How are we wiring our Mono systems?
Hello.
I'm building a mono system* out of stuff I have laying around:
CJ PV-1 (or H H Scott LK-72 if I can't get the CJ pots unstuck)
Bryston 2B
Harbeth HL Monitors
Thorens TD-165
I see mono cartridges that have 2 pins out and 4 pins out; the 4 pin people (Grado) say just use one pair but shouldn't a single generator moving in just one direction need only two pins? I'm confused...
Ok, after that it's a single RCA cable to the preamp and a single RCA cable to the amp and single speaker cable to the (single) speaker, correct?
Where should I set the Stereo/Mono and Balance knobs? I guess that will depend a bit on the particular preamp in question of course. Try and see is always a good way to go. Depending on how the preamp is wired it might be possible to use two speakers but isn't that not mono? 1950 hi-fi magazines say as much...
If you enjoy a mono system please share how yours is set up, or was set up if you've taken it apart.
*Please don't come here to poop on mono, or throw your weight around about how smart you are and how dumb everyone else is, it's childish and frankly, boring.
I'm interested in a positive discussion.
I guess I thought playing only mono records was implied so sorry I didn't mention it. Yes, a system for playing mono records (a mix of Classical, Pazz, and Jop from the '40s through the '60s). I've listened to mono recordings (vinyl and digital) on my stereo for a lifetime so I'm quite familiar with what that sounds like LOL Ok I give up. Is there a way to delete this thread? |
There are plenty of people who want to play mono, even when the source is a stereo recording, meaning that the two channels have to be summed. The easiest way is with a Y connecter, which is essentially what your mono button does if your component has one. But, that is not the best sounding approach. Combining the signals via a transformer is much better sounding—fuller sounding. I heard this demonstrated via a box with switching and four or five different transformers, as well as a simple Y connector. There were subtle differences between transformers, but a huge difference with the Y connector which was dramatically worse sounding than all of the alternatives. |
I think @lewm gave the best and simplest advice. |
----wire it the same. ----assuming you already have a stereo system, then for many reasons just keep using that for mono. you already have a good quality (the best you have been able to assemble) signal path. if you try to throw together a completely separate mono system with less quality then your mono efforts will start out at a lower level. you will not really know how good it can be. stereo sums the two mono channels of music into a center mono image. in theory a single speaker does have advantages but in reality that is not a good direction. ---agree with others, don’t over-think it, use the mono switch on your preamp to start with to see how you like it. ---next find mono recordings where the recording is engineered to sound properly in mono. ---and for mono vinyl pressings try to find a mono cartridge. it has technical advantages over a stereo cartridge on mono records, and will have less noise and greater dynamics. |
