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Seeking to purchase a top of the Victor Orthophonic Victrola can some members who know them well give some good advice and lead me to one!
Eric

Probably a Credenza I presume. Then there is the Borgia II with both electric and acoustic reproduction...

10-50

Wolfe wrote:10-50

For best sounding, I'd have to second the 10-50, which has a horn that is about two feet longer than the Credenza's six foot tone chamber, according to the information supplied on this page -- http://myvintagetv.com/updatepages1/105 ... r_1050.htm

The horn's mouth is certainly much larger than that of the Credenza. As a result, and depending on the record, a carefully restored 10-50 pumps out bass you can feel as well as hear--I know that the one I listened to did.

As for desirable, that's more subjective to me. In terms of cabinet style, I'd love to have a VV-8-35, or a VV-8-9, both of which are equipped with six foot metal exponential tone chambers, unlike the Credenza, which of course, uses a wooden re-entrant horn coupled to a long cast iron elbow. Both have the same sonic range as the Credenza, but they pump out a brighter, less directional sound. (Using a loud tone needle, they could also probably be heard three floors down in the apartment building I live in, so they probably wouldn't be so desirable to my neighbors. )

OrthoFan

10-50 here too

OrthoFan wrote:In terms of cabinet style, I'd love to have a VV-8-35, or a VV-8-9

I have one of each and I think you’d be hard pressed to get a better sound out of the various other models.

The best sounding isn't even an orthophonic machine. It's the Brunswick Cortez. They generally cost more than a Credenza though.

I might agree that a Cortez can sound better than a Credenza but not better than a 10-50 ,and for the Brunnie to be better is reproducer dependent ,.....i think an HMV 163 might be better than the brunnie ....do not even bring up the 193,202

Thanks to everyone who has replied ! Now that i have a little more information i can narrow it down . Non electric non pot metal reproducer . Needle storage for Tungs-tone needle containers and storage for record albums .


Thanks everyone!!
Eric

I've owned and restored examples of every model of the Orthophonic Victrola, as well as the Brunswick Cortez and the Columbia 800/810. Each of the larger machines has its good pinpoints and it's faults. In fact, at one point I had examples of each of these machines set up side by side in a large room with good acoustics for direct comparason.
Also we must remember that every individual's ears differ, and the ideal machine for one person will be sub-optimal to another.

To my ears, the metal horned Orthophonic machines are preferable to the wood horned instruments, for they offer better balance and an enhanced upper mid-range, whilst offering bass response comparable to the Credenza. The 10-50 is excellent, but my ears find that this model's extended bass response seems to come at the cost of goog upper range response. These machines seem to blend the advantages of straight horned machines such as the Cortez with the better balance and extended bass of the Credenza.

The brass Orthophonic reproducer is desirable because of its seeming imperishability, but a good pot metal unit with its phasing plug which has been restored by an expert like Mr. Marcus is audibly superior.