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I was very fortunate to obtain an RCA Victor Orthophonic Soundbox this week.

While it is a further evolution of the original Ortho reproducer (its original application was a portable), it has some interesting features:

> Round hole in the needle chuck ( no more fibre needles )

> no set-screws for the mounting bushing

> no phase plug - just the three-legged finger-guard cast into the throat of the back-plate.

> no "spider" on diaphragm: the "feet" are there, around the center "ridge", but the needle-bar is soldered to an eyelet in the center of the diaphragm itself. It would appear that a "spider" diaphragm simply had the spider clipped-off at the feet.

> Rubber cushions in the bearing pockets, don't know yet if there are washers within.

> brass /bronze screen over felt mute in outer cover.

I'm pretty confident no one has been into this box since it left Camden - there are no tool marks anywhere, or other signs of disturbance.


I am curious if anyone has done a comparison between "spider" and "non-spider" diaphragms, and noticed any significant differences in audio performance ?

A pic can certainly help to id it.. .

gramophone78 wrote:A pic can certainly help to id it.. .

I'll try to get to that... I'm one of those luddites who still avoids the smarty-phone... no one-touch photo uploads for me.

I'll shoot some pics, then download to the computer, then upload to the thread.

De Soto Frank wrote:

gramophone78 wrote:A pic can certainly help to id it.. .

I'll try to get to that... I'm one of those luddites who still avoids the smarty-phone... no one-touch photo uploads for me.

I'll shoot some pics, then download to the computer, then upload to the thread.

Your not alone Frank.....that's exactly what I still do... .

That sounds like the sound box on my VV-2-65. It's a great sounding sound box.

The RCA marked Orthophonic reproducers were the last ones produced before they switched over to the Birch garbage. They were the ones that came with the model 2-65 portable, which is a great sounding portable by the way!

I have the exact same one described, and when my RCA OSB was rebuilt, I had a spider put in it because I wanted it for my Credenza. I have heard an original one without the spider (in person) and there is a definite improvement in the high register. Still enough bass, and midrange, but an overall clearer sound. I bet one would sound really nice on a later Orthophonic floor model with the metal horn, as I believe those were supposed to increase treble and clarity as compared to a wooden horn.

My favorite part about them is that they can be rebuilt pretty easily. They must have figured out a better formula for pot metal because they are usually found in stable condition.