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Mono recordings and my new respect for them

At 61 I owned plenty of recordings with a mono version when young.  Until recently, thanks to streaming, I have a new respect for mono.  I mean why own a STEREO to listen an antiquated version of music? (My young self would have scoffed...)

So for the last few years I have been learning online about the advantages. And of course the initial fact that most people had mono reproduction so music was mixed to that standard.   Makes sense.

Thanks to streaming I get to hear plenty of mono.  It has its appeal for sure!  Just listened to "I can see for miles" by The Who.  It had great stage and sound and was not just one narrow beam of sound.

So hurray for Mono and the streaming revolution in general!  I get to relearn so much music from my past that I thought I had nailed!

 

Happy Listening!

guscreek
mahler123
3,499 posts
 

The sixties classic rock early stereo releases were problematic.  

russ69's avatar
russ69
3,572 posts
 

Are you playing mono sources though a 2 channel stereo? I have two mono setups using a single speaker, lots of depth but not much width. Still sounds very good.

stuartk
3,206 posts
 

@larryi 

Some reissues offered both original stereo and mono versions, like the Cream recordings I have.  The monos actually sound better in many respects. 

Agreed. I have the MofI Gold version of Disraeli Gears and have always preferred the mono tracks. 

mswale
203 posts
 

Have a few vintage mono along with stereo versions of a few records. Also have a mono switch on my pre-amp, but no mono cartridge. 

They do sound very different, in different ways. Mono can sound very full, more kind of sound everywhere. Stereo has more depth, image, and layers. 

It's fun to do back to back listening. 

texasblues1959's avatar
texasblues1959
97 posts
 

Love the Zombies mono recordings.

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