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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
rgordonpf
82 posts
 
I have a ZYX mono cartridge on my VPI 12.5 arm and about 500 mono LPs. I use two speakers, rather than just one. I have tried it both ways and prefer two speakers, though I can see why some people prefer a single speaker. On my system, with two speakers, I do get a horizontal sound stage with mono, not just a vertical line. The mono horizontal soundstage ranges from 1/4rd to 1/2 of the size of the horizontal soundstage of the stereo version of the same recording played on the same arm with a stereo cartridge, a ZYX UNIverse.
arch7 OP
35 posts
 
For VPI users, i wonder if the anti-skating could be off. This table requires a twist of the tonearm cable to control anti-skate. I feel pretty confident that it's correct because when I lift the arm at the end of a record it every so slightly bounces back toward the right. I'm told this should be just enough anti-skating force, so I hesitate to adjust it. If I'm mis-informed let me know. Also, is there a good test record out there that can help with sort of thing? One that maybe gives a precise even soundstage with just a tone rather than actual music?
rgordonpf
82 posts
 
I use a Wallyskater to measure the anti-skate on my VPI 12.5. It is possible to get the anti-skate fairly close to optimum by just twisting the wires.

For a lengthy discussion of why test tones are not very useful for setting anti-skate please see the following thread.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1155072518&openflup&32&4#32
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
Play some mono CDs if you have any to double check. Room anomolies, or issues with speaker positioning or unmatched speaker drivers (or pre/power amp tubes), should cause simmilar effects as with vinyl. If not, then it's probably alignment or cartridge related, or possibly phonostage (tube imbalance/resonance).

As for perceiving a strict vertical line or point of images when playing mono, I think this could only happen in an anechoic chamber, if even then. I think the ear/brain assigns dimensional qualities to images emmanating even from a single small driver.
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