Mono recordings - two questions...
If good value = low cost in your mind, here are some suggestions. Mod a stereo cartridge - with a fine copper wire (maybe 24 ga or thinner, or even a single wire cut from a stranded bundle in a speaker wire) strap the hot pins (L & R) on the cartridge. Do this before reconnecting the headshell wire clips. Be certain the wire is taught between the pins and wrapped a couple of times around each pin. Trim away any excess. Y adaptors - with a male to male Y connected to a female to male Y, insert that between your tonearm and preamp/phono stage. Buy a new mono cartridge - Shure, Stanton, Grado, and AT all offer reasonably priced models, <$200. There is some question if all of these are "true mono" or simply strapped internally as in the mod suggested above. A true mono is the Denon 102 mono. It has only L & R connector pins. They are extra long to allow connecting all four headshell wires so you will have signal from both speakers. |
What Pryso said. So far, my research tells me that there are very few "true mono" cartridges being sold these days. Some that probably ARE true mono are the Miyajima series, then EMT makes one or two. I am sure there are more, and now perhaps we will hear about those. If you are on a budget, don't worry about this issue at all. Just buy a bridged stereo cartridge or do as Tim (Pryso) suggests. (Don't try to solder the jumper wire; you'll fry the coils.) I would add Ortofon to Tim's list of companies that market mono cartridges derived from one or another of their stereo cartridge models. |
Try these albums: 1. June Christy "Something Cool." http://www.ebay.com/itm/June-Christy-Pete-Rugolo-Something-Cool-LP-Capitol-teal-female-jazz-vocal-VG... 2. Chris Conner "The Bethlehem Years." Both of these albums will have you asking ... "who needs stereo." 3, Dave Brubeck "Jazz Impressions USA." another great mono recording. http://www.ebay.com/itm/DAVE-BRUBECK-jazz-impressions-of-the-usa-COLUMBIA-984-DEEP-GROOVE-6-EYES-VG-... |
