The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I don't even know how long now I have worked to create something approaching the original in sound when it comes to diaphragms. On the music thread I have learned pretty much now how to produce a half decent looking video after some rather poor layouts. On many of the selections the sound I believe is quite acceptable. But after recording so many things in my vibrant and small living room I have found that some records simply are too loud which leads to distortion of the upper sounds of horns and piano and vocals. Its not something that happens all the time but enough that I went back to checking several diaphragms of Edison and some other newer versions. As usual I find that in most cases the same sound is recorded in the record, but when forced too much it can then show up more than one would want. The Original Edison did it as well but overall they tend to be somewhat softer an not as prone to the problem. I have purposely trying to develop a strong sound as that is what most people want.

I knew that often the cap and its size is a factor in how vibrant an loud a diaphragm will play. I took the one out that I have been recording with which has a somewhat tall glue cap. I snipped about a fourth of it off and reinstalled it. After that much of the high end problem became closer to acceptable and about even with the original. Another factor that effects this is the size of the room. In larger spaces where I have some other machines which seems too loud in my living room there pretty much fine where they can expand.

Hopefully I can maintain sufficient volume an still limit the issues on the top.

Larry