New Orthophonic people, a question, opinions?

[basilio]

I asked this over on my other home, but would appreciate your input.
I am considering buying a chassis (RC1168A 715) from a parted out 8-rf-13. I was thinking about building a neo-danish modern cabinet (think SHC-6, but mono) with turntable, speakers, for it. It originally drove a set of tweeters and an oval 8 inch (?) woofer, so my question is, could it handle two 10 or 12 inch woofers like an SHF 4 or 5, or would it have to be modified. One 12 and tweeters would still be fine...

Mitch

[William]

orthomodular1.jpg (103.91 KiB) Viewed 14319 times

Not seeing a schematic to compare how the amp part of the 8-rf-13 was wired, I would venture a guess it would at least handle one 12" woofer and the two tweeters. I'm also guessing the 6X9 was used because it was meant to be a large table radio. If a 12" woofer would have been used it would have been even bigger. When I was growing up, my parents purchased a 1958 RCA modular system. Base, TV, record player, and record storage space. If I can make it work I will attach a photo of an ad for this unit. Larry H. actually had the ad and sent it to me. I was very grateful for that. Back to the point of my statement. The record player part was a PP 6V6 amp with 5Y3 rectifier and two preamp tubes. One was a 12AX7, not sure what the other one was. The cabinet was large enough to hold at least on 12" woofer, but it only had a 6X9 woofer the the twin tweeters. I was 7 when they got it and I kind of remember how it sounded which was very good. Being the curious kind of kid, and the fact you could stick you head under the base and see up inside the record player, I remember the speakers and how many tubes it had. I'm not sure if this helps, Mitch, it's just my 2 cents worth.

By the way, what happened to the cabinet of the 8-fr-13? Those are cool radios. I know someone that has a mint one. I have never heard it but am told it is quite good.

Mitch, it's good to see you posting on the forum. We Michiganders need to stick together. You make four that I know of. We might actually be a monopoly.

I worked!! My parents unit looked just like the one in the ad photo.

Bill

[electra225]

Welcome aboard, Mitch! Good to see you on the forum.

My guess would be that if you would wire the speakers correctly, you should be okay operating a couple 12" speaker if you wanted to. I have a couple radios around here that had one 12' speaker. I wired a second 12" in parallel and they work fine like that. There might be a slight loss in volume, but that chassis should produce enough volume you wouldn't notice it. You could just try it and see what happens. I don't see why you would damage anything doing that. Good luck.

[TC Chris]

Also, bear in mind that larger speakers are often more efficient than smaller ones. For a given power input, they make more noise. Most consoles used non-sealed speaker systems--"infinite baffles," more or less. These tend to be more efficient than sealed, "acoustic suspension" or "air suspension" speaker systems. Those were designed to produce flat response and extended bass in small enclosures. You don't get anything for free, so extended range in a small speaker system meant a sacrifice of efficiency. I'd go with your larger speakers.

Chris Campbell

[basilio]

By the way, what happened to the cabinet of the 8-fr-13? Those are cool radios. I know someone that has a mint one. I have never heard it but am told it is quite good.

Bill

I saw it on Ebay, and it has stayed on for 2 months, so it must be Kismet. I love the SHC-6, and want to try out my woodworking skill (after all the summer house renovations...) I have a spare changer from a SHC-8, so, I just need two woofers and a couple of 3.5 inch tweeters. Can end up spending $400 to make something that could be found for $200...

[William]

It sounds like a fun project, Mitch. I can't imagine someone parting out one of those radios unless the cabinet was a total mess. Once done, it should sound amazing. As you take this journey, please be sure to share your progress.

Bill

[Firedome]

Not sure about a Michigander monopoly, but should at least be a quorum I'd think! Welcome!

[hermitcrab]

I saw it on Ebay, and it has stayed on for 2 months, so it must be Kismet. I love the SHC-6, and want to try out my woodworking skill (after all the summer house renovations...) I have a spare changer from a SHC-8, so, I just need two woofers and a couple of 3.5 inch tweeters. Can end up spending $400 to make something that could be found for $200...
[/quote


Been there done that... let me introduce my " Free Fisher" I found in a barn hay loft just the guts and the speakers ...so I built a cabinet for it, so my free set is now about 250 bucks... But it was not about the $$$$$ to me , it was something of a challenge and it was fun which at the end of the day is more important ... well worth the $$$$$ it cost me, or as the saying on the commercial says ... priceless

[William]

You did a great job, Elton. You should be proud.

Bill

[TC Chris]

Nice job, but you've also created a problem. Some day in the future, somebody's going to be saying, "I found this Fisher console, but it's not shown in any of the catalogs...."

Chris Campbell

[hermitcrab]

Future?...If it lasts that long.... she creaks and groans when I move it around .... It is all glue, no fasteners anywhere except the lid hinges and the back cover

[electra225]

It sure looks nice. There is a guy on the end of our block that has a bazillion dollars worth of woodworking equipment in his garage. I showed him the plans for external bi-amp speakers. He is still breathing. The guy who was building them was killed in a car accident a couple years ago. The family gave me the drawings back. I want to build a set of external speakers for the Concert Grand/Imperial. A 15', a 12' and a horn in each cabinet. Each cabinet is half the size of the CG itself. They are on casters. You did a great job on that cabinet, regardless how it's held together. I'm impressed.

[Firedome]

Beautiful work, was that from scratch, or using cabinet modules , or? Either way, very attractive.

[hermitcrab]

Thanks...just some birch plywood and a couple pieces of birch hardwood for the trim and false drawer fronts... all purchased off the shelf... lots of clamps and glue... I had to put it on rollers ... it weights as much as my Imperial astro sonic aircraft carrier... I built a apothecary cabinet over 20 years ago... has like 16 drawers ..it is less than 4 foot wide ... yet it takes two men and a boy to move it... I guess I over do on the wood...