Grundig Satellit 2000 (1972)
The Grundig Satellit 2000 is a portable world-band receiver from the early 1970s, and it has a "legendary" reputation among European listeners. It's a double-conversion (double-heterodyne) set covering FM, LW, MW, and 18 shortwave bands. The Internet Archive describes it as a "International 21 band communication receiver." It was one of the most advanced domestic radios of its era because it could receive single-sideband (SSB) broadcasts. That made it a real tool for shortwave enthusiasts, not just a broadcast set.
The Satellit 2000 sits in the middle of Grundig's long Satellit series, which began in 1964 with the Satellit 205 and eventually spanned 17 models. The direct successor was the Satellit 2100. The two are closely related but easy to tell apart. The 2000 uses sliding potentiometers for volume control and a different AF preamplifier circuit, and its tuning scales are arranged horizontally. The cabinet is big, roughly 44 × 26 × 12 cm and 6.3 kg, finished in silver and black with push-button controls across the top. The back panel carries a 5-pin DIN socket (for tape/stereo connections), external antenna terminals, connections for an external speaker and power adapter, and a battery-operation switch. An optional SSB unit marked "Satellit 2000 Zusatz" was available. A rechargeable battery pack and a carrying case (with a pop-up handle) were offered as accessories. A gray/black version also exists.
The record on this model is thin. The 1972 production date comes from a single Russian marketplace listing and isn't corroborated by manufacturer documentation. No original price, frequency coverage ranges in kHz/MHz, sensitivity figures, or other measured specifications have survived in the usual directories. What owners report is consistently positive. Russian sellers describe it as a "legend from West Germany with excellent reception quality and velvety sound," noting it "works on all bands, picks up clearly" and "excellently produces the original bassy sound." One owner documented a simple repair - a blown internal fuse that, once replaced, brought the receiver back to life.
Known specifications:
- Bands: FM, LW, MW, 18 × SW (21 bands total)
- Circuit: Double conversion / double-heterodyne; SSB reception capable
- Dimensions: 44 × 26 × 12 cm (W×H×D)
- Weight: 6.3 kg
- Power: 220 V AC; battery operation via optional rechargeable pack
- Made in West Germany
Current asking prices vary widely by condition and market: from 16,500 ₽ on Avito and 20,500 ₽ on Meshok.net to 65,000–70,000 ₽ for cosmetically pristine, never-opened examples with the original black case. A Catawiki auction bid reached €50. Missing chrome trims are a commonly noted cosmetic flaw. The Satellit 2000 is a heavyweight of the portable shortwave world — physically and reputationally — and remains a sought-after collector's piece.
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