The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Many thanks for posting this. To my ears, the HMV 163 has a more powerful sound, overall. The thumping bass notes are more apparent, as is the mid-range, and the recording room resonance is clearer. The upper range of the Cortez, however, seems stronger.

Inigo wrote: Mon Dec 05, 2022 1:14 pm I've always suspected that part of the boom sound on the bass of the 194 is due to horn resonances. I had a project (never landed) of filling the back of the cabinet with sand, covering the entire horn, to kill all resonances and so being able to test its real dead sound.
An easier version would be to simply cover the horn with poly foam, but I suspect then the sound would not be so dead, for the same w would add a considerable mass to damp the vibration, which a later of foam wouldn't do. Yet a simpler version, which I must try, is to place wooden sticks of adequate length fixing the lateral plain sides of the horn to the sides of the cabinet. Sticks just measured to fit squeezed in these spaces. The thumping surfaces of the horn would receive a vibration node on these points, so the vibration frequency of these metal panels would be switched up the least, and maybe killed. It's easy to do, and one of these days I'll try that...

Henry wrote: Mon Dec 05, 2022 3:01 pm Both machines sound very nice indeed. Definite, pronounced wow on the Brunswick, especially noticeable in the piano intro. Piano is always a dead giveaway for any speed variation; the ear will detect even the most subtle occurrence.

Henry wrote: Mon Dec 05, 2022 3:01 pm Both machines sound very nice indeed. Definite, pronounced wow on the Brunswick, especially noticeable in the piano intro. Piano is always a dead giveaway for any speed variation; the ear will detect even the most subtle occurrence.

JerryVan wrote: Mon Dec 05, 2022 7:24 pm Both sound wonderful. I couldn't help but wonder what differences may be introduced by having the Cortez on a hardwood floor, versus the 163 on carpeting.

epigramophone wrote: Tue Dec 06, 2022 7:14 am Some owners have filled the void around the horn with loft insulation, less heavy than sand and less messy than foam.
Attaching the horn to the cabinet sides with resonating panels was a feature of the Micro-Perophone Chromogram, the best cabinet gramophone most people have never heard of. I used one as my everyday player until the EMG/Expert bug bit me.