2. analog
  3. 1183474426

Mono LP's?

Hi there,
I understand this is a silly question but those of you with more knowledge than I can clear this up for me. Do I need a special cartridge to play mono lp's? I only ask because I've seen mono castridges available but do not know if they are necessary to play the mono's

Thanks for your time.
Peter
mariasplunge
pawlowski6132's avatar
pawlowski6132
604 posts
 
No.
uru975
684 posts
 
Only to play them at their best. For me, the Sumiko celebration works fine on mono lps and can only imagine how much better it could get. My phono stage has a mono or stereo switch so that takes care of any problems down line. Some preamps also have a mono switch, a neat little item that should be more common
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
no..its no big deal
mariasplunge OP
174 posts
 
Cool thanks all. Got it!!
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
If you use a stereo cartridge you need to jumper the left and right signals, preferebly right at the cartridge. However, if you also play stereo LPs it is more convenient to do this in the preamp with a switch. DON'T do it at the power amp output!!

What this does is eliminate the cartridge's sensitivity to vertical groove modulation, which in the case of a mono recording is pure noise. Some cartridges sold as "Mono" are actually stereo models with the jumper installed internaly.

Old records, especially 78 rpm ones, should be played with a larger "needle". Some cartridge mfrs. offer such stylus for their stereo cartridges.
More to discover