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Saba Freiburg 14 german radios - en

Saba Freiburg Vollautomatic 14 Stereo – en

SABA FREIBURG VOLLAUTOMATIC 14 STEREO

SABA FREIBURG VOLLAUTOMATIC 14 STEREO

I started the description of the Saba Freiburg 100 with this sentence: going beyond one’s self is the destiny of the greatest. And the story goes on. The Saba Freiburg 14 is the evolution of Freiburg 100, 125,11 and 12. The Freiburg 14 is the ultimate model. It was followed only by the Freiburg 18 (having an elliptical tweeter instead of two round tweeters and wooden band instead of canvas – this aesthetic choice was not appreciated by everyone).
Saba, following the German tradition, continued to use the name Freiburg for its top models, even though the latter did not have anything in common with the original masterwork.
I want to highlight the fact that this was the top model of the most prestigious german brand in the golden age of german technology and production.
As I have mentioned before, the first visual impact is shocking and exciting. This is a huge device successfully showing off its majesty.
The sound impact is even stronger and more exciting. But before that, I would like to present a brief description of one of the most distinguishing feature of this device: the loudspeaker system.

BLUETOOTH
Bluetooth receiver embed

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MULTI PLATFORM CONNECTION
Each radio is equipped with a cable for connection to any digital device.

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TUBESOUND IMPROVEMENT

- Bluetooth receiver embed – The unit is equipped with a BLUETOOTH receiver powered directly by the receiver power supply. This makes it possible to control the amplifier from any external digital device as an IPAD, a Smartphone, or a sophisticated multimedia station. So you can hear your preferred web station or your lossesless file without cables on the room. Wireless Receiver can be equipped upon requests.

Multi Platform Connection – A customized adaptation cable to connect any digital device as Iphone, Smartphone, Laptop, CD Player etc. will be provided with this radio. This special cable suits the different impedances between the modern equipment and the receiver. Furthermore the two stereo channels flow into one without increasing the load to the input unit.

Saba Factory - Villingen - 1960

Saba Factory - Villingen - 1960

HISTORY

SABA is the acronym for Schawarzwälder-Apparate-Bau-Anstalt meaning engineering institute of Technological appliances of the Black Forest.

The company was founded back in 1835 by Joseph Benedikt with the initial name of Jockele-Uhren, but only in 1923 the production of radio devices began and the company went under the name of SABA.
Toward the end of the 20s SABA became famous with the well-known S35 and in the following years it became the second German producer after Telefunken. During the war SABA produced military equipment and in 1945 the company was completely destroyed by a bombing.
In 1947 the production of radio devices began again and SABA distinguished itself immediately for ist avant-garde and high- quality production.

hey also began to produce TVs (the first PAL color TV is a SABA), house appliances and medical equipment. Many Italians used to work there. The Alnico Greencone loudspeakers became popular for their linearity, power handling, constant impendence that would be employed in each Hi-Fi devices of that time.

The radio devices with motorized tuning became popular as well and SABA became the representative German brand meaning quality, reliability and detailed precision. In the 1970s the decline began. According to specialized magazines of that time not having a Japanese device at that time meant not having Hi-Fi. In the 80s Thompson took over SABA. In the 90s the other way around, having a Japanese device of the 70s meant not having Hi-Fi. They found out that they functioned with a 96% counterreaction and that a device with 0.001 db from 1 to 100 KHz extension did not necessarily sound good.

We do not trust our ears and we do trust what other people say not necessarily with a good purpose.
2007: due to insolvency SABA disappeared from the TLC (Chinese) and Thompson (French) joint venture, and SABA ceased to exist.

MAIN FEATURES

Year of production: 1963-64
10 AM Circuits
13 FM Circuits
Wavebands: Medium Waves (OM), Long Waves (OL), Short waves (OC), FM (UKW)
5 Greencone loudspeakers:
2 x 10" Alnico woofers
2 x 8" Alnico mid/woofers
1 Elliptical tweeter
Dimensions (LHD):: 27,6 x 17.9 x 12.2 inch
Net weight: 53.6 lb
14 Tubes: EC92 EC92 ECH81 EF89 EM87 EBF89 EF86 EF86 ECC83 ELL80 ELL80 EM84 EABC80 ECL80
Ferrite rotating aerial
Automatic tuning research
Optional remote control
FM stereo decoder

Saba Freiburg 14

TONE CONTROL WITH LEVEL INDICATION

The tone control system is really efficient. Above the tone control knob you can find a small window that progressively lights up indicating the emphasis given to the band.

