The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

My friend Dan Nichols commented the other day that my Edison C-250 Diamond Disc phonograph is louder than a friend of his C-250.He thought that where the cabinet for mine was made could be the difference.And,his friend's C-250 is not as tall as mine.Any comments on this?edisonplayer

The heart and soul of any talking machine is the reproducer. I'd try the same reproducer in each machine for a better test. I always thought the horn and mechanism on any Diamond Disc is essentially isolated from the cabinet. I doubt if the cabinet is responsible for any difference in sound.

Jerry Blais

Generally, the only difference a cabinet is going to make in sounds quality is that the sound may be slightly richer from larger models than smaller others. For example, I have an oak H-19 and a Mahogany C-19. They sound only slightly different with the same reproducer. The cabinets are different sizes as are the horns. Naturally, the larger C-19 is louder with fuller bodied sound (there are acoustics involved with cabinet size and horn size that I don't totally understand- think of how come concert halls are praised for their acoustics while others are not).

The smaller H-19 still sounds great, just not the same. Generally, I would think that two C-250s should sound the same when their reproducers are properly serviced with air-tight seals. Bad seals will rob your machine of volume and tonal quality. Do both machines have the same reproducers? (ie. serial numbers A or B... or Edisonic or Dance)? These details will also make a difference. If both are sporting the same reproducers, then you should definitely consider new seals (at a minimum) for the quieter one.

Ed

Edisonh19 wrote:Generally, the only difference a cabinet is going to make in sounds quality is that the sound may be slightly richer from larger models than smaller others. For example, I have an oak H-19 and a Mahogany C-19. They sound only slightly different with the same reproducer. The cabinets are different sizes as are the horns. Naturally, the larger C-19 is louder with fuller bodied sound (there are acoustics involved with cabinet size and horn size that I don't totally understand- think of how come concert halls are praised for their acoustics while others are not).

The smaller H-19 still sounds great, just not the same. Generally, I would think that two C-250s should sound the same when their reproducers are properly serviced with air-tight seals. Bad seals will rob your machine of volume and tonal quality. Do both machines have the same reproducers? (ie. serial numbers A or B... or Edisonic or Dance)? These details will also make a difference. If both are sporting the same reproducers, then you should definitely consider new seals (at a minimum) for the quieter one.

Ed

Yes: generally a larger (and longer) horn produces a better bass response.

Bill

I'll have to tell Dan that the seal on the reproducers makes the difference,not the size of the cabinet.Perhaps the reproducer that's on his friend's C-250 isn't sealed as well as the one on mine.edisonplayer