approaching console size. Yowza!

I’m sure it sounds interesting from a sonic/reflected sound perspective.

Screen shots from video:

Technical specs:

Freiburg Vollautomatic 11-Stereo Radio SABA; Villingen |Radiomuseum.org

Freiburg Vollautomatic 11-Stereo Radio SABA; Villingen, build 1961/1962, 59 pictures, 35 schematics, 13 tubes, Germany, semiconductors, Broadcast Receiver

www.radiomuseum.org

 

[D31245]

^^^ Sorry I got several SABA models combined in the above post.

 

[pjxii]

This has been in the back of my mind also about getting an old tabletop BCB AM radio.

Been doing a little research and going down the German makers rathole and came across SABA Freiburg as one of the top makes.

This model has 4-speakers: two front-firing and two side-firing.

Very complex though and a lot can go wrong but a marvel of engineering. This video shows the innards and complexity. With 4-speakers I imagine it sounds great.

Curious about this brand and its other models though and how it would sound and the AM band compatibility with the US.

I've had a few big European table radios like that (no SABA though). Easily the best sounding one was a Nordmende Tannhauser 57 on FM but for AM it was a little lacking with a too narrow single bandwidth, but tight selectivity has always been more necessary in Europe than the US. It was also a bit lacking in sensitivity, a large Phillips radio (don't remember which model) was much better there. I've had a smaller Loewe radio from that era which was excellent sounding on all bands (even NDBs on Longwave were enjoyable ) and received very well. You might want to look into those.

 

[RufusDawes]

This has been in the back of my mind also about getting an old tabletop BCB AM radio.

Been doing a little research and going down the German makers rathole and came across SABA Freiburg as one of the top makes.

This model has 4-speakers: two front-firing and two side-firing.

Very complex though and a lot can go wrong but a marvel of engineering. This video shows the innards and complexity. With 4-speakers I imagine it sounds great.

Curious about this brand and its other models though and how it would sound and the AM band compatibility with the US.

The prices on these SABA receivers on eVilbay are crazy! They look fantastic.
The Zeinith C/H 845 are really cheap in comparison, not hard to restore and sound is excellent. I'll post a video when I get it restored and aligned.