Why mono?

Hi Elizabeth,
Just one more question, if you use a mono cartridge would only one channel work?

I have a Miyajima Premium BE mono cartridge mounted on a Triplanar tonearm and it is terrific on mono recordings. It sounds better on the vast majority of my ~300 mono recordings when compared to my Dynavector XV1-S stereo cartridge on a Talea tonearm. Great explanation Elizabeth.

I heard the Miyajima Premium BE mono cartridge at Robin Wyatt's house, the importer, a few months ago. It is special to the point that it actually challenges stereo recordings. Jazdoc is right; it is that good.

to echo Jazdoc's comments; i too have the Miyajima Premium Be Mono. it's mounted on my Reed 2P arm on my Garrard 301. it did take some time to break in; and demanded a good setup to sound optimal.

most of my mono Lps sound better on this $1100 retail cartridge than on my Rockport/Lyra Olympos stereo cartridge ($11,000 retail).

this morning i was playing some of my 45rpm Jazz reissues and played a mono on the Rockport/Olympos. for grins i tried it on the Garrard/Miyajima Mono and damn! it sounded a significant degree better.

caution; the Miyajima is one of those 'different' mono cartridges that will harm a stereo Lp.

there are a number of other things to think about with a mono cartridge beyond what Elizabeth mentioned above.

some of them might want a heavier arm than medium compliance arms most of us have. for instance; the Miyajima works on the Triplaner or Reed; but it might work better on a heavier arm.

some mono cartridges have just one magnet, but with the normal 4 output pins. which means you will have a ground loop if you connect like a stereo cartridge is connected. i had to use a splitter into my stereo phono stage and leave one channel disconencted. then i use my 'mono' switch on my preamp. if you don't have a mono switch then you would need to find another solution.

the Lyra Titan i mono has 2 separate mono magnets; which avoids the whole 'ground loop' issue and allows a normal connection. other mono cartridges use normal stereo magnets and simply 'sum' them so a mono signal is sent to the preamp.

as Elizabeth mentioned some use the smaller stereo stylus and others the larger mono stylus.

anyway; even if it sounds complicated it's not; you simply have to understand how the particular mono cartridge you choose will integrate with your system.....and what adjustments might be required.

Because mono disks are cut differently. If you are really into a large collection of mono lps, like I am, best to assign a separate arm and cartridge to their playing. The Lyra is ideal, but Shure makes some mono cartridges that are great sounding, and good values.