The problem with the Pathe Diffusor as well as with the Pathe Actuelle is the absence of proper baffling around the reproducer cone or "diaphragm". The benefits of the fairly direct connection of the stylus to the diaphragm are unfortunately swamped by the poor bass response of both of these systems. The Actuelle also suffers from the extraordinarily long linkage from stylus to reproducer cone. This also causes a rolloff of the treble frequencies due to the high moving mass of this stylus bar connection. Putting a baffle (to keep the front sound emissions from cancelling with those from the back) around the Diffusor diaphragm or Actuelle cone would greatly enhance the bass performance, but it would make the phono quite large and ungainly. This is part of the theory of horn reproduction - the emission from one side of the diaphragm is GREATLY enhanced with respect to the emission from the other side and there is little opportunity for cancellation. And with typical cone loudspeaker reproduction, a baffle (the cabinet or box) helps keep the back emission separate from the front to reduce cancellations.
Greg Bogantz ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Wright" <[email protected]> To: "Antique Phonograph List" <phono-l at oldcrank.org> Sent: Monday, November 03, 2008 6:57 PM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Lateral Vs Vertical. Jim, Greg, Steve, and Thomas :-), Thanks very much for all the insight. I hadn't considered the possibility that vertical was inferior, but vertical companies worked that much harder for better sound; I assumed all other things were probably even. I do find it strange that so many vertical recordings by so many companies had superior sound to so many laterals, including as pointed out below, individual labels who issued records cut both ways. Anyone have any impressions of the Path? Diffusor? I would think that being a large diaphragm with a jewel tip sitting directly on the recorded groove, it would be the most direct playback mechanism of any that have existed. Right? No pivot point to worry about, just the simplest physics around -- true analog, as it were, the only example of it since Edison's original prototype, yes? Has anyone thought to try improving upon that particular playback methodology? Thanks again, all. I'm storing these in a special folder to revisit from time to time. Best to all, Robert ----- Original Message ----- From: "Thomas Edison" <[email protected]> To: <phono-l at oldcrank.org> Sent: Monday, November 03, 2008 4:10 PM Subject: [Phono-L] Lateral Vs Vertical. > Hello everyone. Thinking of the L and V issue, I have a very simple > response from cutting records. I had recorded Laquers with the Fairchild > lathe , in order to record high frequencies, I had to boost them to a > dangerous level almost burning the coil up. When you record you boost > highs and limit the lows, and the opposite when you play them back. I > used the same head to record hill and dale cylinder records on Edison > blanks, and could record the cylinders almost flat, and the lows and highs > sounded very similar to the original recording, and the highs did not have > to be boosted to the dangerous levels of the lateral disc of which the > head was designed to cut, so it certainly seems that it is harder to > record highs on lateral recordings than vertical. Some of you on the list > have some of these electrically recorded cylinders in your collections > with modern music on them, you can state the same I am sure. When it > comes to bass however, vertical records are much harder as li > fts occur, but you can increase the ambient wax temperature and record > deeper grooves, and record more bass The lowest bass note I had recorded > on cylinders was 16 cps, however this was a test tone, with no other > frequencies added, it was very difficult to do but can be done. Lateral > records record bass with relative ease, however if the volume is to high > the grooves run into eachother and must be spaced apart more. (Most modern > recording lathes do this automatically.) If you listen to companies that > recorded lateral and vertical records you can hear much clearer records, > with vertical recordings time and time again. Pathe', Gennette ect. > _________________________________________________________________ > Want to read Hotmail messages in Outlook? The Wordsmiths show you how. > http://windowslive.com/connect/post/wedowindowslive.spaces.live.com-Blog-cns!20EE04FBC541789!167.entry?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_092008 > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org > _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
