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What to expect from MONO

Hello:

I'm curious if when listening to a 'mono' LP, should I be hearing a completely symmetrical sound stage? I'm listening to Coltrane's Blue Train in mono and I have to say that it favors the left channel on some instruments like the cymbals. The horn is mostly centered. I'm using a VPI Scout with Dyna 10x5. It's new and set-up by the dealer. Could this indicate that something is not set correctly?

On a separate thought. Since everything else in a system needs to be broken in (cables, speakers, carrtridge, etc) does new vinyl need to played a few times before it sounds it's best?
arch7
nsgarch's avatar
nsgarch
2,524 posts
 
It may not be your setup or equipment but rather anomalies in you room's response resulting from playing a mono groove with a stereo cartridge. Having a mono/stereo switch on your preamp (switched to mono of course) can eliminate a lot of that. So does using a mono cartridge, but I wouldn't go that far unless I had a large mono record collection.
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hagtech
175 posts
 
Should be same response from both channels. Difference could be gain (balance) and EQ per channel. Depends how well the phono is matched. Also azimuth setting on cart.

Do you have a mono switch? This helps to cancel out stereo cart imbalances.

jh
ebalog
31 posts
 
Nsgarch...

Can you clarify how a stereo cartridge could be to blame for room response?

Wouldn't the fact that he's using 2 speakers be more "to blame"? I mean, a mono cartridge playing a mono track through 2 speakers would output the same signal to each (in theory), and the room response could cause some variance in perceived 'location' of the sounds.

However, if I have it right, a stereo cartridge could actually be feeding 2 different signals to each channel, which could then be exacerbated by 2 speakers/room response.

Am I missing something? I guess you are saying anything that sends a mono signal (mono cart, mono-capable preamp) to stereo speakers will reduce the problem -- but the inherent problem is room response (assuming correct setup of the cartridge & rest of the system). Nothing in the analog setup will correct this.
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