The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello all,

Can anyone tell me what your opinion of the model ‘N’ reproducer are when playing black wax Amberols? Is there an improvement over the model H?
I have a rebuilt H but am not completely satisfied with it, even after some adjustment, and I was wondering if the larger N is similar to a diamond B in sound quality?

Also, just out of curiosity, how does a model O compare to a single model C/H? Does its sound quality compare well to a model N or Diamond B?

Thanks in advance.

Generally, a larger diaphragm gives better volume and frequency response.

It would be interesting to see (and hear) a comparison among the different model reproducers.

- Bill

My model C Triumph came with the original forward facing carriage arm for C and H reproducers. When I switched to the horizontal carriage arm (after a few years) I elected a model O reproducer, which produced a superior sound -- but with two serious drawbacks. First, the stylus didn't always settle squarely into the groove as it's at the end of a long shaft (rotated one way for 2m and the other way for 4m); diagonal orientations would often occur when the selected stylus was lowered onto the cylinder. Second, when it was finally settled squarely in the groove, its heavyness tended to pull the cylinder along with it and cause repeats.

Finally decided to try something different and bought a model N. GREAT CHOICE!!! You get the improved sound of the O but without any of its tracking and weight issues.

My model N still needs a rebuild. I’ll eventually get to it hopefully in the next 50 years.
I wonder how it would sound like with something like a True Tone or one of Herman’s diaphragms.