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A new player in the quality Mono cartridge game

For awhile there, if you wanted a mono cart to get the most out your new mono Beatles collection, other mono reissues, or vintage mono LPs, there were the budget offerings from Grado, a big price gap, and then the more expensive good stuff. The elliptical mono Grado goes for around $150.

But now the Audio Technica AT MONO3/LP, a HOMC, is available in the US. The link goes to the official importer, LpGear, who prices this $299.99 cart at $189.99. However, I also found that this cart is available from Amazon for $112.65. Worried that the unofficial import puts your purchase at risk? For a mere $12 extra you can buy a 2-year protection warranty.

I ordered mine via Amazon Prime on Sat. Oct. 24 and it arrived today.

This thing is NICE! 1.2mV output, which is plenty, conical stylus (don't know if it's nude or not, but it *sounds* nude), tracking force range 1.5-2.5g. I'm breaking mine in at around 2g.

Even fresh out of the box, this cart's a revelation. I started with "Within You Without You" from the new Beatles Mono vinyl reissue. It's really something when you play a mono record with a cartridge that produces no signal in the vertical plane. The noise floor drops down to the indiscernible. In fact, even cueing the needle makes very little sound thru the speakers.

Everything on Sgt. Pepper's sounded richer, lusher, more distinct, more dynamic, with great treble extension and no hint of sibilance. I followed it with Analogue Productions' 3-LP 45 rpm remaster of Nat King Cole's "After Midnight." Fan-TASTIC! I thought Nat was in the room before, but the dynamics, transparency, and truth-in-timbre reached a height I hadn't heard on my rig up to now.

I finished my mini-audition with a *real* mono record, an original mono Columbia Masterworks pressing of "Grand Canyon Suite" performed by Eugene Ormandy and The Phily Phil. Again, smoother, quieter, more dynamics. It showed its age a little bit, but I think I could bring this 55-yr-old record close to the reissues with a steam cleaning. Even without it it was very satisfying.

Folks, if you have nothing but the new Beatles mono reissues and have an easy way to switch cartridges or set up a mono rig, this cart is so worth it.

Right now I have around 13 Beatles mono LPs, two Beach Boys reissues, the Nat King Cole, some old Columbia Masterworks and shaded dog Orthophonics, mono reissues of Prestige and Miles Davis LPs, and some mono pressings of '60s pop.

I'm thinking of separating all my mono vinyl into its own shelf so--when I mount the AT Mono3 LP--I don't have to sort through my entire collection to play the compatible LPs.

BTW, if you decide to go after this cartridge, make sure you get the AT MONO3/LP cartridge, which is for mono LPS, and *NOT* the AT MONO3/SP cartridge, which is for 78s.
johnnyb53
fleib
1,124 posts
 

If we're talking microgroove - reissues, mid '50s or later (my assumption), then a mono record is no different in that respect than a stereo LP.  You're making this more mysterious than it is.  I've given you this Ortofon link before:

http://ortofon.com/hifi/products/mono-series

Spherical styli were the most commonly used geometry up to the beginning of the 1960s. Consequently, most records from the first 15 years of microgroove records have been played with a spherical stylus. This will not, however, mean that mono has to be played with a spherical stylus. In fact, elliptical types as well as line contact types can be highly beneficial for mono records from the mid 1950s and upwards (see figures below). The line contact types, specifically, will ensure an improved high frequency response due to the slim shape. Also the distortion from the pinching effect, which occurs when the stylus is pushed upwards due narrow high frequency grooves, will be reduced substantially.

Replaying an old mono record, which probably has been played only with a 25µm spherical stylus can be replayed in a different unworn location of the groove by using an 18µm spherical stylus or, even better, an elliptical or line contact stylus. Choosing one of these diamond profiles will dramatically increase the stylus’ ability to reproduce the inscription with detail and accuracy.

Regards,

andysf's avatar
andysf
269 posts
 
Johnnyb53:  Thanks for the tip on the AT Mono3/LP.  I got mine from Japan last week and am very happy with it.  Really sounds like a more expensive cartridge and I only have about 10 hours on it so far.

I did compare it with using a stereo cartridge and the mono button on my integrated amp.  For me there is no question  that the mono cart sounds better even though the cartridge I compared it with (Grado Gold) costs twice as much.  Especially on old 45s with a mono preamp (TDL 4010).

Now I am wondering how much better the AT MONO33 is?

stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,475 posts
 
I just don't see the need for a mono cartridge...I play mono records fine with no annoying noise.  The sound comes out from between the 2 speakers and I can enjoy the music fine.
johnnyb53 OP
3,510 posts
 
Well Stringreen, you have evidently been lucky in your acquisition of mono LPs. I have several that I've rescued from thrift shops for 99 cents or less. Many of them proved to be unlistenable with my stereo setup. but revealed themselves as powerful presentations when played with my AT3MONO/LP cartridge. With your strong classical background you may be able to appreciate recordings I have of Fischer-Dieskau doing Schubert songs, Roger Wagner Chorale doing Echoes of a 16th Century Cathedral. Horowitz doing Brahms Sonatas and other recordings. Using the AT Mono cartridge makes these 50+ yr-old recordings smack me in the middle of my head with transparency, midrange impact, and a general sense of "in-the-room" presence. 

If you expand your experience with mono recordings from various sources, you'll see what I'm talking about. If you don't, then party on and enjoy what you have.
goofyfoot's avatar
goofyfoot
1,380 posts
 
Sorry to get into this thread at such a late hour. Hi Lewm, long time no see.
I just purchased a Grado Statement Sonata Mono MKII and for what I listen to, it's wonderful. Right now I'm spinning my Archive Productions Elizabethan Songs and the vocal presence with string accompaniment is lovely. I considered the AT 33 mono however buying the Grado worked out better for me and given that my mono collection is nearly all classical, I have no regrets.
I've been putting money into a Thorens TD 145 and I hope to replace the TP 16 tonearm with one of Origin Live models. 
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