How are you playing your precious MONO Vinyl?

@danmar123

ditto: Wishing you a speedy recovery!

I often listen to Mono from my reclining chair on my porch, where most of my recovery from 31 surgeries has occurred, and often use the Mode Switch, so true mono cartridge, then L+R to L projects only the Left Speaker diagonally into the room, out to the porch 

or, Listen from the far right corner, sofa next to my coffee warmer, and perhaps while I eat, the coffee table rises up for meals/snacks. The two chairs simply spin around for either 2 CH music or 5.1 video.

I hope you have a team fetching you stuff. Donna can handle the TT properly, and loves music too, so whatever I’m in the mood for

after ’generally’ getting the arm level

Removable Headshells, even high quality ones, might not be perfectly level with the arm, so you need to check both Azimuth and VTA at the headshell, when down on the mirror or in the groove, suspension properly flexed by tracking weight.

I just ordered this versatile kit of inexpensive levels, I’m not planning on leaving them on, but they are sized to fit hot shoes on cameras and I can compare the cheap things to my better quality levels, I have found some good, some not in the past

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09W4GQZV7?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

I use a speck of sticky tack to defy gravity and temporarily hold something like a level, or a cartridge nut in a tiny place until I get a screw started

sticky tack, just pinch of a speck or two

I use this mirror, same thickness as an LP, any deviation from straight is ’oppositely’ reflected, makes it easy, and the level can confirm if all is well.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T31MRZ9?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_2&th=1

@elliottbnewcombjr 

May your trifecta of stylus track true and oodles of nifty accessories stretch the soundstage to the heavens! 

lalitk OP, everyone

I can lower all 3 arms onto an LP, it plays perfect speed (as Halcro proved)

so I can compare 2 or even 3 cartridges within seconds by my two dials on my SUT

I make any needed volume adjustments when I change, my Cayin Amp volume knob is right there at 12 oclock normal (for more precision, for subtle differences, I make temp. A,B,C pencil marks on the amp’s aluminum face plate).

/////////////////////////////////////

A new friend and I just quickly compared a pair of Mono LPs and a pair of cartridges, just to let him hear the difference. 

1st with my MM Stereo AT160ml Cartridge and Mode dial in Mono, beryllium cantilever with MicroLinear Stylus (VAS verified good)

2nd the MC AT33ptg/II 50th Anniversary MONO (VAS rebuilt with boron/microridge) Mode Switch in Stereo and then moved to Mono.

The Stereo Cartridge playing a very flat, excellent condition mono LP of content recorded in 1955, with mode switch in Mono sounded good, if I only had a few Mono LP’s, like the old days, that would be ’good enough’. 

The Mono Cartridge (mode switch stereo or mono made no difference this time) was immediately more involving, definitely had increased clarity of individual instruments, that’s a trombone, that’s a trumpet, ..... if voices, I can say there would be an obvious improvement there too.

If you have more than a few Mono LP’s, if you have the money, definitely get a true mono cartridge. start at least with the Grado ME+ Mono Elliptical on Aluminum for only $185, it will be worth it, you will hear a preferred difference.

I have to say, I personally wouldn’t pay $1,000 or more, but the $600. I spent creating my Franken MC Mono with boron/microridge is noticeably better/preferred to the Grado Elliptical, i.e. the risk paid off!

@elliottbnewcombjr 

Thank you for your positive feedback with Mono playback. That’s my plan as well, buying a mono cart. I am contemplating between Miyajima Zero vs Hana SL Mono MK II or Ortofon. The choice of cart would be contingent upon choice of tonearm. So far, I have narrow down my options to SME 3012R, ViV Rigid Float snd Groovemaster IV.