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i have started to buy mono recordings - sundazed, etcwould i benefit from mounting a mono cartridge on a spare table?
currently using a td316/x5mc and a pf800/bps
thanks
Follow Ups:
If you have a spare table, absolutely. It's great having a table where swapping out cartridges is easy so that you can have a mono cartridge for playing mono records.
If it does you can just set up a second headshell with a vintage mono cartridge. Get a GE VRII. 20-20khz frequency range and 0.07 diamond conical stylus are readily available on ebay.Simply double your connections so the red and white leads would each need to be soldered to the mono positive pin and the green and blue would go to the mono neg pin.
Tubesforever brings up an inmportant point. The original mono LPs and mono 45s used a 1 mil stylus. Once stereo began, the largest diameter conical recommended was .7 mil.
The .7 mil tip will enable you to play original and reissue/remastered mono stuff, plus have the benefit of being able to listen to your stereo records with this mono setup.
While I like the GE VRII, if you have a good early stereo cartridge, with a .7 mil conical/spherical tip, that might suffice, and might even sound better than the GE. Simply paralleling the channels, which many preamps can do without rewiring at the headshell, I do have some highly regarded stereo cartridges to recommend.
First, though, that GE VRII is a sweetheart of a cartridge. It is punchy down below, smooth in the mids, and surprisingly detailed up top. However, its punchy behavior is not for everyone. Some vinylphiles love it. Others critique its lack of speed and detail.
I enjoy it, especially on 78s, but I do prefer certain early stereo carts for my mono Lp and 45 listening.
The early stereo carts are not just a period preference; they still compete with high end gear ! Ortofon SPU moving coil carts, from the early to mid '60s rule, in my humble opinion ! They have a .65 conical, very high output, with the sweetest reference grade sound. If you want more modern, a Denon 103C low output mc also has a .65 conical tip, but the Orto will sound better...
Back to the early stereo stuff. Listed below, in alphabetical order, are some recommendations. These are tried and true.
B&O Stereodyne I or II (marketed as Dynaco/B&O, .7 mil tip)
Elac 210,222 (.7 mil)
Empire 108, 88 (.7 mil, and 1 mil tips also available)
Fairchild SM-2 (.65-.7 mil)
Pickering/Stanton 380 (.7 mil) My Highest Recommendation and currently available for less than $50.!!!The Pickering/Stanton 380 series was very popular through the sixties. Today, they are surprising performers, and even compete with the Ortofon SPU, which is the classic world reference cartridge.
The Empire would be my next choice, as funds do not have to be drained. Both of these are mellow and sweet, never harsh, unless the recording sucks.
The next choice would be the B&O, but it does have a flavor of punchy lows and somewhat hot highs. Jazz and rock lovers will want it.
So, I cannot rave enough about the Pickering U38 or Pickering/Stanton 380. There was a very rare 1 mil tip available, but the usual .7 mil conical fills our needs.
More modern choices with .7 conicals are slim. The Denon 103C is world reference quality, certainly. They even have a newer purer copper version(103R ?) that garners rave reviews. There was a Fulton, FMI, low output mc, that was made for them by Entre. Another '70s and '80s classic was the GAS Sleeping Beauty, but most of their USA bound carts were elliptical or shibata/line contact tips. If $600-$800 is not a large burden for you, the Ortofon SPU is sure to please, but it is a heavy cart, requiring certain tonearms.
It is always an extra joy, knowing that the vintage gear I use, might have been used by my favorite vintage musicians. When that vintage gear sounds as good as anything modern, my choice is easily made. Happy Listening...
-Pickering/Stanton 380 (.7 mil) My Highest Recommendation and currently available for less than $50.!!!Being a vinatage guy and a complete ceapskate, you perked my interest! I assume you mean used. The current offering appears to be a 400 (or is that what you are reffering to?). Are needles still available?
Thanks for the Empire 108 info. I have one but haven't tried it because it wasn't a mono cart (although old ads say it is good for both). I see styli are available so I think I'll order one and give it a listen. More fun :).
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