HMV 157 vs Decca 50

Just for fun, playing my HMV 157 gramophone against the little Decca 50 recased gramophone I bought recently for £5.
The 157 cost a lot more - was it worth it?
#gramophone
#phonograph
#78rpm
#78rpmshellac
#vintageaudio

[@Onlison]

The acoustics of a gramophone is impossibly amazing. I admire your work my friend.

[@mrrgstuff]

Thanks 😀 👍. Glad you have enjoyed the videos 😀

[@neilgoloy3582]

The Decca 50 is no match for the HMV though the little machine does have a charm of its own. Good to know you achieved the 5000 subscriber mark. More power to you and your awesome channel. Well done!

[@mrrgstuff]

Yes, the little Decca is unfortunately shown up rather badly in this test, though I have some ideas to improve it. Thanks also for your very kind words about my subscriber count. It certainly is nice to get to that milestone, and there will be plenty more videos to come. Thanks 😀 👍

[@recordhog78]

the cabinet machine is definitely better! congratulations on 5000 subscribers! thats a big milestone! 🥳🥳🥳👍👍👍

[@mrrgstuff]

Thanks 😀 👍. Just watched your latest video, too. You certainly have picked up some very nice finds there! 😀

[@recordhog78]

@@mrrgstuff thank you!😆

[@robertgirling357]

The HMV 157 is in my opinion one of the very best small cabinet machines and really sound great. Well worth the extra money if you have room for something floor standing and don't want the extra cost of it's big sister the 163.

[@mrrgstuff]

Yes, indeed. I was hopeful when I stumbled across it that it would be worth the floor space, and it certainly is! When I fix the 162 beside it, it will interesting to hear 2 different generations of products side by side. Thanks 😀 👍

[@Music_diplomat]

very interesting information thank you👍

[@mrrgstuff]

Thanks 😀 👍

[@desmondgaull7988]

OK I live in Tasmania I've got 2 Brunswick machines the other one plays the 3 different formats which are Edison diamond discs pathetically and 78s I've got a big collection of 78s cylinders diamond discs and pathe I just love the music of the 20s through to the 50s and sounds like you do too. I did have a business transferring 78s to cds and had a very good program that used to make them sound like new. I also use to have a radio program called vintage radio. Nice talking to you

[@mrrgstuff]

Very interesting to hear. I have a love of the history and technology. I like to collect the very earliest records I can find, but I enjoy listening most to 20s and 30s music. Thanks 😀 👍

[@tiga4180]

157 definitely wins. Recall the internal horn was incomplete in the 'Decca 50' Also, a factory made Decca 50 would direct the sound upwards in order to deflect it off the lid. The original soundbox for a 50 would also be a 'Meltrope' tho' it bore the name 'Decca' Finally, have mixed feelings on the "Close lid whilst playing" instruction. True, the sound appears mellower, but my thoughts are that opening the lid allows the soundbox to act as an early tweeter, increasing the frequency range.

[@mrrgstuff]

Yes, it wasn't completely fair on the Decca 50, though I did have the microphone above and angled down towards the hole. I do have some ideas for 'improving' the horn, but there are so many projects to do, I don't know when I will get back to it. HMV definitely sounds better, but putting them side by side the video really shows the difference. Thanks 😀 👍

[@ericalbany]

The Decca could be improved with an angled lid to reflect the sound

[@mrrgstuff]

Yes indeed. There are a few improvements I want to make. I may try extending to horn also. Thanks 😀 👍

[@Kevin-yi8fd]

Hello again nice record it's bound to be better on a HMV cabinet Gramophone then the portable i am afraid all the Decca portables i have had have not the best sound quality it's a bit like Decca records they are not so well recorded thankyou again 😊.

[@mrrgstuff]

Yes, although I knew the HMV 157 sounded better, it wasn't until I put them side by side in this video that I realised just how much of a difference there was. I've had some luck with Decca soundboxes, but don't have a decent portable from them so it's difficult to compare. I had understood that Decca got really quite good at recording, certainly in the early days of microgroove. Thanks 😀 👍

[@Timothycan]

I have a Decca 55 that actually sounds very good. With the original mica soundbox, horn and case in good working order. It sounds better than my floor-standing Selecta cabinet model. But HMV seem to have been the best, but I guess the purchase price probably reflected that.

[@Mrpurple75]

Absolutely no comparison

[@mrrgstuff]

Yes, and the difference is even more obvious in this video than just playing the 2 machines in real life. Thanks 😀 👍

[@desmondgaull7988]

No comparison the H.M.V is far superia, have you tried the Brunswick panaerobe that has a great sound too. THE H.M.V. portable model 102 best portable gramophone ever

[@mrrgstuff]

The HMV does indeed outclass this Decca, and side by side in the video, it's even more obvious than in real life. Unfortunately, I have not had a chance to try any Brunswick machines. I'm not sure if they were sold in the UK, though certainly Brunswick branded records were. The 102 is indeed a very fine portable. I have one, however it has speed issues so I don't use it much: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIrWd5eqft91mck Very similar, but bigger than the 102 is the 130, and I have one of those too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5bciKl4ja6NZrcsi=dKpu0iXSbHmCY3ML Thanks 😀 👍

[@cindytan9516]

Hmv

[@mrrgstuff]

Thanks 😀 👍