Best VHF only Valve Radios - advice please

[BASSMAN]

Apart from the obvious choice of the HACKER MAYFLOWER RV 14 and RV20, which I think are the best sounding Valve Radios. I was looking for the site's advice for similar quality VHF only Valve Radios. A quick scan of the internet shows there are not too many choices but this is the obvious place to find true wisdom! Preference would be for LARGE SIZE + WOODEN CABINET + QUALITY product. Are there any GERMAN made candidates out there that I have not come across as I have a soft spot for the large German Valve Radios? Any advice appreciated.

[Cobaltblue]

I must confess to being biased on this but the Cossor 540 sounds pretty good for a volume domestic manufacturer.

It's not VHF only or German though.

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/cossor_540.html

Not too many sets actually made much effort in the speaker department.

Cheers

Mike T

[Nickthedentist]

There are a couple of threads on this very question - do a search.

Most of the big Grundigs, Telefunkens, Siemens, Loewes etc. would do, but I suspect they're all multi-band, as is the Bush VHF64 (excellent on VHF, poor on AM).

The Ekco A277 and its console brother are good and VHF-only, and very cheap for what you get: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=117195

N.

[Cobaltblue]

The Console version of the EKCO A277 that Nick mentions is the C273 like the Cossor this also has a Bass reflex cabinet.

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/ekco_c273c_27.html

Cheers

Mike T

[Nickthedentist]

Thanks, Mike.

I should have also said that they have a nice, spacious chassis so restoration is easy compared with a VHF64 or a Fenman 2 or just about any German set.

[BASSMAN]

Thank you all for the swift replies. Just to confirm its VHF ONLY sets that I am looking for. This way you get rid of all the complications that come with waveband changing and waveband switches/knobs. Like the look of the big cabinet set that is already mentioned. Thanks again.

[Nickthedentist]

What other VHF-only valve sets did you come across on your internet searches?

[Nickthedentist]

Some of the C&S range might fit the bill?
http://www.ferrographworld.com/pdf/A...20Bulletin.pdf

[BASSMAN]

Originally Posted by Nickthedentist

What other VHF-only valve sets did you come across on your internet searches?

NICK, Nothing much really, apart from HACKER + EKCO there was a GEC BC403, that is why I thought to ask here. There are many listed as "VHF VALVE RADIO" on websites and auction sites - but they nearly always have LW or MW or SW (or a combination ) of wavebands also. Looks like they are more scarce than I thought. If anything comes up I will list it here. It will probably be difficult to beat the HACKERS ( valve + portable VHF only sets anyway ). But I like the look of the "cabinet" option.

[BASSMAN]

GEC BC403

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/general_el_bc403bc_40.html

[Leon Crampin]

The "VHF only" stipulation narrows the field - almost impossibly if you want a good quality set as opposed to a midget.

The waveband switching complications are not too much of a reliability hazard if the switchgear is good. So, the Plessey switchbanks on the Bush "VHF" series are out - poor insulation and inadequate clearance. Some of the German piano key sets also suffer here.

If you can live with a 3 band set with good quality switching (and in my experience, no reliability problems in this area) I would propose the Murphy A272C. Lots of wood, no cabinet resonances, a 10" good quality 'speaker and an octal output valve which doesn't run so hot as to draw excessive grid current after 1000 hours or so.

A small mod to the audio feedback network makes this set sound pretty good to my ears, without the "in your face" accentuation of selected (or selectable) parts of the audio spectrum.

As far as its appearance goes - up to you.

Leon.

[BASSMAN]

HI LEON - Thanks for that, I have noticed a few on eBay lately for reasonable prices. Its a real "Marmite" styled product though and I do have a sneaking regard for the style.

[BASSMAN]

EKCO U354 - not for me stylewise.

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/ekco_u354u_35.html

[Leon Crampin]

The GEC BC403 is a budget AC/DC set using a UCL82 output valve. Compared with an AC only set using an isolated chassis and with a decent audio stage, it doesn't come anywhere near for decent quality.

I'm afraid the poor old UCL82 was the mainstay of cheap record players...

Leon.

[BASSMAN]

Looks like EKCO (of some sort) is the alternative to my HACKER MAYFLOWER then.

[paulsherwin]

But remember that the A277 only tunes to 100MHz, like most radios of the period.

[music-centre]

I cant think of any large/wood cased VHF only sets apart from the ones mentioned, only the Ekco A274 but that's just the A277 that Nick mentioned in a different cabinet, the A277 & C273 sound very good.
As has already been said the switching doesn't have to be a problem, the PYE Fenman II seems to be O.K
Steve.

[BASSMAN]

Thanks all. Looks like I will be staying with the HACKER MAYFLOWER and possibly looking for an EKCO (of some sort) for VHF only radio. I have had a few big German sets with multi-wavebands ( Grundig/Blaupunkt/Telefunken ) and they are ahead of the British versions in terms of engineering/build quality and overall sound in my opinion. And one day I will have saved enough money for the Holy Grail........a SABA monster set in Mint Condition !

[Paul_RK]

A site dedicated to listing and providing some details of FM-only radios from across the globe used to exist. It's currently taken down, and its creator is inviting interest from anyone who might care to host it. Wayback Machine fortunately still gives access -

https://web.archive.org/web/20160313...m/fm_only.html

FM-only capability just never was, it seems, a popular choice among those ready to pay the price for superior audio performance from a valve radio. As far as I know the UK sets which at all rival the Mayflowers have been mentioned here already, and a few others besides ... with the exception of the floor-standing Dynatron Ether Minstrel, which few of us are likely to encounter.

One very good option, I expect, from overseas, would be the KLH Model 8,

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/klh_eight.html

It does, though, have its 'speaker in a separate cabinet, and a good example is likely to be costly even before international shipping.

Paul

[Nuvistor]

VHF/FM was never a popular choice, even in tbe 60's selling a radio that included VHF/FM was, by many customers, judged not good value for money. They could get the same three stations on MW/LW which to them was an acceptable quality.

With more station choice that was not available on AM this did change customers views, so I am not surprised there were few VHF/FM only sets made.

Frank