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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
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Lewm
I was considering a Japan market Denon dl102 as a cheapish mono cartridge, plenty on ebay right now.
This is a 2 pin cartridge so a y adapter would be needed I assume.

Or if went with the also Japan market AT-MONO3/LP this has the usual 4 pins so must be bridged for mono internal in the cartridge. In this instance nothing else would be needed.

Ye it causes the head to spin!
hdm
1,062 posts
 
I have no experience with the Denon but have owned both the AT-MONO3/LP and the AT 33 Mono. 

While the AT-MONO 3 is a real bargain, it is a bit quirky in terms of its output at 1.2 mV, also with relatively high internal impedance. 

The AT 33 Mono, for not much more money (and only a couple of bucks more than the Denon) is an unbelievably good cartridge and not just for the money. 

It is admittedly a better match with my phono stage than the lesser 3/LP but the AT 33 Mono is really a great cartridge. 

Personally, I feel that a Mono cartridge is the way to go if you can, having experimented a bit with strapping stereo cartridges. 

I like my AT 33 Mono (on an inferior tonearm but on the same table and using the same phono stage with gain adjusted for output) much better playing both vintage and reissue Mono than playing them with my retipped stereo Accuphase AC2. 
lewm
13,124 posts
 
Uber, The 2-pin Denon is no problem, if you are content with driving only one of the two stereo channels, without a Y-adapter.  If you used a Y-adapter (so as to be able to drive two channels in mono), there are possible issues with impedance, but the question is equipment-specific.  You could try it.  I'd go with the AT33MONO, if it were my choice.
The mono switch solution allows you (or anyone) to compare the very same stereo cartridge used in either stereo or mono mode on the very same mono LP.  That way, there is no issue with the inherent quality of the cartridge, as opposed to the situation where you compare stereo cartridge A to mono cartridge B.  There you are doing more than just comparing stereo to mono; you obviously have the confounding factor of the SQ differences between one cartridge vs another.  But this must be at least the third time I've pointed this out.  So I'm done.

jackput's avatar
jackput
10 posts
 
I don't know if this has been covered already but the best way I found to play mono without a mono cartridge or mono switch is to add a double Y-adapter to the tape loop on your preamp if it has one. Simply press tape when playing mono LPs.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Not sure as I totally understand that one Jackput?

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