Philips Capela 673 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Ambientnoise · 28th Jan 2023, 12:16 pm

There’s one of these sets at the Hungerford Antiques Arcade at £40. Says “working” which could mean anything of course. Looked intact, not immaculate but quite good under some dust.

simpsons · 29th Jan 2023, 10:17 am

Well, Ambient Noise, I have the Philips BD563 Saturn which shares many of the well thought through designs of the BD 673 Capela.

Most importantly, the audio output stage which is a transformerless push pull design into high impedance loudspeakers.

The audio quality is superb. Stupid as it sounds, on my set the speaker cloth moves on bass notes with the side mounted mid/tweeters, with specially shaped "tizzers," directing high notes forward to the listener.

This is some radio and if I was closer to Hungerford I would be very tempted to add the Capela to my "museum of choice."

The radio doesn't let you down on its AM sensitivity but FM is only to 100MHz.

If this wets your appetite, have a look at the schematic to see engineering at its best.

Chris

Nickthedentist · 29th Jan 2023, 10:18 am

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/philip...3a_bd_673.html

Mmm, 5 speakers!

PJL · 31st Jan 2023, 6:29 pm

I think this will be a German radio and should go to 108MHz.

simpsons · 3rd Feb 2023, 10:10 am

Well, after much thought I decided to buy the Capela radio Ken, of Ambientnoise, very kindly brought to members attention.

It just so happened that the seller was at Hungerford Antiques Arcade when I called and he sent photo's which when first seeing them made me think twice.

The scratches to the top of the case looked a little too deep for my limited skills but on reading how well other BVWS members have achieved near perfect restoration, who am I not to take on the challenge. Help!!

As mentioned, I have the Philips Saturn 563 which also has the transformerless audio output and You Tube posts of the Capela are very illustrative of the sound quality.

Chris

28th Jan 2023, 12:16 pm	#1
Ambientnoise Heptode Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 849	Philips Capela 673 There’s one of these sets at the Hungerford Antiques Arcade at £40. Says “working” which could mean anything of course. Looked intact, not immaculate but quite good under some dust.

29th Jan 2023, 10:17 am	#2
simpsons Octode Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Harrow, London, UK. Posts: 1,297	Re: Philips Capela 673 Well, Ambient Noise, I have the Philips BD563 Saturn which shares many of the well thought through designs of the BD 673 Capela. Most importantly, the audio output stage which is a transformerless push pull design into high impedance loudspeakers. The audio quality is superb. Stupid as it sounds, on my set the speaker cloth moves on bass notes with the side mounted mid/tweeters, with specially shaped "tizzers," directing high notes forward to the listener. This is some radio and if I was closer to Hungerford I would be very tempted to add the Capela to my "museum of choice." The radio doesn't let you down on its AM sensitivity but FM is only to 100MHz. If this wets your appetite, have a look at the schematic to see engineering at its best. Chris

29th Jan 2023, 10:18 am	#3
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,084	Re: Philips Capela 673 https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/philip...3a_bd_673.html Mmm, 5 speakers!

31st Jan 2023, 6:29 pm	#4
PJL Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seaford, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 5,758	Re: Philips Capela 673 I think this will be a German radio and should go to 108MHz.

3rd Feb 2023, 10:10 am	#5
simpsons Octode Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Harrow, London, UK. Posts: 1,297	Re: Philips Capela 673 Well, after much thought I decided to buy the Capela radio Ken, of Ambientnoise, very kindly brought to members attention. It just so happened that the seller was at Hungerford Antiques Arcade when I called and he sent photo's which when first seeing them made me think twice. The scratches to the top of the case looked a little too deep for my limited skills but on reading how well other BVWS members have achieved near perfect restoration, who am I not to take on the challenge. Help!! As mentioned, I have the Philips Saturn 563 which also has the transformerless audio output and You Tube posts of the Capela are very illustrative of the sound quality. Chris