2. amps-preamps
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Mono Switch?

I have noticed that many hi-end preamps don't have a "mono switch". I remember my old receiver had not only a mono switch, but had left or right channel played through both speakers, and a speaker reverse [L to R; R to L...not a phase inversion switch]

So what's your opinion of the lack of or the inclusion of a mono switch? Extra circuity that degrades the fidelity, or a useful tool for mono recordings as well as a simple way to check for out of phase recordings?
fatparrot
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
it's just extra amount of labor that decreases profit.
instead, it's just a matter of spreading some hype about sound degrading.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
i have a mono selector switch on my cj premier 3 preamp.
i do not notice any loss in resolution.
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uru975
684 posts
 
One of the main selling points for me on the Thor TA-3000 phono preamp was that it had a mono switch. These things matter and more manufacturers should be aware of that
mre2007
90 posts
 
so, what does a mono switch do anyways? If I traded out my cartridge for a mono one, and listened to mono records, are you saying the result would be only one speaker play? Man, if so, I want a mono switch too!
fatparrot OP
1,314 posts
 
Mre2007, this is my understanding of a mono cartridge vs. a stereo cartridge.

A stereo cartridge will play a mono record as mono through both speakers with or without a mono switch. A mono cartridge has a spherical stylus vs. an elliptical one, and the stylus tip diameter is larger than on a stereo stylus, to sit higher up in the record groove. Mono is determined by the lateral motion of stylus in the groove, while the stereo is derived from vertical motion.

So with a mono cartridge, you won't get any spurious vertical movement, which would translate to possible phase cancellation of the mono signal.
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