So, here’s a little experiment. I have a Victrola VV-IV tabletop Phonograph. I have 3 reproducers (soundboxes). I have 3 kinds of needles (soft, medium, and loud). I put a microphone directly in front of the horn and recorded variations of these elements. The record is Bix Biederbecke’s Royal Garden Blues from a reissue 78 album. I’ll also include my digital transfer of the exact same record and another transfer of the same song done professionally.
This is not a completely thorough experiment. I only used the one phonograph. Different phonograph models, different external horn sizes and shapes, and even the room in which the phonograph is being played will effect the sound. And although they have been cleaned and restored, both the phonograph and the reproducers are very old and the sound may vary from one to the next based on condition.
Here is the recording from the collection Volume 2: At The Jazz Band Ball
Here is my digital transfer from the 78 record album set Jazz as It Should be Played by Beiderbecke (Columbia Records C-29) – (this is the exact same record as is being played on the acoustic phonograph below):
Note: part of the reason the above recordings sound louder is because they have been compressed. I left the recordings below uncompressed to give an idea of the varying volume levels of the reproducers.
Here is the same record played on the Victrola VV-IV, Victor Exhibition Reproducer, with a soft, medium and loud tone needle:
(the loud tone version is shortened)
Here is the same record played on the Victrola VV-IV, Victor No. 2 Reproducer, with a soft, medium and loud tone needle:
(the loud tone version is shortened)
Here is the same record played on the Victrola VV-IV, His Master’s Voice (HMV) Orthophonic, with a soft, medium and loud tone needle. (This reproducer is not really intended to be used with this machine, but I modified the attachment slightly to fit):
Here’s some pictures of my setup:
