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Playing mono records properly without breaking the bank - a phono pre-amp question.

Hi there.. I can use some suggestions for playing mono records properly.I'm about to put together my vinyl system and trying to figure out how to best play mono records without having to either buy a separate TT, have a turntable with two tone arms or have a switchable head-shell, all of which are not an option at the moment.  Someday, I think having two tone arms will be the way, but now I need the most economical way to have a nice experience.
I will have at a minimum, a nice stereo stylus/cartridge, but I'm wondering if I should be focusing my phono-preamp search to those with a dedicated mono switch?  I have a Hegel integrated and there's no mono option. 
Are there  simple ways (contraptions)  other than a phono-preamp with a mono switch, to achieve high quality mono playback with a stereo stylus? My search for the right phono preamp would be much easier if I knew I didn't need to make sure it had mono.

Appreciate any suggestion or direction - would love to hear your person experience playing mono on a generally "stereo" rig.

hrabieh
folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak
1,349 posts
 
@lubachl regarding your experience comparing playback on your existing stereo MC with a cheaper mono cart. I suspect a lot of what you are hearing is the differences in carts. 

In my setup I have a pretty expensive stereo cart (AS Palladian) and an much cheaper mono (Miyajima Zero). Arguably the Palladian is more detailed, more accurate etc but the Zero has an ineffable sense of wholeness and soul that really brings out the best in mono (especially on the wood armed Durand Talea I mount it on). 

Suffice it to say listening to Martzy on the Palladian is a bit of an exercise in analysis whereas with the Zero one relaxes in pleasure. I do have to say that going mono can be spendy once you start getting a taste for ERC pressings (never mind the originals) and the like.

All in all I’d recommend you keep up your search for the mono cartridge that sings for you!
elliottbnewcombjr
5,968 posts
 
OP writes:

"not planning on getting a turntable with interchangeable headshell and
(c) don’t see myself wanting to get a cartridge with a removable stylus where I would switch out the stylus each time I want to play a mono record..(d) will not be playing any 78’s on this turntable".

That is why I mentioned the already setup TT. It is fully adjustable, but no need to adjust anything (except level via it's adjustable feet) (perhaps OP might want to try a different cartridge later).

The low quantity of Mono records he describes do not warrant the advanced considerations he mentions.

The remote controlled stereo/mono switch can be tried, kept, returned, about the same price as a different cartridge, but no skills/work involved.

I do have Stereo/Mono circuit in my McIntosh mx110z tuner/preamp (wonderful tube phono eq) as I mentioned.

I never tried a Mono cartridge. That is a specific alternate. Perhaps I will buy one I can return, try it, see if it bests the Stereo Cartridge/McIntosh Mode switch, keep or return it.
elliottbnewcombjr
5,968 posts
 
Mono Cartridge Recommendations??? Christmas is coming!
elliottbnewcombjr
5,968 posts
 
Bubble Levels for TT.

I have several, and I bought over a dozen recently to include with an amp stand I designed. They are not as accurate as you expect. I now check them with other levels, return the one(s) that are no good.

My Thorens TD124 had a built in level, I trusted it without ever checking it against another.

Thorens had a built in speed control (a magnetic force/shield, pretty cool if you ever looked inside). You definitely needed to adjust the speed control as it warmed up, every time. I never need to adjust other TT speeds.
lubachl
104 posts
 
@folkfreak, yes that is what I concluded.  The more expensive MC stereo cartridge was giving me more information and dynamic bloom than the lesser MM mono cart.  However, I remain baffled that many of my RCA monos have a bigger sound and slightly higher volume (same amplifier setting) than their stereo siblings. That is what prompted my somewhat expensive foray into the world of mono playback set ups.

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