7-knob Allwave 23 | Muffled Sound

[Felix-A. Gravel]

Hi,

A gentleman from the Chicago area has reached out to me through Facebook because he is having issues with his Allwave 23. He bought it a couple years ago from a collector who had recapped it and it should theoretically be in good operating condition. It has two tweeters with the Westminster cabinet. The problem is that he can't get it to sound ''right''. He says the sound is muffled with too much bass, can't get any treble out of it (All About That Bass...).

I first asked what kind of antenna he has, he says he's only got a piece of wire but the reception is actually pretty good. 

I then sent him the instruction manual for the radio, with an excerpt where each control and button are described in detail.

I'm not familiar enough with this model to go much further with the troubleshooting. Is there anything that jumps out at you, like perhaps some sort of additional switch in the back of the radio or a common problem that occurs with the tweeters?

Thanks,

[David C. Poland]

First, this radio has adjustable band width. in the narrow setting, only low frequency audio comes through. 

The variable fidelity control is labeled SELECTIVITY, the far right control. 

Owner should start reading at page 8 of the manual.

Generally, retard this control full counter clockwise to tune in a station, then advance it towards half way more or less for most satisfactory sound. less to reduce adjacent station interference. more for greater higher frequency response. For Short Wave listening, seek/tune on narrow position and advance maybe only 1/3 to improve the sound quality of a short wave broadcast. Radio tunes most precisely in the full counter clockwise position.

This radio was built to receive experimental high fidelity radio broadcasts at the top of the dial with such stations space at 20 KC rather than 10 KC - but none exist today due to the advent static free FM broadcast starting 1940.

Today, don't advance the control much past half way for radio reception. For phono input with a CD player or modern LP records, advance all the way for true high fidelity audio.

[Kent King]

So the set might have been recapped, but if you don't follow the Scott alignment instructions, you will create problems like this. The Scott instructions are explicit for setting the selectivity control during alignment, and you have to pay attention - many good restorers mess up the alignment. That would be the first thing I would check, but it requires a signal generator and a meter (or two). Dave's instructions will tell - if you do what Dave says and it still sounds too bass - it is probably not aligned correctly.

Kent

[Felix-A. Gravel]

Is there anyone near Sugar Grove, Il. willing to give this set a proper alignment or a little troubleshooting session? I could put the owner in touch with whomever volunteers.