WEGA Unit 3 (1979)

Stay informed about everything everywhere. The Wega Unit 3 is a black and white television, radio receiver and cassette recorder in a portable combination for desk use or briefcase transportation. This elegant device with a functional design opens up a wide range of information and recording options on the go and at home. This unit will give you the simplest recording technology for direct recording of television sound or radio programs, as well as recording via microphone. The powerful cassette unit with built-in microphone is an all-in-one device: Dictaphone, acoustic notebook, recorder for your favorite music. This cassette recorder features...Read More

WEGA Concept 51K (1978) - Compact High Fidelity

WEGA (Wuerttembergische Radio-Gesellschaft mbh) was a prestigious German company founded in 1923 that was acquired by SONY Corporation in 1975. It was in these early years that Sony had plans on launching unique "WEGA styled" hifi systems based on Sony electronics. The WEGA Concept 51K seen here was one of their more ambitious projects of this kind. Responsible for the unique design of this music centre was long time WEGA designer Hartmut Esslinger. Early designs created by Esslinger Design (later frog Design inc.) in 1976 show a prototype named "Skywalker" that featured needle type VU meters and slider controls that later developed into the final product known as the Concept 51K. 

While earlier WEGA music centers featured DUAL turntable this time it was used a SONY turntable with BSL Direct-Drive motor and S-shaped tonearm fitted with a Sony XL-15 cartridge. To the right of the fully covered turntable (featuring only an arch shaped window) we can find distinct "vertical segments" for the cassette recorder, digital tuner and amplifier. The cassette recorder section features Ferrite&Ferrite heads, normal, Fe-Cr and Chrome tape compatibility, Dolby noise reduction and LED VU meters. The tuner section is an analog tuner with digital grafic display, FM, AM and LW wavelength and 7 FM presets. On the amplifier section we will find the usual controls such as: input selector, two pairs of loudspeakers, bass, mid and treble control, low and high filter and loudness control. The power rating is 50 W/ch sinus DIN 4 ohm. There was a dedicated stand designed for this system (incorporating loudspeakers), as well as visually matching loudspeakers, the WEGA Direct model range. The system was available in black and white (in German this was called light grey). Size: 845xx133x401 mm | Original sale price: 2198 DM (Germany)

Skywalker sketch 1976

Skywalker Design Study 1976

Final Design (Hartmut Esslinger, Andreas Haug, Georg Spreng)

WEGA Modul 42 (1978) - Kiss That FROG

The history of WEGA starts in Germany in the year 1923 with the manufacturing of radio receivers. In 1975 the company is aquired by SONY Japan. Initially under Sony ownership WEGA had designed his own components for a while (using Sony parts) but later all components had turned into SONY rebadged products such as the WEGA C120 cassette deck from the 1001 Hi-Fi Collection. A particullarly successful series of mini Hi-Fi components were introduced in 1976 that culminated in 1978 with this WEGA Modul 42 Series. This industrial design masterpiece is the work of famed designer Hartmut Esslinger (founder of FROG Design). Components of this system are: Modul 42V stereo amplifier (90 w/ch DIN 4 ohm) using LEC (Low Emitter Concentration) transistors from Hitachi and a large toroidal transformer, Modul 42T Stereo tuner with "Digital Graphic Display", Modul 42C cassette deck with Sony Ferrite & Ferrite heads and a frequency response of 30-15,5 kHz (FeCr), Modul 42E grafic equalizer, Modul 42P Direct Drive turntable (Sony BSL-Motor). For even more immersive sound there was available the ADC-2 Acoustic Dimension Complier, a 30 W/ch amplifier that could add (to the existing stereo amplifier) adjustable space and reflection characteristics. For visuals the Wega color 3050 TV could be added while for the components there was one dedicated rack for the components and a separate one for the turntable. All components have the same size, 35 x 15 x 26 cm and they were available in black, dark grey and white. I believe that the red amplifier shown in the last picture was only an Esslinger prototype.

CLASSIC minis - part 1

AIWA M-501 1981 

Shown units: RC-R300 remote control receiver, SA-C50 preamplifier, SA-P50 power amplifier,  MT-50 audio programtimer, ST-R50 stereo tuner, SD-L50 stereo cassette deck

AIWA M-501 1981

AKAI UC-5 1980 

Shown units: SW-N5 loudspeaker, UC-F5 stereo cassette deck, UC-W5 power amplifier, UC-A5 preamplifier, UC -S5 stereo tuner, RC-5 remote control receiver

AKAI UC-5 1980 

Aurex / TOSHIBA system 15 1980

Shown units: SC-M15 power amplifier, SY-C15 preamplifier, ST-f15 stereo tuner, PC-D15 stereo cassette deck

Aurex / TOSHIBA system 15 1980

MITSUBISHI  micro HiFi 1980

Shown units: M-P01 preamplifier, M-A01 power amplifier, M-F01 stereo tuner, M-T01 stereo cassette deck

MITSUBISHI  micro HiFi 1980

PHILIPS mini 109 1980

Shown units: N 5581 stereo cassette deck, AH 109 T stereo tuner, 209 SA preamplifier, 309 PA power amplifier

PHILIPS mini 109 1980

TELEFUNKEN M 1 1981

Shown units: TELEFUNKEN MT 1 stereo tuner, MA 1 amplifier, MC 1 stereo cassette deck

TELEFUNKEN M 1 1981

WEGA MODUL 42 1978

Shown units: WEGA ADC-2 acoustic dimension controler, MODUL 42V amplifier, MODUL 42T stereo tuner, MODUL 42C stereo cassette deck, MODUL 42P turntable

WEGA MODUL 42 1978

Read more: CLASSIC minis - part 2