Electrophones: features, principle of operation, use

Musical systems have been popular and in demand at all times. So, for high-quality reproduction of a gramophone, such an apparatus as an electrophone was once developed. It consisted of 3 main blocks and was most often made from available parts. During the Soviet era, this device was wildly popular.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the features of electrophones and find out how they work.

Before delving deeply into the features of the device of this interesting technical device, you should understand what it is. So, the electrophone (abbreviated name from "electrotyphon") is equipment designed to reproduce sound from the once widespread vinyl records.

In everyday life, this device was often called simply - "player".

Since this apparatus was invented, it has been modified and supplemented with useful configurations many times.

Both electrophones and electric players owe their appearance on the market to one of the first sound cinema systems called the Whitaphone. The soundtrack of the film was played directly from the gramophone with the help of an electrophone, the rotating drive of which was synchronized with the film projection shaft of the projector. Fresh at that time and advanced technology of electromechanical sound reproduction gave viewers an excellent sound quality. The sound quality was higher than in the case of simple "gramophone" film stations (such as the chronophone "Gomon").

The first model of an electrophone was developed in the USSR back in 1932. Then this device received the name - "ERG" ("electroradiogramophone"). Then it was assumed that the Moscow Electrotechnical Plant "Moselectric" would produce such devices, but the plans were not implemented, and this did not happen. Soviet industry in the period before the war produced more standard turntables for gramophone records, in which additional power amplifiers were not provided.

The first electrophone of wide production was released only in 1953. It was named "UP-2" (stands for "universal player"). This model was provided by the Vilnius plant "Elfa". The new apparatus was assembled on 3 radio tubes.

In the "UP-2" electrophone there were replaceable needles, which were made of high-quality and wear-resistant steel.

In 1957, the first Soviet electrophone was released, which could be used to reproduce surround sound. This model was called "Jubilee-Stereo". It was a device of the highest quality, in which there were 3 speeds of rotation, a built-in amplifier with 7 tubes and 2 acoustic systems of the portable type.

In total, about 40 models of electrophones were produced in the USSR. Over the years, certain specimens were equipped with imported parts.The development and improvement of such equipment was suspended with the collapse of the USSR. True, small batches of spare parts continued to be produced until 1994. The use of gramophone records as sound carriers declined sharply in the 90s. Many electrophones were simply thrown away, as they became useless.

The main component of electrophones is an electro-playing device (or EPU). It is implemented in the form of a functional and complete block.

The complete set of this important component contains:

• electric engine;
• massive disk;
• tonearm with amplifier head;
• a variety of auxiliary parts, such as a special groove for the record, a microlift used to gently and smoothly lower or raise the cartridge.

The scheme of operation of the apparatus under consideration cannot be called too complicated. You just need to take into account the fact that such a technique is different from others like it that were produced before.

After that, there is a direct conversion to sound using an electro-acoustic system. The latter includes from 1 to 4 electrodynamic loudspeakers. Their number depended only on the features of a particular device model.

Electrophones are belt-driven or direct-drive. In the latter versions, the transmission of the torque from the electric motor goes directly to the shaft of the apparatus.

The transmission of electro-playing units, providing for many speeds, may contain a gear ratio switching mechanism using a stepped-type shaft related to the engine and the intermediate rubberized wheel. The standard plate speed was 33 and 1/3 rpm.

In the West, namely in the United States, electrophones were published even before the outbreak of World War II. But in the USSR, as described above, their production was put on stream later - only in the 1950s. To this day, these devices are used in everyday life, as well as in electronic music in combination with other functional instruments.

At home, electrophones are practically not used today. Vinyl records have also ceased to enjoy their former popularity, since these things have been replaced by more functional and modern devices to which you can connect other equipment, for example, headphones, flash cards, smartphones.

It has been very difficult to come across an electrophone at home lately.

Of course, these are only subjective feelings of certain individuals. The listed epithets cannot be attributed to the exact characteristics of the considered aggregates.

Let's take a closer look at some of the most popular models of electrophones.

• Electrophone toy "Electronics". The model has been produced by the Pskov Radio Components Plant since 1975. The device could play records, the diameter of which did not exceed 25 cm at a speed of 33 rpm. Until 1982, the electrical circuit of this popular model was assembled on special germanium transistors, but over time it was decided to switch to silicon versions and microcircuits.

• Quadrophonic apparatus "Phoenix-002-quadro". The model was produced by the Lviv plant. The Phoenix was the first top-class Soviet quadraphone.

• Lamp apparatus "Volga". Produced since 1957, it had compact dimensions. This is a lamp unit, which was made in an oval cardboard box, covered with leatherette and pavinol. An improved electric motor was provided in the device. The device weighed 6 kg.

• Stereophonic radio gramophone "Jubilee RG-4S". The device was manufactured by the Leningrad Economic Council. The beginning of production dates back to 1959.

• A modernized, but cheaper model, after which the plant began to produce and release apparatus with the index "RG-5S". The RG-4S model became the first stereophonic device with a high quality two-channel amplifier. There was a special pickup that could seamlessly interact with both classical records and their long-playing varieties.

The factories of the Soviet Union could offer any electrophone or magnetoelectrophone of various types and configurations. Today, the technique considered is not so common, but it still attracts many music lovers.

The following is an overview of the Volga electrophone.