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RIAA vs Columbia vs Decca

Ok, dumb question. I recently was lucky enough to purchase an ARC Ref Phono 2 SE. It has Options to select RIAA, Columbia and Decca equalization curves.

I realize that most 'modern' recording use RIAA, but when I purchase reissued, remastered pressings of old classical or jazz recordings that were on Columbia or Decca, should I use the corresponding EQ curves, or is that applicable to only the original pressings?
philb7777
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atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,171 posts
 
Remastered LPs of original monos will have the RIAA curve even though the original might have used different EQ. BTW most of the alternate EQ settings (Columbia and Decca being two examples) are used for 78s and were never used for LP.
egrady
138 posts
 
I just purchased the ARC phono stage as well. While I realize RIAA is technically correct, I've found the Columbia eq takes the edge off the bright strings on early stereo Columbia Masterworks recordings. I'm dumbfounded, but it really makes Walter and Szell much more listenable.
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
The problem with old records is not only RI.A.A. but in many cases also reverse/inverse phase:

"those made in the late 70's & 80's, many labels did not adopt R.I.A.A. curve in the 50's, 60's, 70's and even 80's, that was why even though I had acquired many LPs, half of them did not sound good. Yamada-san further explained to me several years ago in the tube era, big labels such as DECCA, EMI, Deustche Gramophone used their own in-house equalization curve in their recordings and all of them were in reverse/inverse phase, you can easily check this out when you play CDs with old recordings of the abovementioned labels"
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