Multi Standard 78 RPM and RIAA Phono Equaliser

Vinyl equalisation (EQ) has been with us in a stable and predictable form for quite a long time, but for those who are interested in the old 78 rpm records there are a great many problems to overcome.  One of these is obtaining a turntable that runs at 78 rpm, and preferably has the range to cover the somewhat variable actual recording speed, which can apparently be anything from 60-odd to over 84 rpm.  The next obstacle is finding a suitable stylus - again, these are hard to get, and modern ones are usually too small for the larger grooves used back then Finally, there is the vast number of EQ 'standards' that were used, ranging from none at all for acoustic recordings, through to an approximation of the modern RIAA and CCIR standards.

Of these issues, I intend to address only one - the EQ in the phono amplifier stage.  I can do this easily, since the Project 06 phono preamp uses separate equalisation stages.  This means that using the standard unit PCB with virtually no modification, it is possible (easy, actually) to add the switching needed to accommodate almost every recording standard ever used.  I'm afraid that the turntable and cartridge/ stylus combination are up to you to find.  The references contain quite a bit of useful information that you can use if you don't already have the needed equipment.

Before describing the preamp, a brief discussion on RIAA (or any other EQ for that matter) is warranted.  It is mistakenly believed by many that accurate EQ is important ... It isn't!  No, this is not blasphemy, just a simple statement of fact.  The problem is that few records are (or were) ever cut using only the standard EQ.  The mastering engineer would most commonly adjust the EQ until the disk sounded right - in his room, on his speakers, and to his ears.  There's also a requirement to ensure that tracks don't cut into an adjacent track, and that the material will fit onto the disc.  It's a juggling act that remains with LP vinyl discs.  That all these discs usually managed to sound good (or at least acceptable) on most systems is testament to the artistry of good cutting engineers (generally a grossly underrated breed IMO).

What are the chances that your room, speakers and ears are a perfect match? None!  It will never happen.  As a result, a dB of error here or there will not cause a variation that is significant in real terms.  In the case of 78 rpm discs, there are actually too many standards to contend with at the sub-dB accuracy level, and you can rest assured that even if it were perfect, it would still sound different from when the disk was cut.

In this light, and from the information I have been able to glean from the Net and elsewhere, a no compromise system is impractical, and it will often be better to adjust for the best sound (to you) than try to be 100% accurate.

Some of the 'standards' are reproduced below, thanks to a reader who compiled a list from various sources - I have added quite a few of the values missing from the various sites that are referenced below, and it is worth noting that some of the figures quoted are not possible with a 6dB/octave equalisation curve (these are flagged with a '?').  Calculated or simulated values are shown with a '*' beside the actual or recommended value In some cases.  I have not attempted to determine the actual amount of rolloff or boost, but this is unimportant, since it is the turnover frequency that really determines the response characteristics.

Notes and Comments:

1	Useful for all post 1953 78s.  May also be useful for some earlier American 78s
2	American 1925,  Victor 1925 (some)
3	HMV with square matrix code, English Columbia with C matrix code, or no code (1945 to ~ 1953)
4	Blumlein for HMV with square next to matrix number, English Columbia with C matrix code, or no code (1945 to ~ 1953)
5	Useable for many American records.  Said to be good for American Victor
6	Some may use 500 Hz bass EQ
7	English Western Electric, HMV with triangle matrix code, English Columbia with W matrix code
ffrr	Full Frequency Range Recording
?	Some 50 Hz boost values are (highly?) suspect
*	Determined by simulation or best guess

The above is very much a best guess, and is based on the material cited in the references as well as other sources (primarily input from readers).

Despite the range of different characteristics, the majority of all 78 rpm records can be equalised within a 2dB of the nominal (or alleged) curves claimed, using 4 low and 5 high frequency ranges - including flat and true RIAA for both.  Given that additional equalisation will almost always be used for restoration, the suggested ranges will be more than adequate for all applications.  The low bass turnover frequency has been ignored, since it is highly unlikely that there will be an extended bottom end on any of these recordings Instead, it is set at 20Hz for all ranges.

I have seen 78 rpm phono preamps selling for well over US$450 (and even over €2,000 !), so building your own is obviously an easy way to save a considerable amount of money.  In addition, you have much more control over the final product, and can make adjustments to suit yourself.

The preamp featured uses the same circuitry as my standard RIAA phono preamp, which everyone who's built one says sounds excellent in its normal use as a standard RIAA equaliser.  With very low noise and separate equalisation sections, the normal interaction between high and low frequency sections is minimised, so either can be adjusted independently of the other.

The recommended equalisation settings are in bold italics and shaded cells - these are the only ones really needed.  The worst case error is still less than 1.5 dB, and we can be safely assured that this is far better than can be expected from the recordings themselves.  Naturally, the frequency selections are up to the constructor, and there is no real reason not to include all of the ranges if so desired.  Since a two pole switch is required, this will generally limit you to 6 ranges in total for each equalisation range, so a decision needs to be made as to which low frequency EQ settings will be used.

The project itself is virtually identical to P06, except that the on-board capacitors are not used, and instead are switched with two separate rotary switches.  It is very important to keep wiring length to the absolute minimum, or there will be an overall frequency shift caused by the stray capacitance.

Figure 1 - Multi-Standard Phono Equaliser

Notice that the switch sliding contact is wired to the PCB at the most sensitive (electrically speaking) position, and the capacitors are all connected to the opamp output (low frequency) or ground (high frequency).  This ensures that the effects of any stray capacitance are minimised.  It may be necessary to use a low value (100 ohm, shown as optional) resistor in series with the opamp's inverting input to prevent oscillation where a high speed opamp is used.  This is not needed for the high frequency section since R8 will isolate the opamp.

For full details of the preamp, refer to Project 06 - the circuitry in this version is identical, the only difference being the switching.  The P06 PCB can be adapted easily for this application.

1. www.audiocontrol.co.uk/jazzclub.htm (this site seems not to exist any more)
   
2. rfwilmut.net/notes/repro78/repro.html
3. Record Equalization - By Russell Fisher

Some of the equalisation information has been obtained from the above sites, but was not copied or directly reproduced.  I can give no guarantees that the information is completely accurate, as the majority has been provided by readers.  Where possible, I have verified the information against the sites referenced, but due to the enormous variations seen, I am sure that no-one has a definitive list of all equalisation standards

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