[RadioSvit]

I made a new video ... On the recommendation of my friends, I decided to voice all the new videos, so this is the first attempt ... It seems that it is rather untimely, because I caught a little cold and today I have a bad runny nose. Well, nothing, there are subtitles with translation below. And as always, I duplicate the video text in the video description

I got tired of constantly hearing criticism about the lack of voice support, so sooner or later it had to happen, I gave up and started today. )) Don't judge me harshly, I know how I know, maybe someday I'll learn better...
And sorry for the runny nose ... This is exactly what I was missing now ...))

I will start a new series of videos with a review of the prestigious German superheterodyne Telefunken Spitzen Super T-898 WK from 1938. This is the first model of the company's TOP super on new at that time metal shielded radio lamps of the 11th series, for its specific appearance and extraordinary similarity to the popularly known "helmets".
What else distinguished this model? First of all, with its unique design scale of four narrow scales, which are illuminated depending on the selected range, for which this Telefunken got the name "four scale".
As in the vast majority of German radios of the 30s, there are only three bands. The upper scale is the "Long Wave" range, unfortunately almost dead today, the two middle scales are the "Medium Wave" range, which is still quite active today, and the lower scale is the short-wave range from 16 to 50 meters, which has long been passed its peak of popularity in the 30s...70s and is now gradually declining.
As befits the company's top model, this radio has a high-frequency resonant amplifier, an intermediate frequency amplifier with adjustable bandwidth and a powerful 8-watt, albeit single-cycle, low-frequency amplifier on the legendary EL-12 radio tube.
There are also two options, at that time absent from competitors, this is the Heterodyne Automatic Frequency Adjustment system, which made it possible to stably receive the signals of "walking" radio stations with a fading effect (fading) and the legendary 30-centimeter speaker, which even now is a standard fidelity of the sound of audio systems among audiophiles...
Thanks to the 30-centimeter speaker hidden behind the four scales, the 898 stood out with its innovative design, which makes it impossible to confuse it with any other radio...
So let's listen and evaluate the quality of its reception and sound ....

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ8erEEH...3RN4AaABAg]

[RadioSvit]

New video...[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwEwRNVd96Q]

Comparative audio test Philco 37-640x vs RCA 8C-20. Test of two American radio consoles of medium prestige level.
Philco 37-640x, - a 7-tube radio console with a high-frequency amplifier and a two-stroke 3-tube LF amplifier, which works on a 27-centimeter loudspeaker with electromagnetic biasing. This is a unique rationality and efficiency in the quality/number of radio lamps/price ratio. I can't even think of another such effective design.
You will ask - How did they manage it??! It's quite simple, we had to save on the "magic eye", which Philco basically did not use until 1939 and ... on a separate phase inverter cascade ... If in the first case a "shadow indicator" was used and it did not greatly affect the functionality and ergonomics of the device, then the phase inverter of the requested type greatly affected the maximum output power and the level of harmonic distortions. The output power is only 6 watts instead of the expected 10 watts on a 6F6G pair, and the level of harmonics reaches 6 percent or more. Yes, you have to pay for everything...

RCA 8C-20, - an 8-tube radio console with a high-frequency amplifier and a single-cycle two-tube LF amplifier, the load of which is a 30-centimeter loudspeaker, also with electromagnetic biasing. As you know, such speakers are much more sensitive than loudspeakers with permanent magnets, and that is why they are successfully pumped even by weak two-tube single-cycle amplifiers with a power of 4 watts, as in this model. In my opinion, the rationality of the RCA 8C-20 circuitry is significantly inferior to the Philco 37-640x, because even thanks to a larger number of radio tubes, it was not possible to use a more powerful two-stroke amplifier. Even the more prestigious RCA and Zenith models suffer from this shortcoming quite often, even with more lamps - up to 9 inclusive. So maybe this is not a drawback? Judge for yourself and write in the comments ...

[morzh]

Peter,

Just FYI, "двухтактный" when it comes to electronics vs internal combustion engines (which is where it is "two-stroke") translates as "push-pull". Notice that both our languages also use the term "пушпуль" alongsied with "двухтактный" which is direct borrowing from English terminology.

