The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Okay, I’m going to be a contrarian here. (Although all the recommendations for the Victrola 4-3 Consolette have got me wanting one, too!)

Given your criteria of:
(a) good sound quality with both electrically & acoustically recorded records…
(b) takes up a MINIMAL amount of space…
(c) not expensive…

May I humbly suggest a Victor VV-IV. Preferably with a well-restored Exhibition soundbox (compliant gaskets and flange, etc.) using soft-tone needles, and preferable one of the early “horn-less” versions. (I find the wood-box horns smoother sounding that the typical cast iron horn throats.)

They’re really small. They’re common, and inexpensive. (Lots of parts available, too.) I’ve restored quite a few different tabletops (IV, VI, IX, etc.) and by far my favorite is the early VV-IV.

Maybe it’s because the Exhibition is smaller (and quieter) than the #2, but – with soft-tone needles - electric records (primarily jazz/blues/foxtrot/swing) from the late 20’s to 1940 sound great on it, and I haven’t noticed any damage to records after repeated plays. (This is one of our daily-driver machines and it gets a LOT of use, mostly with the above-mentioned electric discs. It lives in our dining room, and if you close the doors it makes great-sounding dinner music you can talk over, but open them up and it’s plenty loud for a smaller room, with a nice, smooth sound quality.)

I’m sure the other machines recommended by the other, more experienced guys are all great, but if you have a small apartment with a minimum of extra space, I wouldn’t overlook the VV-IV just because it supposedly pre-dates electrically-recorded records.

Cheers!
Mark

For a well built, good sounding, easy to store machine that you can take with you outside, a VV-50 is an excellent choice. They are reasonably priced and basically the same as an upright Victrola in a small wooden case... I love mine - I have two - one Mahogany and one quartersawn oak (my favorite). Both are early models with the crank in front, but they are available as a later model with built in needle cups and can hold several records while transporting it... They are strong enough to strap to the running board of your Model T Ford to take on a picnic and as functional as an early iPod.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-1918-Vi ... 2548.l4275

Markola wrote: I’m sure the other machines recommended by the other, more experienced guys are all great, but if you have a small apartment with a minimum of extra space, I wouldn’t overlook the VV-IV just because it supposedly pre-dates electrically-recorded records.

I totally agree about not overlooking the VV-IV. It has a nice, classic appearance, it is small, and it can be great for acoustic (pre-electric era) records. I like it because it retains some of the looks of the external horn Victors without the large horn.

However, the VV-IV most definitely does pre-date the electric era in design, performance, and efficiency. The earlier Exhibition and No. 2 reproducers, and all of the reproducers of similar design from the pre-electric era, regardless of being rebuilt, will simply never outperform a rebuilt Orthophonic-class reproducer on an electric disc. The reason for this is because the older technology is not as compliant and is not designed to handle all of the sound recorded in electric records. This adds to record wear, visible or non-visible, which may be minute, but it can accumulate. The earlier horns are also non-exponential, which can detract from the sound potential. On the other hand, the Orthophonic machines can make pre-electric records sound bad, so the VV-IV would be great for these!

In my opinion, records should be played on the period equipment they were designed for in order to achieve a nice sound, and also to maintain a sense of historical accuracy. Also, a modern turntable setup with a lightweight cartridge and amp is actually a very ideal way to play many antique records. Different EQ settings can extract much more of the recorded sound than acoustic phonographs can, and they can be adjusted according to each individual disc. I'm working on having a machine for each particular recording era, and I try my hardest to keep records and machines grouped in their particular eras. I have experimented with a few acoustic phonographs and much later 78's, but I find the modern turntable is better for those.

I am not bashing the VV-IV or any other small machines, but there are Orthophonic portables (suitcase styles) that are just as small, just as common, and fit on tabletops. Maybe you could have one of each? One for acoustic records and one for electric records. The VV 2-55 is capable of outstanding performance and can even be carried around like a suitcase!

-Connor

There's always the Victrola/ HMV #4 to make electrics sound great on an earlier player...