The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Dearest fellows, please celebrate with me! Today I'm entering the Hyperborea of gramophones, the Walhalla of mechano-acoustic music... A French-made HMV 163 has crossed the gate of my home, at last!

This is quite much the accomplishment of a lifetime of interest in gramophones for me, a very important purchase that I scheduled for my 50th birthday, but happened to come for my 47th as a good deal knocked earlier at my door.

The furniture is in decent conditions and, aside a replaced front cloth, all I can see obviously missing is the arrow of the speed control dial (more about this on a specific topic in the forthcoming days). The motor is quite all right and runs silently, steadily and smoothly. The soundbox needs some maintenance but I could grab another by an HMV 102 and listen to some records before going back to job. (Did I ever mention how amazing it is, at least to my eyes, that a portable as small as the 102 shares the same soundbox with a giant as the 163?).

Well, much to my surprise, in spite of educated comments that I've read elsewhere, it seems to me that this machine doesn't deliver an outstanding volume - I mean it obviously plays very loud but that's not what you would write home about - but my oh my listen to that bass! You can't believe it, you'd want to write your mom about that bass right away!!! And especially with the lid closed, the sound is very mellow, without any harshness at all!

This was a tricky purchase (and I would like to thank fellow Carlos for inspecting the machine and giving advice) followed by a risky boat and truck shipment with many many things that could go wrong any time. Quite amazingly it all worked out just fine, much more smoothly than in my best expectations. I am happy, and today's a day to celebrate. Please fellows have a drink on me, and toast at my health! Just let me know how much you paid for your drink at your favourite pub, and I'll refund you with PayPal (seriously!).

Marco Gilardetti wrote:Please fellows have a drink on me, and toast at my health! Just let me know how much you paid for your drink at your favourite pub, and I'll refund you with PayPal (seriously!).

Congratulations!! I ordered a bottle of champagne at The Fighting Cocks (the oldest pub in England no less!) I will forward my PayPal details so you can send me the 80 Euros.

Yes the big horn on the re-entrants gives a really good bass response. I don't have one but your story really makes me want to hear one again.

Congratulations, Marco:) Stunning gramophone, triple vow:))
I am very happy for you. Instead of ordering champagne though, I will instead have an extra cup of tea for you this evening, also to minimize
your Paypal costs.

Thank you mates! Champagne doesn't qualify as a "drink at your pub" I'm afraid...

That is fantastic, Marco, and congratulations! I'll sip some expresso later this afternoon with a square of chocolate on the side to celebrate.

I would absolutely love to own a 163 myself. In fact, I very nearly purchased a 157 just recently (which was not advertised as such), but after researching and finding that it was not a 163, I passed on the sale.

Enjoy and perhaps you could post a video in the future?

Kind regards,
CharlieP

I've had my 163 for about 14 years now and I love it. As you said it delivers a really nice sound. I've always pondered though what the purpose of the two slits on the back of the cabinet which go through into the record compartment are for. Possibly to allow a sliver of higher frequencies to seep out from under the closed lid to enhance the overall sound heard from the machine?

Interestingly I once saw a photograph of those carved wood inserts on the door - those fancy swirls. Well this photo (not taken by me) shows one of these carvings that had been damaged and do you know they are not actually wood at all but cast resin! Would you believe it as they have wood grain marks and everything. I wish I still had the photo to show but unfortunately I don't and the person who took it is no longer with us but instead floating on a higher (or lower - depending on your view of them) asteral plain.

Enjoy it. It might be the smallest of the re-enterants but in my opinion it punches way above its weight in sound delivery.

CharliePhono wrote:That is fantastic, Marco, and congratulations! I'll sip some expresso later this afternoon with a square of chocolate on the side to celebrate.

I would absolutely love to own a 163 myself. In fact, I very nearly purchased a 157 just recently (which was not advertised as such), but after researching and finding that it was not a 163, I passed on the sale.

Enjoy and perhaps you could post a video in the future?

Kind regards,
CharlieP

Thank you very much mate, I appreciate it!

Indeed the 157 is not bad at all (it's sort of half 163 if I remember correctly), but I suppose that just as in my case you might own one, perhaps two of these machines and then the room is over. So you have to buy carefully.

Indeed some videoclips is what I have in mind for the forthcoming days! I see them as a sort of re-entrant horn reply to Andy's EMG Expert outstanding videos...

phonosandradios wrote:I've always pondered though what the purpose of the two slits on the back of the cabinet which go through into the record compartment are for. Possibly to allow a sliver of higher frequencies to seep out from under the closed lid to enhance the overall sound heard from the machine?

I haven't seen this detail yet, I will investigate and see if turns a light on in my mind.

Interestingly I once saw a photograph of those carved wood inserts on the door - those fancy swirls. Well this photo (not taken by me) shows one of these carvings that had been damaged and do you know they are not actually wood at all but cast resin! Would you believe it as they have wood grain marks and everything.

I didn't notice this detail so far as well, but I'm not really surprised as while unpacking the gramophone I was pondering how such carvings would require highly specialised personnel, actually nearly-artist carvers, and I was wondering how they managed to produce these doors by industrial numbers at reasonable costs in reasonable time. Well, now I know their trick... Quite obviously they went the "cheap" way...

Marco, welcome to the wonderful world of the HMV reentrant horns. You'll enjoy a lot, for sure. They play loud and warm, either with steel of fibre needles. Their t tracking alignment is very good, and i believe they only fall second to the marvelous EMG/Expert range machines.
I particularly own a 194, very much cared for in these 19 years, which I've passed trying to improve its sound until I've arrived to its highest point. I was very eager to listen to an emg in the flesh, and last October had the chance to listen to one expert minor, but i believe my 194 sounds overall better, to my surprise. Your 163 has a bit less bass, but i believe the sound is pretty nice and crisp. Sometimes the 194 seems too loud, even with bamboo needles or soft steel ones (so says my wife..., and too big also!.... ), and this even considering it's placed in a large room!
The 163 may be more suitable for listening to in a standard average room, and in sure you'll enjoy it a lot!
Me myself would like to have a 163, and from time to time I'm thinking about changing my 194 for this smaller marvel, if only for enjoying the music with my wife's blessing...

I recently got an HMV 163 as well! The clarity in vocals is great, and it really fills the room up. Mine came with a 5a, and I decided to send it off to Wyatt since it would be my new work-horse. In my opinion it is much nicer in appearance (and in size) than a credenza. My only criticism is that in some instances the low end lacks some clarity, which is somewhat if a sacrifice made to increase the bass. I cant wait to get my Cortez working in order to compare the two.

My 163 however, suffered some water damage and poor refinishing.

Martin