The Braun wall unit, The Wandalage, designed by Dieter Rams, is a quintessential piece of Hi-Fi history from the 1960s.
This wall-mounted system combines an amplifier, radio, reel-to-reel machine, speakers, and a record player on a Vitsoe shelf. It's a highly coveted item among Braun collectors - but finding it in a complete and pristine condition is rare.
The Braun TS 45 Receiver, designed in 1965 by Dieter Rams, includes an amplifier with inputs for tape and turntable, and a multi-band radio receiver. It supports shortwave, mediumwave, longwave, and FM stereo, in addition to a field intensity display and a stereo indicator lamp. The TS 45, sold for 1,245 Deutsche Mark, delivers 2 x 15 watts (sine 2 x 25 watts) of power and shares its construction with the Audio 2 compact system.
The Braun TG 60 tape recorder, also from 1965 and designed by Rams, features three Pabst electric motors. Calibrated for the Braun (BASF) TB 631 tape, it supports 45 minutes of stereo playback at 19 cm/s. It features three separate half-track heads for erasing, recording, and playback, allowing back-tape control of recordings, a feature then common in high-end studio recorders. Originally priced at 1,995 Deutsche Mark, only 500 units were produced.
Designed in 1965 to complement the TS 45 and Audio 2 compact system, the Braun L 450 speakers were available in white, graphite, and walnut veneer. Each speaker, priced at 298 Deutsche Mark, includes a 5.1-inch woofer and a 1.3-inch high-range loudspeaker with a transition frequency of 2,600 Hz, a power rating of 20 watts at 4 ohms, and a frequency range of 35-25,000 Hz. The L 450 was later replaced by the L 470 in 1969, which maintained the same dimensions and could be used interchangeably in the Braun wall system.
The Braun PCS 5 turntable exemplifies fine craftsmanship. Its adjustable tonearm and factory-equipped Shure pickup ensure superior playback. With proper maintenance, the PC5 continues to perform flawlessly, maintaining its legacy as a remarkable audio component.
For Braun's 100th anniversary, in 2021, Virgil Abloh reimagined this iconic piece. Abloh's redesign maintains the original function and quality, turning it into "functional art" that lasts.
The 2021 version features a metallic finish, reflecting both Braun’s chrome aesthetic and Abloh’s cultural influences. This collaboration honors the original hi-fi audio while ensuring it remains a durable design for the next century.
Abloh also created a remix track available on SoundCloud, reflecting his eclectic musical tastes and the Braun ethos of timeless, appreciated design.
Braun wall unit:
The absolute cult object. The wall-mounted system is one of the most sought-after hi-fi systems from the 60s. The combination of the amplifier part with radio, the reel to reel machine, the matching speakers and the record player on a Vitsoe shelf is a great idea of the designer Dieter Rams. The Braun hi-fi wall unit is an object of desire for enthusiastic collectors. This absolute rarity is rarely offered as a complete system, and when it is, it is in poor condition or halfway to hitting the right color tone repainted and reprinted.
TS 45 receiver:
The braun TS 45 Receiver was developed in 1965 by Dieter Rams and has an amplifier section with inputs for tape and a turntable and a radio receiver for several bands. Shortwave, Mediumwave and Longwave are accompanied by a FM stereo section. When connected to an antenna, the quality of the radio reception is great. There is a field intensity display and a stereo indicator lamp, which give the FM section a complete look. The TS 45 is equipped with suspension devices for wall mounting and is technically absolutely identical in construction to the audio 2 compact system also launched in 1965. The TS 45 was sold for 1,245.00 Deutsche Mark. The amplifier power is 2 x 15 watts (sine 2 x 25 watt).
TG 60 reel-to-reel tape recorder:
The braun TG 60 tape recorder was designed by Dieter Rams in 1965. The technical implementation of the requirements was carried out by the engineer Wolfgang Hasselbach. Equipped with 3 Pabst electric motors, the reel-to-reel machine can be operated easily, quickly and reliably. The TG 60 is specially calibrated for the Braun (BASF) TB 631 tape. The 18 cm reel can play back about 45 minutes of stereo recordings at a speed of 19cm/s. Three separate half-track heads for erasing, recording and playback allow back-tape control of the recording, as it was only common in highly professional studio tape recorders from Revox and Studer at that time. The TG 60 was a perfect match for the TS 45 and the L 450 loudspeakers. The retail price in 1965 was quite a proud 1,995.00 German marks. Maybe that’s why only a total of 500 units were produced.
L 450 speaker:
The Braun L 450 speakers are the original models for the legendary wall-mounted system. These speakers were specially designed in 1965 to match the TS 45 and the Audio 2 compact system. They were made in white, graphite and walnut veneer. They are equipped with a 5,1 inch woofer and a 1,3 inch high range loudspeaker, transition frequency at 2,600 Hz, power rating 20 watt at 4 ohm, the frequency range goes from 35–25000 Hz, size w 18,5 x h 9,8 x d 4,1 inches. These wall speakers were sold at that time per piece for 298,- German Mark. From 1969, the speaker model L 470 replaced the L 450. The L 470 was provided with a dome for the high-frequency range and otherwise the same dimensions and can therefore also be used absolutely suitable in the Braun stereo wall system.
PCS 5 turntable:
The original braun turntable model PCS 5 is an impressive piece of craftsmanship. The tonearm has elaborate adjustment options for perfect record playback comfort and was equipped with a tonearm lift for manual operation. A Shure pickup was used in the tone head at the factory, and its needles can still be reordered today. Technical maintenance in a qualified workshop ensures that the PCS 5 turntable will function as it did on the first day, and will continue to do so for decades to come. This record player was sold from 1965 for 658,- German Mark.
