1
LOC
Millennia
Media & Music Systems
LOC
Millennia
Media & Music Systems
LEGACY RECORDINGS
The 78 RPM record was a standard format for decades, followed by 33-1/3 RPM. While
33 RPM “LP” records produced after 1954 almost universally follow the EMI or RIAA
standards, compensation curves used for 78 RPM records varied significantly between
manufacturers and era. Via historical research and empirical testing, audio engineers
have attempted to classify the myriad of legacy equalization formats. The following
chart lists a small sampling of various EQ curves which have been derived from papers,
audio journals, jacket information on early LPs, experimentation, and other sources for
records made generally between 1925 and 1955. The audio engineer should use these
numbers as a guide only. Ultimately, use your ears as the final reference for correct
compensation on legacy formats.
SOURCE
SERIES
TURNOVER (Hz)
ROLLOFF (dB @ 10 kHz)
Acoustic Recording (such as
cylinders, etc..)
0 (or as required) 0 (or as required)
“AES”
standard
400
-12
AFRS Transcriptions
500
0 or -5
Allegro
750
-16
Allied
500
-16
American Recording Society
500
-12 or –13.7
Angel
500
-12
Arizona
400
-12
Artist
500
-16
Atlantic
500
-16
Audiophile
300
-8
BBC Transcriptions 1949
500
-5
BBC Transcriptions most
250-300
0 to -5
Bach Guild
501-529
500-750
-16
Banner
adjust as required
500
-16
Bartok
629
-16
Bartok
301-304, 309, 906-920
700
-16
Berliner
speed = 71.29 RPM 0
0
Blue Bird
800
-10
Blue Note Jazz
400
-12
Boston
COL*
-16
Brunswick
rare
1000
-8.5
Brunswick
from 1946
300
-16
Brunswick
early
300-500
0 or -16
BSI
353
-10.5
Caedmon
629
-11
Caedmon
1001-1022
700
-12
Cameo
inconsistent, adjust as required
Canyon
400
-12
Capitol
FDS
400
-12
Capitol-Telefunken
500
0
Capitol
500
-12
SOURCE
SERIES
TURNOVER (Hz)
ROLLOFF (dB @ 10 kHz)
Cetra Soria
400
-12 or -16
Cetra
400
-11
Colosseum
400
-12
Columbia*
1925
200
-7
1926
250
-5
1938-most
300
-16
various
COL*
-16
European
300
-5
Concert Hall
400
-12
Contemporary
400
-11
Cook Laboratories
500
-11
Cook Laboratories
binaural inside band 500
0
Coral
400 or 750
-12 or -16
Decca
early
150 or 300
0 or -6
1946-
400 or 500
-12
Decca FFRR
1949
250
-5
Decca FFRR
1951
300
-14
Deutsch-Grammophone
300
-5
Dial
500 or 750
-16
Disc
300
-16
Ducretet-Thomson
450
-11
EMI
1931
250
0
33LP
500
-12
EMS
375
-12
Edison
0
0
Electrola
800
-10
Elektra
629
-16
Epic
thru 1954
COL* or 750
-16
Esoteric
400 or 500
-12
European
280
0
Festival
750
-16
Folkways
629
-16
Good Time Jazz
400
-12
Gramophone
300
-10
HMV
1925-1946
250
0
HMV
1946
400
-10
HMV
1946-1954
500 or 800
-16
HMV
american
400
-12
Handel Society
750
-16 or -17
Haydn Society
750
-16 or -17
Harmony Acoustics thru 8/29
300
-16
Hit of the Week
500
-5
Kapp
700
-16
Kendall
629
-16
King
500
-16
Linguaphone
300
0
L’Oiseau-Lyre
500
-10
London
early
300
0