MONO cartridge recommendation

@ hdm

Thanks, for that, I have an Audio Technica AT-3 on an SME3009 non-improved and it certainly improves 1960's mono lp's, however it may not be the best cart/tonearm match. My other arm (Tecnoarm) has an Ortofon MC25FL, which is far superior so I may use that for the modern mono represses.

@folkfreak , I seem to recall from an earlier thread on the Zero that you run a custom mono phono cable to eliminate hum. What manufacturer made it for you? I’ve been eying this cartridge for along time but I have no mono switch on my preamps or phono stage, so a mono cable might be just the thing. Thanks in advance.

@wrm57 sorry I do not use a custom cable. Perhaps you are thinking of this advice on the topic

http://www.durand-tonearms.com/Support/Mono%20connections/monoconnections.html

I actually tried this and it did not work for me. I found that either using the mono switch on my amp or lifting the ground on my step up works fine and completely eliminates the problem — the latter is how I have it currently configured as my step up has a three way ground lift switch

@folkfreak, Ah, sorry to bother. A quick search reveals my mistake. This was your good advice to me in that earlier thread:

I wonder if you could not make up a simple cable which adds the two channels together and gives you the effect of a mono switch? If your tonearm uses a detachable interconnect you could make one up (or have one made) and get the effect of a mono switch at the front end?

I have a Bob's Devices that has a ground-lift switch. I wonder if this would do the trick. I'll ping Bob himself, as he's also a Miyajima dealer. Out of curiosity, what step-up ratio do you like with yours?

@wrm57 my step up is 1:10 (20dB) which works well for me with 45dB of gain in my phono stage and an additional 12dB available in my pre-amp if needed, I have the volume control at 35-45% of range