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I came across this RCA-Victor portable (see pictures below), but the only info that I could find about this machine is that it looks like O-2 from this page, which gives no technical data:
http://www.mulhollandpress.com/styled-2 ... index.html

Does anyone know whether the reproducer on this machine is an orthophonic? Will it fit Victor orthophonics, specifically 1-90? If this reproducer is in fact orthophonic, how is its sound quality compared to Victor orthophonic?

Thank you.

That would not be considered an Orthophonic reproducer.

How is the sound quality out of it? Does it have an aluminum diaphragm, or mica? Does it fit an orthothonic (1-90) tonearm so that I can use it until I find a true orthophonic reproducer?
Thank you.

ymg200 wrote:How is the sound quality out of it? Does it have an aluminum diaphragm, or mica? Does it fit an orthothonic (1-90) tonearm so that I can use it until I find a true orthophonic reproducer?
Thank you.

Yes, it does have an aluminum diaphragm, but the opening of the throat is too narrow to fit a VV-1-90 tonearm without some type of adapter.

In terms of sound quality, based on a restored*** example I listened to attached to a Credenza tonearm using an adapter, it is not as good as an Orthophonic sound box--not as full sounding, and the bass was somewhat lacking.

This will give you an idea of the O-2's performance capability with this type of sound box -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcnnUpsAVRI (I'm assuming that the sound box in this video was restored.)


Decent, restore-able Orthophonic sound boxes come up for sale, from time to time, on this forum, as well as eBay, etc., and considering the sound quality of the 1-90, it's worth the wait to find the correct sound box.

OrthoFan
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*** The diaphragm had been remounted in fresh, soft gaskets, and the pointed needle-bar lugs were carefully filed/polished and adjusted for maximum compliance. Normally, in as-found condition, this type of sound box sounds shrill and can cause groove damage.

Edit -- Sorry to have killed this post string.