Mono records with non-mono cartridges.

Is a mono cartridge essential to getting the best out of mono records?

  • Yes, you won't hear them at their best without one.

    Votes: 7 46.7%

  • Yes, but you can still get most of the way there without one.

    Votes: 3 20.0%

  • No, not essential, but they are noticeably better with one.

    Votes: 3 20.0%

  • No, not essential at all to get the best out of mono records.

    Votes: 2 13.3%
  • Total voters
    15
Hmm. I did pre-order the Beatles mono LP collection which is going to be my Christmas present from my wife. I was seriously considering buying a second tonearm and mono cartridge for this collection and the other mono LPs I own. However, if these LPs are mostly cut with a stereo cutter head, I guess it really doesn't matter.
 
From MM:

To my knowledge, we use stereo cutters.


Best regards,
 
Well, so far the poll is as even as can get, 5 yes and 5 no.

It seems from the scant information received since the thread began that generally recent mono reissues are cut on stereo cutters while the original pressings were cut on mono cutters. It seems that you would benefit most from a mono cartridge if you have quite a few original mono albums. That leaves the question: If current mono reissues are cut on stereo cutters, which do they sound better with, a mono or stereo cartridge?
 
asindc said:
Well, so far the poll is as even as can get, 5 yes and 5 no.

It seems from the scant information received since the thread began that generally recent mono reissues are cut on stereo cutters while the original pressings were cut on mono cutters. It seems that you would benefit most from a mono cartridge if you have quite a few original mono albums. That leaves the question: If current mono reissues are cut on stereo cutters, which do they sound better with, a mono or stereo cartridge?
Click to expand...

You could always use a Y cable to sum the stereo and use the Stereo cartridge. It does sound more natural than just running the stereo cart - but not sure if it will sound better/same as a mono button as I do not have one to try
 
Having used some of the best stereo carts on mono records...ie: Koetsu Coralstone, Ortofon A90, ect...playback of mono records with a stereo cart pales in comparison to what you hear with a mono cart. Stereo cart playback of mono records will be thin (not very extended) in the bass and much noisier in terms of picking up record surface noise. If I didn't have a mono cart I wouldn't be listening to my substantial mono record collection. My two cents.
 
rockitman said:
Having used some of the best stereo carts on mono records...ie: Koetsu Coralstone, Ortofon A90, ect...playback of mono records with a stereo cart pales in comparison to what you hear with a mono cart. Stereo cart playback of mono records will be thin (not very extended) in the bass and much noisier in terms of picking up record surface noise. If I didn't have a mono cart I wouldn't be listening to my substantial mono record collection. My two cents.
Click to expand...

+1!
 
rockitman said:
Having used some of the best stereo carts on mono records...ie: Koetsu Coralstone, Ortofon A90, ect...playback of mono records with a stereo cart pales in comparison to what you hear with a mono cart. Stereo cart playback of mono records will be thin (not very extended) in the bass and much noisier in terms of picking up record surface noise. If I didn't have a mono cart I wouldn't be listening to my substantial mono record collection. My two cents.
Click to expand...

Do you find that to be the case with recent mono reissues as well as original mono pressings?
 
rockitman said:
Having used some of the best stereo carts on mono records...ie: Koetsu Coralstone, Ortofon A90, ect...playback of mono records with a stereo cart pales in comparison to what you hear with a mono cart. Stereo cart playback of mono records will be thin (not very extended) in the bass and much noisier in terms of picking up record surface noise. If I didn't have a mono cart I wouldn't be listening to my substantial mono record collection. My two cents.
Click to expand...

Christian-Are we talking about recent mono-reissues cut with a stereo cutter head or original mono pressings cut with a mono cutter head?
 
mep said:
Christian-Are we talking about recent mono-reissues cut with a stereo cutter head or original mono pressings cut with a mono cutter head?
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Both. I buy every Columbia CL or ML 1st issue...jazz or classical I can. They sound like crap through the stereo carts, bliss through a mono. Same goes for the stereo cutter mono reissues. They sound weak with a stereo cart and sound just like you want them too with a mono cart. Most of my Classic Record's mono test presses I have were hardly listened too when I only had a stereo cart. Listen in mono and you at the table viewing the show live. Huge difference.
 
