Some time ago I found a 1959 RCA Orthophonic stereo record player console. I sold the broken changer and stereo tube amp. The cab was in bad shape, I recently refurbished the cab and put the old RCA speakers back in, with new capacitors. They sound nice, good lows and highs, but the mids are a little overbearing and harsh. Any ideas? Thanks.
RCA Orthophonic Speakers
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Trio
Super Member
What amp are you using? If you are using something with a preamp. you can slip an EQ in the mix and attenuate the mid range. AlNiCo speakers do tend to be most efficient in the 400 to 1000 Hz range, so they tend to be that way you describe.
Something you might try is to put an inductor, 100 turns of 20gauge wire on a 1 inch form(wood dowl, plastic tube, etc) in series with the woofer only,might help tame it as well. If you have midrange speakers, add a cementitious 10 Watt resistor in series with those, 5 ohm or 10 ohm should tame them down.
Something you might try is to put an inductor, 100 turns of 20gauge wire on a 1 inch form(wood dowl, plastic tube, etc) in series with the woofer only,might help tame it as well. If you have midrange speakers, add a cementitious 10 Watt resistor in series with those, 5 ohm or 10 ohm should tame them down.
Trio is giving you excellent, low cost advice here.
I'll add one thing, since some of the overtones from the midrange are coming though the tweeter, a lot of the guys over at the antique radio forum who love and use the New Orthophonic consoles replace that tweeter with one from Parts Express. It should be an easy search over here to find out which one.
I'll add one thing, since some of the overtones from the midrange are coming though the tweeter, a lot of the guys over at the antique radio forum who love and use the New Orthophonic consoles replace that tweeter with one from Parts Express. It should be an easy search over here to find out which one.
elliott66
Member of the Industry
I have an RCA console from the same era, 12" woofers, 3" tweeter (no suspension). Used to sound wonderful in my parents house playing old Andy Williams records. The amp was single ended EL84 and I think that tamed the midrange nicely. It sits in my basement, haven't figured out what to do with it. Stripped the amp out about 10 years ago and made it into a nice guitar amp for my buddy. But the speakers are pretty much mint.
All the speakers in my Mark I are SHOT! It must have been stored in a damp location for some time and the cones warped. One of these days, I have to get the 15" woofer and mid reconed and get new tweeters--AFTER I find the room to put the speaker cabinet on the first floor.
From what I do recall, they did sound rather good 15 years ago when I first got it, except sound was distorted at high volume due to the dryrotted cones...
From what I do recall, they did sound rather good 15 years ago when I first got it, except sound was distorted at high volume due to the dryrotted cones...
The 12" in open baffles is an interesting thought, I've heard much about certain speakers used that way. Surprisingly, the RCA speakers here I'm talking about, sound better, with the better quality of the recording, mix, EQ, etc.. Some of my CDs sound very alive. But the system does not seem to give any help to something recorded not so well in the first place. I have it sitting in a corner, in a live room. It can crank clean, as loud as this 60 year old can take it.
ferninando
Lunatic Member
RCA liked to use the buzzwords like ""Orthophonic" which had little or no actual meaning.
Everything they made was "Orthophonic" from vinyl to vacume tubes..
But those were the good old days.
Just saying.
Everything they made was "Orthophonic" from vinyl to vacume tubes..
But those were the good old days.
Just saying.
ferninando
Lunatic Member
they had the bragging rights tho IMO. they MADE the vacume tube and all the stuff that used one. Again, the 'good' old days.
Yep, right now I am listening to a "Stereo-Orthophonic" pre-recorded tape. And by the way, the RCA speakers are sounding nicely with this tape, or maybe it is my imagination. But then hey! I play guitar, the old advertising and descriptions for guitars, amps and accessories back then, would promise anyone to get well, any great sound desired. Many names and buzzwords were outer space in nature. The "Stratocaster" Fender guitar for example. 'course, Fender sent one to the stratosphere with that design!
Trio
Super Member
The Radiola was just an extension of the "Victorola" after they acquired "Victor". So that one was rather obvious. The electrified "Victrola's" were actually "Elec-trola's".
I can't recall the model of the 1936 RCA "Magic Brain" Console with tuning eye, and "Concert tuning" cabinet sitting next to me, but it is very nice looking console with decent sound. i would post a pic of it, but too many storage boxes in front of it right now.
But don't forget about their "Golden Throat" series of radios.
RCA did not spare any expense back then, few did- and left quite a legacy that leaves much to be desired from today's offernings bearing the same names- but rarely the same company they were.