Mono Cartridge, is it worth the investment?

I agree with Elinor, it all depends how many Mono records you have. I have a mono switch on my K&K phono stage, it is a bit better with mono records. I am sure a Mono cartridge woulf be a bigger improvement, but think of the cost. Are you going to change the cartridge each time you want to listen? The only easy solution is a second arm, if your deck can accomodate it. Even a replaceable headshell, arm wand, needs VTA, tracking weight adjusted each time. The cost of doing it properly is'nt cheap.

Investment? It is a word that indicates appreciation, everything in audio world depreciates. A better phrase would be 'listening pleasure'.

Sorry,

I did not mean to imply that the value would increase. I am well aware that audio is not a hobby to make money on. I have a VPI 12.5 arm, so if I got another arm wand a second cartridge can be set up with proper vta, vtf, azimuth, etc, and then you just lift of one wand and replace it with the other. As for how many mono recordings I have, not that many. I would buy many more if I could get proper reproduction of them. There is a lot of great music that was only done in mono, and even many of the early stereo recordings pale in comparison to the mono recordings.

A good point about the wand. However, I would go for a complete arm so you do not need to adjust the vta etc. every time you change the wand. I had a VPI Aries with a 12 arm and was going to use it as a mono table. However, due to WAF, could not get it into the room, one table is all I am allowed. My next project is a TT that I can put two arms on, one stereo, the other mono. I have a VPI Aries with 10.5 arm but it does not have enough space to mount another arm, without putting an outboard rigger on it. So, I continue to look for a TT with two complete arms. I like VPI stuff. I am talking to Harry about this project but nothing finalized yet.

no its not