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In Reply to: RE: Ta-daaaaaa!! posted by Waxxy on September 18, 2014 at 12:22:26
I wish you *would* listen to them with a stereo cartridge, so you can tell us if there is an improvement when you get the mono cart.I've read a bunch of stuff over the past week on this subject, and it seems to me that modern mono LPs are cut with stereo cutters anyway, so the consensus seems to be that a mono cartridge doesn't offer a huge advantage over a mono switch.
The other thing I keep reading is that most (some? all?) new mono carts are nothing more than stereo carts wired for mono. I even saw one site that showed you how to do this with a stereo cart and a paper clip! Uh, no thanks.
It's all a bit confusing.
Edits: 09/18/14Follow Ups:
But since the mono cart will be my first ever Ortofon, the differences between carts would skew the results. Plus I'm really looking forward to hearing them played back the way they "should" be.According to the Ortofon website propaganda the Quintet Mono is a "True Mono" cartridge.
Some more propaganda -
"If you play a mono record with a stereo cartridge you will not achieve the same signal in the two channels due to imperfections such as crosstalk, noise, phase errors, tracking error, antiskating and distortion. This difference between the channels will result in an unstable and partially fuzzy image. A mono switch, to some extent, can improve this.
Playing the same record with a mono cartridge will have none of the aforementioned problems, as this cartridge only produces one signal, which afterwards is directed to both channels in the system. This will provide a much more forceful and stable image with a fuller sound.
Another significant advantage of using a mono cartridge to play mono records is the absence of response to vertical movement. This means that a mono cartridge is essentially impervious to the pinching effect which comes into action when the stylus is pushed vertically upward in very narrow grooves. In addition, the response to dust, dirt and wear will be reduced substantially as the vertical component will not be heard. The final result will be a much more clean and noiseless reproduction of the mono record. These effects simply cannot be achieved merely by the use of a mono switch.Lastly, a mono record cut with a properly aligned stereo cutterhead will be no different to using a mono head, as long as the signal supplied is the exact same for both channels. The cutting stylus chosen should also ensure the production of sufficiently deep and wide grooves in order to accommodate those users wanting to replay mono with a traditional spherical 25µm stylus."
Edits: 09/18/14 09/18/14
Will you optimize your system for mono? I bought the Beatles mono CD box when it was released. At one point, I moved one of my speakers next to the other, and fed them both a mono signal by engaging the mono switch on my preamp.
I figured I'd attempt to emulate a typical late 1950s, early 1960s hi-fi system, by having effectively one speaker playing. Maybe it's because I have listened to stereo for so many years, but I found the stage right (in my case) presentation annoying.
Perhaps two speakers dead center might have been more to my liking, but my speakers work best with corner placement. I went back to a speaker in each corner, mono switch engaged.
Thanks for the Ortofon link. There's a lot of interesting information there!
I'll bet it sounds very good. Let us know!
Will do. Might be a month or so. October is a write-off for me.
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