The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Sunday evening means you can't leave your phonographs alone.

What I mean is: have any of you experimented with different arrangements of the diaphragm with its rubber gaskets? The standard arrangement is (from bottom to top): gasket, diaphragm, gasket--all held in place by the securing metal ring. But in my ongoing, quixotic search for a better Edison sound, I thought I'd try this arrangement (bottom to top): gasket, gasket, diaphragm. You know, doing it that way I'm getting a louder and more detailed result.

Anyone else monkeying around with alternate arrangements?

Ralph

Hi Ralph,

Interesting experiment!

You are changing a few things there by doing
that. By allowing the diaphragm to be
spaced differently by one gasket thickness from where it normally is, the stylus "angle of attack" changes.

Also, you are changing the way that the
vibrations of the diaphragm are dampened at
the edge.

I think perhaps the change in stylus
"angle of attack" might have quite a bit
to do with the noticed change in sound.

But that is just a guess from my vast
two weeks of DD experience so far!

Chuck

Chuck wrote: I think perhaps the change in stylus
"angle of attack" might have quite a bit
to do with the noticed change in sound.

Changing the angle of the cone-shaped diamond from its intended vertical causes it to present more of its diameter to the groove, and possibly riding more on the sides and less on the bottom. There would be such a tiny difference in size that I'll add: "maybe".

I bought a Diamond B which was supposed to play well, but it sounded crappy to me, and didn't track properly. It turned out to have 2 gaskets inside & 1 outside; just that little extra thickness was enough to make the stylus bar hit the weight during play, and would have damaged records. Removing the extra inner gasket restored it to proper playing.

I don't see how having no gasket on the outside would do anything except introduce air leaks.

Hey All,

I'm going to resurrect this thread to make a new comment on adjustments one can make to Edison DD reproducers to get a better sound.

A few minutes ago I removed the two small screws at the rear of the reproducer and then twisted the weight (bottom) portion around three times, which of course would tighten the string and increase the tension between the stylus bar and the diaphragm. Putting the reproducer back together, I now have an incredibly vibrant sound. Of, of course I also use nothing but Larry Hollenberg's "True Tone" diaphragms.

Using this method, you don't even have to detach the string from the needle bar.

Tighten/loosen to your heart's content.

Ralph

pughphonos wrote:Hey All,

I'm going to resurrect this thread to make a new comment on adjustments one can make to Edison DD reproducers to get a better sound.

A few minutes ago I removed the two small screws at the rear of the reproducer and then twisted the weight (bottom) portion around three times, which of course would tighten the string and increase the tension between the stylus bar and the diaphragm. Putting the reproducer back together, I now have an incredibly vibrant sound. Of, of course I also use nothing but Larry Hollenberg's "True Tone" diaphragms.

Using this method, you don't even have to detach the string from the needle bar.

Tighten/loosen to your heart's content.

Ralph

Twisting the string does not increase its tension. The tension is constant and governed only the mass of the weight. All that is accomplished by twisting the string is to effectively shorten it's length which, once again, changes the stylus angle. It looks like maybe your real issue is an improper stylus angle. You can adjust for this by raising or lowering the entire horn/tonearm assembly, using the adjustments located behind the speaker grill.