mono cartridge vs stereo

Thanks Lewm, finally someone has shed some lights :)
Just realized, unless I missread, when somebody shared their experience with mono phono preamp (Art Dudley in Stereophile and Jacob H in absolute sound online), they didn't mention whether they listened to 2 speakers or just one.
Do you have any experience listening to mono phono preamp via 2 speakers vs 1 speaker?

Grado makes a couple of mono cartridges in their Prestige line: the MC+ w/conical stylus for $90 and the ME+ w/elliptical stylus for $150 .

I think results are pressing dependent. I've been checking out a DL102, a true mono cart similar to a 103, only a HOMC. This has a .7 spherical and vintage pressings sound much better with it. The entire presentation is more coherent, natural and quieter.
On modern mono pressings, not so much. I'm used to a more analytical sound and with modern pressings the 102 can actually sound worse.

Ortofon has two - 2M Mono carts. Unless the description is poorly translated the output is strapped. They are also described as true mono, so it's unclear exactly what they are. The regular one has a .7 spherical and the SE has a shibata. This was obviously designed for modern mono pressings made with a stereo cutter like the Beatles box.
They also have a Cadenza Mono which has a fine line, but some of the SPU have various sized spherical.

Regards,

Mono cartridge options - Grado does offer mono models in their line up, but I've read they will build any of their cartridges in a mono version as a special order. Best to check with them directly if interested. If true, that may substantiate their mono models are simply internally rewired stereo cartridges (?).

Fleib, I've only seen one source stating that mono cutter heads are still available. Whether that is true or not apparently most current mono reissues are cut with stereo heads. That would explain the groove dimensions and why the 0.7 DL102 stylus may not be optimal for playback of modern mono pressings.

Pryso, I think you're right about the pressings. Even some mono reissues from the '70s and '80s seem to be cut with a stereo head. You don't get the SQ improvement as with vintage pressings.
On another forum it was reported that plans were in the works from the people who did the Beatles box, to do future mono reissues with true mono pressings. He said something about an old Neumann mono lathe.

AT has a couple of mono carts, the AT3MONO and 33. They both have .65 spherical tips; HOMC and LOMC respectively. They're said to be true mono, but that's all I know about them.
The 102 only has two long pins for the output which makes it extra long, or so it seems. For stereo hook-up you double up the wire tags. I can imagine this could be a problem for some cramped headshells or tags with heat shrink. VTF is 2 -4g so it seems like a 103 in that respect. I'm not entirely comfortable tracking my Japanese reissues at 3g, but I guess one go-round won't hurt.

This whole business of mono carts is confusing, not the least of which is your records and what makes sense. I wonder if the Ortofon 2M is a true mono cart, and if so, could you swap the stylus between the spherical and shibata. That might be a good way to cover all bases.
Good turkey day everyone.