Dolcher volume regulator

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jboger
Victor IV
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Dolcher volume regulator

Post by jboger »

Anyone have any comments on how well the Dolcher volume regulator works?

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Lucius1958
Victor VI
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Re: Dolcher volume regulator

Post by Lucius1958 »

jboger wrote:Anyone have any comments on how well the Dolcher volume regulator works?
I don't have one on my BI; but anything that presses on the diaphragm is going to reduce its compliance, and increase record wear...

Bill

jboger
Victor IV
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Re: Dolcher volume regulator

Post by jboger »

I rather doubt that it works at all. When the mica diaphragm vibrates back and forth, it does so with a displacement that can't be more than a few thousandths of an inch. With that sort of displacement, the felt pad that makes contact with the mica can't be adjusted to regulate the sound; the sound is either on or off. There is a very, very narrow adjustment band in-between the on and off positions that probably has to do with the slight compression of the felt pad, but this regions only leads to a harsh sound.

I don't think this thing ever worked as a sound regulator. The only thing I see that it could do was turn off the sound without having to lift up the tone arm. But what advantage that conferred, I don't know.

I wonder how Columbia marketed this feature.

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