Basically new construction principles had to be applied in
order to launch such a cheap device. Construction and
manufacturing of the VE 301 had brought a lot of experiences
which were used at creating the DKE 1938. A single circuit
receiver with two stages for all-mains operation together with
a new double valve is set up which contains in a bulb the
triode system for the audion and a pentode system for the 
final stage. This new type of valve VCL 11, especially
developed for the DKE exactly as the new rectifier valve
VY 2, has a heater voltage of 90 V at a heater current of
50 mA; the rectifier valve spends 20 V at the same heater
current.

The tuning of the receiver, fitted out with low-damping coils, is
carried out with a knurled knob which sticks out from the
cabinet at the front side; the switching from AM to LW 
happens automatically when turning beyond a given point. 
The aerial coupling is inductively adjustable.

The low-metal layout of the DKE is interesting; all single
components are located on a horizontal plate of non-
conducting material which rests on corresponding cams of
the molded bakelite jacket. The use of metal is very restricted.
Even the basket of the speaker consists of insulating plastics,
a material which has delivered an optimal performance for
this purpose. Also the magnet of the speaker consists
partially of the most modern, for this use actually available 
material which up to now had been used only in testing
instruments and similar devices: the so-called synthetic resin
magnets; that are crystals from the famous aluminium-nickel
magnetic steel which are pressed into the designated form
with synthetic resin.

It is due to the application of the new developed V-valves that
the Deutsche Klein-Empfaenger has a power consumption of
only 15 watts.