The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I've been recently uploading some videos to my YouTube channel of some very old Victor Monarchs that I came across. I initially played them on my Victor III and in my music room they sound amazing. Quite a number of folks asked me to make cleaner digital transfers of them, devoid of "room sound" which I did. Some people really like that. But I'll tell you, I got WAY more satisfaction out of playing them on a lovingly restored (over the course of many months) original Victor III external horn phonograph. Much greater depth, much less hiss, and a much more "authentic" experience. Like others have said, I wouldn't put my rarest records on their just for their own preservation, but pluck just about any of my common Victor Batwing, Columbia blue label, Brunswicks, or Perfect discs off the shelf and have a grand ol' time. There's really nothing like it. Digital doesn't even come close to the experience IMHO.