The Victrola No.4 A sound box from 1926

[Edisonfan]

Bought this off of eBay.

[52089]

I can't be sure, but to my eyes, that's likely a 4 "A", which is pot metal, as opposed to the earlier 4, which is not. You can tell by looking at the top of the back plate.

In any case, the 4 and 4A were designed to handle early electric recordings with better fidelity and less distortion than the No. 2 and the Exhibition. Just be careful as the 4A is prone to cracking and can't really be repaired once it cracks.

[JohnM]

They weren’t designed to “handle electrical recordings” as they aren’t designed according to the theory of Matched Impedance. They are just the cheapest reproducers Victor could produce so that they could sell a very inexpensive model in the Orthophonic line.

[Edisonfan]

I can't be sure, but to my eyes, that's likely a 4 "A", which is pot metal, as opposed to the earlier 4, which is not. You can tell by looking at the top of the back plate.

In any case, the 4 and 4A were designed to handle early electric recordings with better fidelity and less distortion than the No. 2 and the Exhibition. Just be careful as the 4A is prone to cracking and can't really be repaired once it cracks.

You are correct! It is a 4A , as it’s stamped on the Back.

[Edisonfan]

They weren’t designed to “handle electrical recordings” as they aren’t designed according to the theory of Matched Impedance. They are just the cheapest reproducers Victor could produce so that they could sell a very inexpensive model in the Orthophonic line.

Even if they weren’t designed to play electrical recordings. I think it’s still pretty cool. I did find a Victor 4, but it was an auction and a number of people were bidding on it. I still have, and use a No.2 sound box, on my Victoria VV-X.

[Valecnik]

They weren’t designed to “handle electrical recordings” as they aren’t designed according to the theory of Matched Impedance. They are just the cheapest reproducers Victor could produce so that they could sell a very inexpensive model in the Orthophonic line.

Even if they weren’t designed to play electrical recordings. I think it’s still pretty cool. I did find a Victor 4, but it was an auction and a number of people were bidding on it. I still have, and use a No.2 sound box, on my Victoria VV-X.

Baumbach notes that “The Victrola No. 4 was designed to provide a somewhat flatter frequency response than could have been offered by the older soundbox when playing the new recordings.”

While it was less expensive than the Orthophonic models, it was specifically designed to handle the new electrically recorded records of the era. On those early electrics, it delivers noticeably better sound than an Exhibition or Victrola No. 2. I use one on my Victors III, IV, V, usually with a soft tone needle to play 20s electrics from time to time. You will notice the difference on your Victrola X also.

[OrthoFan]

......Baumbach notes that “The Victrola No. 4 was designed to provide a somewhat flatter frequency response than could have been offered by the older soundbox when playing the new recordings.”

While it was less expensive than the Orthophonic models, it was specifically designed to handle the new electrically recorded records of the era. On those early electrics, it delivers noticeably better sound than an Exhibition or Victrola No. 2. I use one on my Victors III, IV, V, usually with a soft tone needle to play 20s electrics from time to time. You will notice the difference on your Victrola X also.

Based on my experience, I agree. My recently overhauled HMV 101 (Spanish version) does a very good job, emphasizing the bass notes. The #4 sound box is the pot metal type, but is in excellent condition--even the gaskets are still soft--so I'm leaving it as-found.

I don't know if the HMV version of the #4 sound box differs all that much from the Victor version, though I've noticed that the throat's opening of the HMV version is smaller and perhaps this improves the sound quality. Nearly 40 years ago, I owned Victor's "version" of the 101 -- which was fitted with the all-brass #4 -- http://www.victor-victrola.com/1-5.htm It also performed very well, though I don't remember hearing as much bass response*** as the HMV 101. In that case, I made the mistake of having the reproducer overhauled by The Antique Phonograph Shop. The wrong type of gaskets were used -- much too hard -- and the needle bar pivots were not adjusted properly. It frankly sounded horrible. Dennis was very nice and sent me back the money I paid for the overhaul. I sold it a few months later.

***I've spotted only one video of VV-1-5 in good condition, which showcases the sound quality -- what I remember hearing -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ccz4vllyMsU

OrthoFan

[Edisonfan]

They weren’t designed to “handle electrical recordings” as they aren’t designed according to the theory of Matched Impedance. They are just the cheapest reproducers Victor could produce so that they could sell a very inexpensive model in the Orthophonic line.

Even if they weren’t designed to play electrical recordings. I think it’s still pretty cool. I did find a Victor 4, but it was an auction and a number of people were bidding on it. I still have, and use a No.2 sound box, on my Victoria VV-X.

Baumbach notes that “The Victrola No. 4 was designed to provide a somewhat flatter frequency response than could have been offered by the older soundbox when playing the new recordings.”

While it was less expensive than the Orthophonic models, it was specifically designed to handle the new electrically recorded records of the era. On those early electrics, it delivers noticeably better sound than an Exhibition or Victrola No. 2. I use one on my Victors III, IV, V, usually with a soft tone needle to play 20s electrics from time to time. You will notice the difference on your Victrola X also.

I should buy some soft tone needles as I have mainly loud ones.

[OrthoFan]

This post string, from several years ago, goes into quite a bit more detail about the sonic range of the No. 4 sound box, as well as tips for replacement diaphragm gaskets -- viewtopic.php?t=1745

I'd like to add that to get the most out of a No. 4 sound box, you'd have to couple it with the appropriate air-tight sound chamber -- a gradually expanding swan-neck tonearm and long horn, which was the heart of the Gramophone Co's design of the "New" or "Improved" gramophones starting in late-1925, continuing in production until they introduced their version of the Orthophonic type gramophones in 1927--portables and table models excluded until about 1930/31. In the US, Victor also opted for a skinny, gradually expanding tonearm/tone chamber for the portables 1-5/2-60 and the VV-1-70 table top Victrola.

As for using soft tone needles, they'll sound okay if the sound box has been refitted with fresh, soft gaskets--as will loud tone needles.

OrthoFan