Vintage audio tuner collection

EUMIG T-500 (1980)

EUMIG was an austrian company, mostly known for their film cameras. They had only a few audio products, such as this tuner with a very good sound and high build quality. This is a Digital Synhtesizer tuner with automatic or manual tuning with 6 FM presets and 2 AM presets. The frequency display is a green LED with additional 5-LED signal level meter and Stereo/FM/AM/Memory status LED. This tuner has two output sockets, one with a fixed level and another one with a variable level with the output level at the back. Also at the back there is a battery compartiment for the memory function of the tuner. It has a built in clock, so you can select either to display the frequency or time, on the green led display. To set up the recording level of your tape recorder there was a built in REC CALIBRATION tone. Activate this switch and you have a constant 400 Hz sound that you use to set the recording level of your tape recorder. Original sale price: 900 DM.
Last update April 8th 2017

AKAI AT-S3 (1983)

This is the little brother of the well received AT-S7 (also member of the 1001 Hi-Fi collection). Here are some brochure specifications for this FM AM Stereo Synthesizer tuner from the 1983 AKAI line-up: Tuning frequency ranges : AM: 522kHz to 1611 kHz FM: 87.4 to 108.0 MHz | 16 random presets | Frequency response (FM) : 30Hz - 15kHz +2.0dB / -3.0dB | Signal to noise : mono: 75dB stereo: 65dB | Usable sensitivity (300 ohms) : 11.2 dBf | Dimensions (W x H x D) : 440 x 53 x 274mm

DUAL CT1640 (1977)

DUAL is mostly known for it's turntables, however, they built a complete range of audio components. This is the DUAL CT 1640 digital stereo FM tuner. It is the first digital tuner from DUAL, the top of the line model, and was available for sale from mid 1977. The FM range covers the 87.5-104 MHz spectrum while the AM covers the 500-1640 kHz range. There are 8 presets for FM with switchable and continuously adjustable MUTING, mono switch and AFC (automatic frequency control). The tuner can also receive LW, MW and SW programs. Additionally when the unit is turned off the display will turn into a digital clock (the clock settings are located on the back panel). For precise tuning you have a signal level meter and a tuning indicator. There were two versions available, silver and brown in a 440 mm wide format with aluminium front and wood box.
Cover Photo Art: Made in Germany - Published 15th January 2016

DUAL CT-1260 (1983)

A digital tuner from the time when DUAL was still making interesting products. The CT-1260 has quartz electronic tuning for FM in 12.5 kHz steps and automatic tuning for all wavelenghts. Random programming is possible for all wavelenghts with storage in a 15 program memory bank. A built in battery for memory will help not to lose your presets when you unplug the unit. The front panel colour, was named "satin-metallic" but it is strangely made of plastic while the matching components have aluminium front panels.
Cover Photo Art: On-Off

GRUNDIG T 7500 (1983)

The T 7500 FM-AM Quartz Synthesizer tuner was introduced by Grundig in 1983. This is an excellent tuner, a combination of good reception and very good sound with useful features offered at an excellent price point (German magazines of the time compared the T7500 to a Revox costing almost three times as much). The tuning section is the equivalent of a typical 4-gang tuner while the PLL demodulator uses a Philips TDA1576 chip for scan tuning and on-frequency recognition and a TDA1578 for MPX. Tuning to radio stations can be achieved via manual tuning (step by step or fast search) or automatic search (with adjustable thereshold). With the help of the TUNOSCOPE you can find the exact frequency position of the transmitter while an 8-LED meter will show you the signal strenght. A mixed selection of FM, AM and LW radio programs can be stored in a 15 presets RAM - non volatile memory. You can select the stored radio stations directly via the 15 numeric keypad or with an up/down memory selector. A series of additional symbols on the display will show you the type of tuning you use (HA=manual, AS=automatic), FM-Stereo/Mono/Muting, preset number, "NEW" for a radio station that is not stored, "FREE" for an unoccupied preset or "FULL" for no more presets availabe. Additionally every preset can be manually named so that a 4 character station name will be displayed on the Alphanumeric Display. At the back can be found the connectors for 300ohm or 75ohm FM antenna and two output connectors with level control (5-pin DIN and RCA). Made at the Grundig factory in Portugal. Technical data: Frequencies: FM 87.5-108.0 MHz AM 533-1611 KHz LW 155 - 353 KHz | Frequency response: 10 Hz - 16,800 KHz (-3dB) for FM | Input sensitivity: FM mono 0.5 μV (26 dB signal / noise ratio), FM stereo 20 μV (46 dB signal / noise ratio), MW 9.5 μV, LW 12 μV | Total harmonic distortion: ≥ 0.09 / 0.15% at 1 KHz and 40 KHz | Signal-to-noise ratio: 71/68 dB (DIN mono / stereo) | Dimension: 45x8x33 cm | From oct. 1985 a black version was also available | Original sale price: 798 DM
Cover Photo Art: Wünsch Dir Was. (Make a Wish) - Published 15th August 2021

MACLAIR ST-2200 (1981)

Here is another tuner from the 80's. Very nice front panel design but unfortunately it has a poor sound. At the back it says that it was made in Japan, but I have no info about this manufacturer. Another version of this model was sold in Germany as SONDYNA ST-2200.

NORDMENDE TU-1351 (1983)

One of the last models made by a german company (that was in fact owned by French Thomson), trying to compete with japanese models launching design oriented systems. This is 3 band stereo tuner with 14 station memory (7 for FM, 4 for MW, 3 for LW) and it features manual and automatic tuning. It was advertised together with matching components as "The fantastic program". With THOMSON being the parent company, this unit was available in France as THOMSON TS 3724T, another rebadge being a slightly redesigned SABA.

PIONEER F-X5L (1982)

In 1981 PIONEER launched the Communication Components series. One of the most remembered components from this series is the big A-9 amplifier. With a similar styling this is a tuner from the "Personna" stylish midi system. Big red display and a nice design in a 32 cm wide format. Only basic functions were added to this little cutie, manual tuning and 6 presets keyboard.

SIEMENS RH 300 (1990)

The RH 300 PLL synthesized stereo tuner was part of the HF Series introduced in 1990 by SIEMENS. It rarely happenend in the history of Hi-Fi for a manufacturer to use a model name that was previously used for a different model but, this tuner is such a case. SIEMENS had another tuner in 1981 named also RH 300. To avoid confusion the full name of this tuner from 1990 can be read at the backplate and it is RH 300 T4 but on the front panel there is only a RH 300 marking.

The other components of the HF Series were the RA 300 M4 cd player, RC 300 G4 dual cassette deck, RV 300 R4 amplifier, RQ 300 G4 equalizer and the RW 300 G4 turntable. The whole system could be remote controled only when they were used together and linked with the special remote cable system at the back. Luckily however this tuner can be used independently with any system you want minus remote operation. Unfortunately the plastic front panel feels cheap (especially the tuning knob) but the tuner itself is still working (in 2018) as expected.

The tuner can receive FM Stereo, Medium Wave and Long Wave radio stations. They can be mixed in a 30 program preset system. With the ATS (auto tuning system) the tuner will search for radio stations and store them automatically in the program preset bank. There is no mention on country of origin but my guess is that these componets were built in Korea by Samsung for SIEMENS.
Cover Photo Art: Live in Your Living Room - Published September 15th 2018.

YAMAHA CT-V2 (1978)

This is a classic YAMAHA tuner from 1978 with analog tuning that use a Yamaha-NFB-PLL-Multiplex decoder. For recording enthusiasts it has a built in recording calibration tone. The calibration tone gives a 333 Hz / 50% constant sound to set your recording level before you start a recording. Without memory station options it is not so confortable to operate but it has a very good sound.
yamaha ct-v2