Mono cartridge recommendation

@vinylzone


That's a good path to take. Good luck!

A bridged stereo cartridge becomes a “horizontal generator”. Signal produced by vertical deflection of the cantilever is canceled.

@lewm 
Effectively maybe, but not physically.  Especially if the vertical deflection isn't the same in both coils.  Horizontal coils in theory don't rely on cancellation in the vertical plane, they simply don't register it.

I know.

OP, others considering mono lps:

You may be concentrating on a recent 1960’s virgin beatles (name your favoritre) i.e. ’modern mono’ lp, and the best tonality for that. I don’t think I will ever go there.

I’m concentrating on OLD mono recordings, up to and into the 60’s, mostly Jazz, when the greats made their reputations, new styles developed. Used decent shape lps, of various groove types.

I’m no expert, but chakster is right, certain mono lp’s grooves are different than others, and certain styli shapes are correct for those grooves. Get serious? Get several mono cartridges.

starting, I suggest elliptical as you know. I suggest a good (i.e. not expensive) true mono cartridge to start, listen for a while, learn some. You, like myself and my friends who never heard mono played true mono will be amazed, then move up.

noise reduction is a big part of enjoying mono lps. I learned here, decided to follow advice, and found correct: a true mono cartridge played thru a single speaker sounds best. Best noise reduction. Best distinction of individual instruments (not imaging, distinction). Best lack of any inadvertent frequency wandering. Best method of breaking our trained habit seeking imaging.

IMO it is best to leave your speakers where they are, use the one that sounds best, and listen off center, anywhere in the room, in the adjacent porch. Right back to stereo: mix Oscar Peterson Mono and Stereo in one listening session with ease. In my case, my left speaker works best for my entire room and adjacent porch. Playing thru 2 speakers opens the door to stray frequency wandering, which appears to be imaging, but is erratic, and distracting to the mono sound

Any vertical information, dirt in the groove, very slight scuffs, a speck of warpage, will be picked up by a stereo cartridge, even if the cartridge pins are bridged into mono, and that noise will be reproduced in both channels if played via the preamp in stereo or mono mode which, with both speakers is dual mono with double the noise.

I accidently scuffed a rare mono lp I sold. The noise from the scuff, played stereo cartridge via preamp mono was the same volume level as the content, unpleasant. Played mono, the noise was sharply reduced, still an enjoyable experience. I informed the buyer, he wanted that lp, got himself a mono cartridge while the lp was in transit, confirmed the same results on his system.

This album went from a noisy history lesson I would never play again to a very enjoyable experience I enjoy every time I play it.

https://www.discogs.com/Various-Guide-To-Jazz/master/460471

Look at the lineup, holy smokes! Recordings, earliest made in 1926 then into the 30’s, 40’s. We shake our head at how good the recording techniques were way back then.

Some Mono LP’s, a mono cartridge only makes a minor improvement, but for all of these (in current play) and so many others downstairs on the shelves, my mono grado elliptical/single speaker makes a huge difference.

https://www.discogs.com/Various-Chicago-South-Side-Jazz-Vol-1/release/5104002

https://www.discogs.com/Lil-Hardin-Armstrong-And-Her-Orchestra-Chicago-The-Living-Legends/master/666...

https://www.discogs.com/The-Benny-Carter-Quartet-Swingin-The-20s/master/688439

https://www.discogs.com/Louis-Armstrong-Volume-IV-Louis-Armstrong-And-Earl-Hines/release/12765167

https://www.discogs.com/Peggy-Lee-Pass-Me-By/master/293429
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I just found this, I'll read it later

https://www.yoursoundmatters.com/do-you-need-a-mono-cartridge-to-play-mono-records/