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Mono VS Stereo

Hello,

For the last few years I stopped listening to my system in stereo mode and now only listen in mono. As soon as I started listening in mono my listening enjoyment went up about 300%. No longer did I become fatigued by the (Man made) stereo (Effects) created by the engineers in the studio. I grew to hate following these effects from the left speaker to the right speaker and back again with some recordings. When you attend a live performance be it Rock, Jazz, synphony or whatever, the sound comes at you in mono not stereo (Unless of course the sound man has other ideas. But as far as the band and the actual instruments are concerned there is no such thing as "Playing" in stereo. Give it a try, listen to your records or CD's in mono ( I hope you all have a mono selector on your preamps) it will be hard going back to stereo listening plus the soundstage and the way the "Band" comes across will be really cool.
nocaster
samujohn's avatar
samujohn
291 posts
 
Mono records played on a stereo rig are one thing, but stereo records played in mono on the same rig, do not produce the same result. One likely result is loss of ambiance and high frequency information. I agree with Shadorne, look for a system issue..
nocaster OP
52 posts
 
As always I appreciate all the feedback with respects to mono vs stereo. Rest assured there is no problem with my system or hearing. However I do prefer the mono "Effect" if you will as compared to the "Stereo" effect. When switching back and forth between mono and stereo there is no loss of high frequencies, no loss of anything in terms of sonics. My speakers are about 8 or 9 feet appart, but I enjoy close field listening as opposed to sitting far back. In the end it's just how I enjoy my stereo in particular. Actually I know alot of people who listen to their system in mono and they also have top quality equipment. Sorry guys, as always I appreciate and respect all your opinions. However I'm going to continue to listen in mono. All the best guys......
rodman99999
6,114 posts
 
To each his own!
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,201 posts
 
Then why not go with a true mono system?
rodman99999
6,114 posts
 
Apparently you don't attend many live acoustic concerts, or(if you do) pay for very good seating. Anyone seated in the better seats can even "hear" the hole in the middle of the orchestral seating arrangement. That's given a decent acoustic to start with. In any decent smaller venue, say an acoustic jazz/blues club; there's also no problem with hearing instrument or vocal placement within the live soundfield, as well as the venue's ambience(what stereo seeks to replicate). When we set up(amplified) sound in a live venue: we have to consider that over a third of the audience will be seated in front of the left speaker and over a third in front of the other. There will be less than a third seated in what would be considered a "sweet spot", and able to appreciate "stereo". So- most amplified venues are run in mono. I'm certain there are many that still enjoy mono, and some of the early works that were recorded that way are excellent listens. As long as you're enjoying whatever you listen to.........
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