For me a mono recording has it's biggest impact in vinyl format. Less detail in mono compared to stereo but a good mono recording certainly has it's own soundstage and in my view it's more pure to the live performance. No crazy panning from left to right by the engineer in stereo and overall more slam in mono, especially when I listen quality first pressings in 50s/60s jazz realm. Give me a quality 1st pressing Bluenote on a NY label over any stereo LP any day!
Mono Recordings
I was listening to my brand new copy of Analog Productions "The Chirping Crickets" sitting here at the computer way of axis and the sound was wonderful. I decided to check it out at the listening position and it was surreal. Music coming from a slit in space. The first thing that popped into my head was the Outer Limits intro. Off axis you would not know it was Mono and instruments and voices attain their normal sizes. I'm not sure where the passion for mono recordings comes from. Obviously in some instances you have no choice. There is a lot of incredible music from the early to mid 50's that is incredible but given the choice I would go for the stereo version. Getting the Beatles collection on CD in Mono seems a bit odd to me. Except for the old music can anyone tell me what the attraction to mono recordings is?