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Re: Questions on Columbia Analyzing sound quality.

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2020 11:31 pm
by SteveM
Intrigued by this oddball aluminum diaphragm'd one as well ... it looks like a knockoff of an English Columbia No. 9.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Douglus-No-20- ... 4097406222

Re: Questions on Columbia Analyzing sound quality.

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2020 10:21 pm
by gramophoneshane
I have no experience with Douglus sound boxes, so I can't comment on sound quality, but it certainly appears to be of reasonable design and quality. Whether the holes in the back will line up with those in the Columbia I can't say either, but I guess there'd be no harm in drilling and tapping the back of this soundbox to fit if it doesn't.

Re: Questions on Columbia Analyzing sound quality.

Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2020 7:35 am
by SteveM
My thoughts exactly. Hmmmm. Time to negotiate a bit!

Re: Questions on Columbia Analyzing sound quality.

Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2020 9:48 pm
by SteveM
So I got this "Douglas" reproducer (as seen above). It's a pot metal wonderland! There seems to be no way I'll ever get this brass back flange off. And I've inadvertently scraped off all the black paint with my screwdriver.

Re: Questions on Columbia Analyzing sound quality.

Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 11:03 am
by VanEpsFan1914
Good luck on the Douglus Reproducer. It seems like a take on the No. 9 Viva-Tonal. Actually I have one on the portable phonograph--but it's in great shape and I hate to mess it up trying to fit it to some old horn machine.

I wonder if those Burmese Colour Needles would work OK on the Analyzing Reproducer. From playing around with mine, the thing seems to require a needle that is (1) fairly large in diameter, and input to the diaphragm that is (2) not overly modulated.

Thorns would reduce blasting on loud passages or electrical jazz recordings, and the density of these Burmese Needles people talk about is probably a lot better than your average fiber needle. Orchorsol is making them, I think...

The last records I played on the BN were some 1920s jazz records, some loud German folk music, a couple waltzes, and the Poet & Peasant Overture on Columbia Grand Prize. A mix. Using the medium tone needles I got a nice sound with some discs.

Re: Questions on Columbia Analyzing sound quality.

Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 12:31 pm
by BillH_NJ
Yes, the Burmese Colour Needles do work in the Analyzing. I have to use loud steel needles in it, but the medium thorns fit fine, They do produce a softer, mellower sound that tends to work well with the Analyzing, at least with some records. The thorns do wear rapidly and require resharpening in less than one side with some records but are a good solution for some. While they tend to be too muted for something like my Sonora Philharmonic, they do well on my BI.

Re: Questions on Columbia Analyzing sound quality.

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 9:54 am
by SteveM
I've been meaning to get some of those BCNs ... on it!

Yeah, this Douglus does indeed resemble a No. 9 Viva Tonal. I don't think it will ever be coming apart. Nice looking thing, though.

My analyzings are sounding better ... I've screwed in the needle bar screws quite snugly, then backed them out maybe a half turn. It's cut down on a lot of the blasting whereas I can sit in front of them now and not get headaches!

Still hunting for something I can monkey around with and stick on there, though. :monkey: