The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Let me clear up that I never thought it was my right to demand a response I merely stated I thought it was sad that in a group of people with the same interest that the response was zero. I was excited about doing this work and may have been wrong that the excitement would be shared. From my perspective I invested a lot of time to do this project. I purchased Mayhew Pro hollow punches which are not cheap to cut the diaphragms discs for both the Diamond A/B/C and Diamond disc.I purchased various materials to arrive at the correct density and thickness that would produce the best sound. I invested tremendous time into sampling the material and adjusting accordingly.

This is not a money making venture as really how many reproducers are out there that needs a new diaphragm. It was all done for helping who ever wanted to participate to have a better sounding machine and the reward of producing better quality sound than Mr. Edison himself. It is very rewarding that the reviews from Steve Medved have been very positive and his customers are thrilled with the sound from my Diamond A/B/C diaphragm thus moving my effort to the Diamond Disc.

Again, I never considered it a right to receive responses just dissapointed and was never my intention admonished anyone in the group.

Thanks so much for the reviews I have received and they have been very helpful. At least the venting did help
Bury the hatchet and let's move on to producing the perfect diaphragm. My girlfriend thinks I am into Birth Control.
Herman

marcapra wrote:I listened to the four examples, but can't really judge them. What is "damper" material? Is that part of the diaphragm? One problem I have with your sound files is I can't tell whether the distortion I hear is caused by the diaphragm, or just a worn record.

The damper is part of the diaphragm. It is a disc concentric to the center but smaller than the overall dia. of the diaphragm. The goal is to enhance the lower bass frequencies.

NOTE: Reason that the no damper diaphragm may sound distorted is due to all 4 recordings were made changing nothing with the recording apparatus. The No damper produces the highest volume and may have overloaded the recording device as the graph went off scale.

I will make another recording with that diaphragm reducing the recording level and upload.

Thanks for all the responses, it does help a lot

Herman

I liked the clarity of the no damper. Whenever I make a digital microphone recording, I try to have the recording level around the middle, and have the microphone pre amp as low as I can get it, without the pre adding his or other noise to reduce distortion as much as possible. I then use the amplify in the program to bring it to 0. Digital recording is not like analog, where analog sounded good going into the red once and awhile, digital hits a brick wall, and then has a harsh sound when recorded over the 0 mark. YOUTUBE when I record something that sonds good on my end, it then does some weird processing to it, that sometimes even changes the pitch in sections of the video! (I don't thin the file sight does that).

Herman, I recommend to utilize as test sample a record as near as possible to mint condition. I listened to all four files, and the distortions from record wear overpower the differences that the four types may generate. The late acoustic DDs to me are the best suited for this kind of test, with low background hiss and well balanced sound from the various instruments.

Herman,

I like the "liveliness" of the "NO DAMPER" recording, but obvious to me is the pronounced surface noise reproduced in the higher frequency range. Other than that, I like the "BROWN DAMPER" next best. It seems to have a nice tonal balance, and not too much of the higher frequency surface noise. Just my $.02.

Cheers,
Fran

CarlosV wrote:Herman, I recommend to utilize as test sample a record as near as possible to mint condition. I listened to all four files, and the distortions from record wear overpower the differences that the four types may generate. The late acoustic DDs to me are the best suited for this kind of test, with low background hiss and well balanced sound from the various instruments.

Thanks Carlos. My DD stock is very limited and will try to get a copy of a nice 5200 series recording. They sell for more than I want to pay.

fran604g wrote:Herman,

I like the "liveliness" of the "NO DAMPER" recording, but obvious to me is the pronounced surface noise reproduced in the higher frequency range. Other than that, I like the "BROWN DAMPER" next best. It seems to have a nice tonal balance, and not too much of the higher frequency surface noise. Just my $.02.

Cheers,
Fran

Thanks Fran, Helps a lot and much more valuable than $.02

My 2c. Herman, blame me for it's very difficult to decide. The four recordings blast, and this makes it still more difficult. I was among the first ones to read enquiry, and spent a good time listening to all files, first a sample from the first minute, several times each. Then I took samples from 1:16 on, several times each. Then from the end... Then all four complete, and still couldn't decide. The no dampening sounds a bit shrill to me, and not the others. Perhaps I'll also vote for the Cork, the most balanced. Except one of them, I believe it was brown or yellow the other three have a noticeable bass. Edit: not the yellow, to me it also sounds good.