Dear Steve,

I don't know what if any circuit investigations have been made of the phono
stages in the various brands of (radio)phonographs from the late twenties
to 1955. It would certainly be a worthy effort and now would require
tireless energy to locate surviving examples.

The answer for now, however, is that what was cut in the groove was often
at variance with how it sounded in playback on a contemporary commercial
phonograph. Enough has been written about how sales departments wanted
something that sounded smooth and rich, which usually meant heavy hf
de-emphasis to suppress surface noise, high passed lf and a rather boomy
mid-range. Mastering engineers seem to have chosen the curves they used
irrespective of a company "sound". EMI was more consistent than either
Victor or Columbia in this respect. After about 1932-35, everything became
more standardized; however, about then or slightly later, Victor began
employing limiter-compressors in their recording chain, which added a whole
new set of variables.

DDR

On Sun, Jun 5, 2016 at 12:24 PM, Steven Smolian <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Hi, Dennis,
>
> Is it correct to assume that the eq used by a given company at a given
> time, on ethat made its own phonographs,
>
> When a record company also made phonographs, as so many of them did
> through the late 340s anyhow, is it safe to assume that the non-adjustable
> playback eq hard-wired into the playback amplifier matched what was used to
> make that company's records at the time the amplifier schematic was drawn
> up?  And, if so, could these schematics be a source of accurate playback
> curves for that company at that time?
>
> Steve Smolian
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List [mailto:
> [log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Dennis Rooney
> Sent: Sunday, June 05, 2016 12:06 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] The best of YouTube?
>
> In fact, what emerged as the RIAA playback curve was one of those
> originally published by Western Electric and used occasionally by Victor,
> Columbia and HMV in the late twenties. However, it was used far less than
> those customarily associated with 78rpm playback
>
> DDR
>
> On Sat, Jun 4, 2016 at 8:21 PM, Lou Judson <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > Of course it is standard procedure to not use RIAA curve on 78s. It
> > should go without saying! It is only for Lps, and not all of those…
> > <L> Lou Judson Intuitive Audio
> > 415-883-2689
> >
> > On Jun 4, 2016, at 2:03 AM, Inigo Cubillo <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> > >  During many years I did direct tape transfers of 78s, with no eq,
> > > and I always noticed a better sound from
> > the
> > > tapes than thru the RIAA amp, for the RIAA spoiled the sound due to
> > > its
> > eq,
> > > while the sound on the tapes was direct from the ceramic cart. Years
> > after
> > > I learned about eq for 78s and I realised this was the reason of
> > > better sound on the tapes.
> > > Saludos,
> > >
> > > Inigo
> >
>
>
>
> --
> 1006 Langer Way
> Delray Beach, FL 33483
> 212.874.9626
>



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