This said, accounted for the fact that it was recorded, played through the tablet and listened to through a decent pair of earbuds from a Samsung phone (they are not bad actually, had a chance to compare), Philco sounds better, in fact appreciably better.

IO still do not know what kind of service you performed with both radios, as this probably would depend on Tone Ctl regulation and all, but Philco sounds very nice. RCA sounds not bad, but not the same level of depth, clarity, base, and cross-distortion at high frequencies.

[RadioSvit]

Thank you Michael. Got it, I'll correct the Google translation

[morzh]

Also, Push-Pull comes from the "Pushmi-Pullyou" (Пушми-Пулъю) name of the original animal from a children book by Hugh Lofting, which then became the Soviet "Doktor Aybolit" by Ckukovsky. The name of the original is "The Story of Doctor Doolittle". And the name of the animal in Russian became "Тяни-Толкай".
So, "Пушпуль" and "Тяни-Толкай" are the same name

Accidentally, the last name of the central character of "My fair lady" (Russian version - Моя Прекрасная Леди, или Пигмалион) is also Eliza Doolittle. (I loved the Russian version, but then I saw the original (the movie of the Broadway play with young Julia Andrews and Rex Harrison)) and I saw the light. Since then if I want to watch an episode, I only watch that version.

[Arran]

RCA was a strange company, they went through periods where they were trying to mid range radios with a single ended output, first with type #50s in the late 1920s, then then a singled ended 6L6 in the mid 1930s, whereas other makes went for push pull audio outputs in all but their low end models. 
Regards
Arran

[morzh]

I have to say the Zenith 9S262 with SE plays better than some Philcos with pushpulls.

[Arran]

Mike;
 AI think a lot of the sound quality of Brand Z sets has to do with the quality of the speakers, and also the tone shaping circuitry they added, unlike Philco they used an outside supplier for the speakers, Rola was one I think. One of the best sounding consoles I have is a Canadian Westinghouse model 527X, used a 10'' Magnavox, but also had two tone controls, one a switch, the other a pot, in a very solid cabinet, and it's only a five tube set with a 6F6G.
Regards
Arran

[RadioSvit]

RCA was a strange company, they went through periods where they were trying to mid range radios with a single ended output, first with type #50s in the late 1920s, then then a singled ended 6L6 in the mid 1930s....

Hi Arran. Yes, I completely agree with you. RCA sometimes created very strange concepts. For example, I was once very shocked by the "push puls" on one combined radio tube, which worked in class "B" mode in such generally excellent devices as the RCA 240. I have never listened to it, but I suspect that the sound quality there is very low

I have to say the Zenith 9S262 with SE plays better than some Philcos with pushpulls.

That is why, Michael, I really want to buy it

[morzh]

Arran


Could be.

I have no issues with 10" speakers used in 16 model.
Or with 14" in 37-116 and similar; though they used 45 rpm spider, they sound well enough to be compared to today's speakers.

In the end, when all said and done, what matter is the sound quality, whether through speaker, circuitry or else, and whichever part of the circuitry.
Price/performance is the king.

[RadioSvit]

Friends, how do you like this video? How do you rate my story about the history of radio?
Enable subtitles with automatic translation

To the anniversary of the 100th radio broadcast. 1 part. The birth of the era of radio
Turn on subtitles and read in your language
I am starting a new series of videos dedicated to the history of radio technology.
I plan to talk about the most revolutionary stages of radio development, about the most outstanding inventions, about outstanding engineers and inventors, about the most successful manufacturers of radio equipment and about the most legendary models of radio receivers that have left their mark in the history of radio.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxE9SRpi9Lw&t=34s]

[PhilcoJohn]

GEE.... A lot of beautiful radios in your collection! I am really glad you posted them . I hope everything is O.K. with you also. So glad to see you posting.... Take care.

[RadioSvit]

Hi John. Unfortunately, the photo in this video does not have my receivers. For this video, I had to take all the photos from the Internet. I really wanted to make a video film on the history of commercial radio broadcasting ... Here, I tried

[GarySP]

Impressive collection, Peter! Happy to see you posting again as well. Take care and BE HEALTHY! Gary

[RadioSvit]

Thank you Harry. We live here now in such conditions that in order not to lose our minds from the horrors of war, we are simply forced to find some small joys for ourselves. For me, this is my hobby