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Mono LP playback!?!

The task of playback of a monaural LP would seem to be a simple one. But anyone who has read the many posts here on VA and other sites may realize than not to be true.

* Can I simply listen with my stereo cartridge?
* Is a "mono" switch or rewiring my stereo cartridge adequate?
* Is that mono cartridge a true mono (no vertical compliance) or simply summed internally?
* Is there an "ideal" tip shape/size with a mono cartridge?
* What EQ was utilized when my LP was mastered? (RIAA may have been approved in 1955 but it was not immediately adapted by all record companies.)
* Was my mono LP cut with a mono cutter head or stereo cutter head?

I've wondered about the last question since reading a quote from Jonathan Carr (Lyra) that they found modern profile, stereo cut styli to sound best with mono playback. But wondering about how many mono cutter heads were utilized for all the mono LP reissues over the past 10 years or so, I suspected his judgement was based on playing reissues, not older original monos. This is a consideration for me since I have a few hundred original monos in my collection.

Now with Art Dudley's comments I suspect I may need two mono cartridges, one with a wider conical tip for original mono LPs and another with a modern profile tip for reissues. That is if I want to better optimize their playback. Whoever said this was going to be easy?

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho


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Topic - Mono LP playback!?! - M3 lover 09:11:37 03/26/15 (9)

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