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From: KLUDGE@AGCB1.LARC.NASA.GOV
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: 78s and Audax
Message-ID: <8461@uwm.edu>
Date: 19 Dec 90 14:00:18 GMT
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Approved: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu

Two comments:

On 78's being abrasive:
   Most 78's are made of unplasticized vinyl, with a filler material for
strength.  There are a few which were actually made of shellac and a few
made of modern vinyl, but most are of a PVC material which forms small
ball-like grains which need a substrate to cling to.  Carbon black and 
chalk were the most common filler materials, but there were many others.
Often you'll find records made of a heavily filled material for strength,
with a coating of a lightly-filled material around it, for lower noise.
In any event, the filler is indeed abrasive and it will run your stylus
down.  And if course if you use a microgroove stylus to play wide-groove
records, you'll ruin your stylus, record, and sense of hearing all at the
same time.  By the way, many solvents can be wicked up into the unplasticized
material causing the grains to expand.  When they contract due to evaporation
you'll get microcracking problems, with an increased noise rate.  So be very
careful cleaning them and don't soak them in anything, even water.

On Audax:
   The Audax drivers are decent.  You get what you pay for.  Parts Express
also has many of the Phillips components which are also worth a good look.
This isn't extreme high-end stuff, but you can build surprisingly good
speakers with them if you are careful.  In fact, I am rebuilding a 1950's
pair of Wharfdales with Phillips and EV drivers this weekend, to surprise
a friend for Christmas.
--scott