BANDBREITE SCHALTBAR

The correction system of the frequency response is composed of one button, MUSIK/SPRACHE.
They allow the emphasis of high and low tones while listening to music and of medium tones while listening to spoken programs.
A light indicates the selected choice

Saba Freiburg 14

AERIALS

Rotating ferrite curve with lightened window indicating its position.
The ferrite curve can be rotated through a big knob which is coaxial to the volume knob. Inside the piece of furniture there is a dipole for the FM reception and a directable ferrite curve for the AM reception.

SEPARATE CONTROL TUNING BETWEEN AM AND FM

The device is equipped with separated tuning mechanisms for AM and FM bands and for each of the FM bands.
There is only one tuning knob but the selector changes on a cable and pulley system that are separated according to the band.
Worth noticing is the accuracy and the complexity of the motorized FM group.

Saba Freiburg 14

TUNING INDICATOR

Both the magnetic eye indicating the tuning and the one indicating the reception of a stereo station are new.

AUTOMATIC MOTORIZED TUNING

The tuning system is a masterwork.
It is a motor with windings supplied in a phase shifted by some capacitors. It permit to change the motor rotation direction of according to whether the search is in one sense or another.
The tuning is centered by drawing part of the signal from the CAC circuit and by using a relais controlled by a tube.
As already mentioned, calibration is rather complex and it cannot be put into practice without referring to SABA’s original manuals.
Below a detail of the engine and the scheme section to control the automatism.

Saba Freiburg 14
Saba Freiburg 14

VOLUME CONTROL

Another interesting feature is the volume control.
The knob does not automatically control the volume potentiometer. It controls through an unknot push-back.
The motorized remote control has a slight friction effect which strengthens the resistance when you turn the knob.

REMOTE CONTROL

Another exclusive feature is the possibility to insert the plug (see picture) in the designated back socket and remotely control the volume and tuning.

Stock Photography

LIGHTENED KEYBOARD

Another remarkable feature is the lightened keyboard.
The selected button lightens up.
The small Light bulbs are very rare and hard to be found.

MONO/STEREO SWITCH

Mono/stereo commutator does have its lightened indicators as well.
Usuallu the stereo position work only when you are listening to CDs or IPODs, but this model is equipped with a stereo decoder allowing an accurate stereophony FM reception.

The magic eye on the right side works as a modulation intensity indicator of the stations that have been received in stereophony.
The picture above shows the reception of a stereo station.

LOUDSPEAKERS

Loudspeakers are another remarkable feature of this device: the well-know Alnico Greencone.
Its side wideband create a three-dimensional effect.
The topic has been largely researched before the advent of stereophonics and quadrophonics.
The sound is amazing

CONTROL PANEL

Saba Freiburg 14

The first small window that can be seen on the left side indicates whether the ferrite curve is inserted and its position.
On the left side you can also find the volume control (with incorporated loudness) and the ferrite curve rotation control.
Right above the volume control there is a magic eye indicating the perfect tuning of each station.
Below you can see the Mono/Stereo indicator and further below the bass control knob.
The AM bands with Short, Medium and Long Waves and the FM displays.
Starting from the lefthand corner you can see the Musik/Sprache, Stereo/Mono, AUX input buttons, the band switch buttons, the Long, medium, short waves and FM switch buttons and the motorized tuning system (Automatik) button.

Lastly the ON button.
Next to it the acutes control knob is to be found.
The Musik/Sprache equalizer indicator.
On the right, the tuning knob, which is supported by a big fly-wheel that renders its movement really pleasant.
The automatic tuning functioning indicator is to be found on the right as well.
Above the stereo modulation indicator and below two buttons for the automatic tuning functioning. Each button activates the automatic tuning mechanism in one or the other direction. By pushing one of those buttons the engine constantly activates the tuning indicator for a fast reposition.

Saba Freiburg 14

REAR SIDE

Output for external speakers.
Socket for recorder (tonbandgerat).
Turntable input (Tonabnehmer)
AM and FM aerial inputs and ground socket.
Remote control inputs

THE USUAL AMAZING LAST IMAGE
Saba Freiburg 14