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I was wondering what the most reliable and best sounding needle-type phonograph is. I have a lot of trouble with the sound quality of many phonographs, although it may just be me.

Victor Credenza (VE8-30) orthophonic Victrola with an electric motor.

Get the soundbox rebuilt properly and you will be shocked at how good the whole system sounds.

The electric motor needs less oiling and greasing, and zero winding. Plus no springs to break.

EMGs and Experts, especially the larger models.

Orchorsol wrote: Mon Jun 02, 2025 2:48 am EMGs and Experts, especially the larger models.

This! There is absolutely no comparable machines made by any other makers.

ajhuth1877 wrote: Sun Jun 01, 2025 5:32 pm I was wondering what the most reliable and best sounding needle-type phonograph is. I have a lot of trouble with the sound quality of many phonographs, although it may just be me.

See above!

Orchorsol wrote: Mon Jun 02, 2025 2:48 am EMGs and Experts, especially the larger models.

If cost were no object and rarity did not limit availability, perhaps.

ajhuth1877 wrote: Sun Jun 01, 2025 5:32 pm I was wondering what the most reliable and best sounding needle-type phonograph is. I have a lot of trouble with the sound quality of many phonographs, although it may just be me.

I would also endorse the EMG and Expert machines as the ultimate for sound quality, but what type of machine had you in mind? Open Horn, Cabinet, Table, Portable? There are good sounding machines in all these categories.

ajhuth1877 wrote: Sun Jun 01, 2025 5:32 pm I was wondering what the most reliable and best sounding needle-type phonograph is.

If you are able to experience the superlative sound reproduction quality of a large EMG in person I guarantee you will be amazed by what you hear. The acoustic performance of these instruments (they are more than machines) has never been beaten. EMG also used the best quality motors.

In the context of my extremely limited experience, having been an enthusiast for only a few years, I will comment on the relativity of superlatives.

Undoubtedly, the absolute "best" sounding machine I have ever heard in person is from the EMG/Expert family. Unfortunately I do not own one, nor am I ever likely to.

I own machines ranging in build date from 1920 to 1941, and from among these few machines, the generally "best" sounding ones are the ones with HMV 5x or Orthophonic reproducers; a second and very surprising "best" might be the (probably Birch-made) reproducer on my 1941 Canadian-assembled RCA Victor portable, a machine with a very large exponential-ish horn (for a portable). However, I find that "best" is relative to the record being played. There are definitely records that sound better, relatively "best," on older machines with reproducers that have much more limited dynamic and frequency ranges.

For reliability .... all of my machines work quite well, the oldest now being 105-years-old. Only one of them shows any sign of any "recent" servicing. The one exception to "working well" is a Victor VV2-55, but its train-wreck condition is not its fault--nothing mechanical will survive absolute abuse and neglect. So what's to complain about with regards to reliability?

Let's compare this to other "durable" goods. Cars I have owned? Nope. Household appliances? Nope. Modern electronics? Nope.

My previous clothes dryer, however, did last over 40 years, but then I had to rebuild it twice to varying degrees (glides, belts, thermostats, elements, etc)--the entire wiring harness had to be replaced once for fire safety reasons. So while being sort of long-lived, the machine cannot really be considered "reliable."

I would also endorse the EMG and Expert machines as the ultimate for sound quality, but what type of machine had you in mind? Open Horn, Cabinet, Table, Portable? There are good sounding machines in all these categories.

I just meant any type of phonograph in general. Thanks for all the suggestions!