My experience mirrors Christian's. With rare exceptions, both vintage, new mono releases (Omaha Diner, Jack White, James Hunter) and reissued mono recordings sound better with a dedicated mono cartridge.

True story...last month I had a friend over who is a rabid Stones' fan. First I played him the blue unboxed stereo Decca of "Between The Buttons" with the stereo set up. Then we played the red unboxed mono Decca with the stereo setup; not as good. Finally we played the mono record with the mono set up. My buddy sat up in his seat and said the words all audiophiles pine for "It's like hearing it for the first time!"

mep -'hi'
 
Interesting Christian. I have not found a drop off in sound quality playing my mono records (which I'm sure were cut with a stereo cutter) vs. my stereo LPs. They both sound really, really good. The sound you describe playing mono LPs is not what I'm hearing.
 
mep said:
Interesting Christian. I have not found a drop off in sound quality playing my mono records (which I'm sure were cut with a stereo cutter) vs. my stereo LPs. They both sound really, really good. The sound you describe playing mono LPs is not what I'm hearing.
Click to expand...

You need to play the records with a mono cart. I bet you wouldn't feel the same way.
 
rockitman said:
Both. I buy every Columbia CL or ML 1st issue...jazz or classical I can. They sound like crap through the stereo carts, bliss through a mono.
Click to expand...

Very true with the Columbia Masterworks original pressings, a mono cart really does bring out their potential whereas a stereo cart (even really good ones) can't do the Columbia ML pieces justice. Some of the early Decca, Kapp and Coral mono LP's are the same way. Stereo cart = crap while the same LP with a mono cart can be magical.

There are many other original mono labels that sound pretty fine with a good stereo cart though. The Capitol T-xxxx series and RCA LM-xxxx series for example can and do sound pretty sweet with a stereo cart. Same with some Angel mono pressings. Yes, the original pressings that sound pretty fine with a stereo cart sound better with a mono cart. But, if you're not heavily invested in original mono pressings already, IMO you can still get a pretty good glimpse of the magic that's imbedded in many of them by using a high quality stereo cartridge.

If dropping $1200 for a Cadenza Mono (or better) is no big deal for a person with a sum total of 5 mono LP's, then have at it....you will notice the upgrade.

However, there are good and bad recordings of ALL of these labels and some just sound thin, distant and crappy no matter the cartridge so mono is no different than stereo LP's in that regard.
 
I have not read every post in this thread so maybe this has already been talked about; one very significant benefit of playing 'golden era' mono pressings with a true mono cartridge is the very significant reduction in noise compared to a stereo cartridge. pressings that to the eye appear to be hammered sometimes play just fine. and unless you have a mono cartridge you might never know that the disappointing sounding pressing is actually a gem.

over the years I accumulated a number of mono pressings which were marginal sounding. then I purchased a large collection which included a number of mono pressings, again I was underwhelmed. enter the mono cartridge and the majority of these came alive.

another aspect of listening to a mono pressing is how it seems to make my body feel; for some reason when my brain is not doing the calculations for stereo I seem to relax into the music in a more complete way. I'm simply calmer, less stressed. I still listen to stereo mostly......but I notice and appreciate the difference.....even if it is only my imagination. my mind likes the stereo, but my body prefers mono. and I'm not claiming to have any proof......I'm simply observing my feelings.
 
Here's a cool read I just found on the Ortofon web site that explains a lot about the differences in stylus profiles + mono records:

Ortofon - Mono range

Even has some recommendations for the Beatles Mono record set too.
 
For mono cartridge on a budget - J Carr - Lyra designer recommended this . Can be had for under $350 - I am thinking about it.

Audio Technica - AT33Mono

Audio-Technica - Products - Other - Professional Turntables - AT33MONO


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