Советская радиола из будущего: невероятный КРИСТАЛЛ

The Crystal radiogram was one of the most unusual and technically daring developments of the Riga State Electrical Engineering Plant (VEF). In 1958, this device acquired capabilities that were almost unheard of for ordinary Soviet household appliances: motorized tuning, automatic station tuning, a wired remote control, and a sophisticated surround-sound speaker system. The experimental Crystal radiogram existed in several versions. Some models were equipped with a key register and a control panel, while others had a simpler control system. Fourteen vacuum tubes powered the device, and music playback was handled by a multi-band speaker system with front and side speakers. When playing records, the stated frequency range was from thirty hertz to eighteen thousand hertz. For the late 1950s, such specifications were quite impressive. The VEF designers strove to create not just a radiogram, but a truly high-end home music system. In this video, you'll learn how the rare "Crystal" radiogram was constructed, how its experimental versions differed, why side speakers were needed, and why a device with remote control and automatic tuning never became a mass-produced product. We'll also recall the unique "Crystal" vacuum tube radio, prepared for the Brussels World's Fair in 1958. Its display case featured transparent plexiglass panels, allowing visitors to see the device's inner workings. The history of the "Crystal" demonstrates how daring Soviet developments could be. This rare technology was ahead of its time, but remained an experimental project and today is of great interest to collectors, radio enthusiasts, and connoisseurs of Russian history.