As I’ve read, yes, mono records (well, all were mono then) in the 40’s to early 50’s did have a wider bottom groove, but by the mid-50’s the bottom of the groove was cut 1/2 as wide, and my the 60’s even less. Probably the reason why modern mono carts with elliptical stylus still work relatively well. I believe all Soundsmith mono carts are built with elliptical stylus, as are the Ortofon MC Quintet carts and Grado ME+. As examples. Thus, modern mono reissues may sound better with one of those carts, or similar, as I have to assume they are cut similar to modern stereo LP’s.
I have an Ortofon 2M Mono cartridge I use when playing my mono recordings. Most of my mono LP’s were released from the mid-50’s into the 60’s. The 2M Mono has a nude spherical (‘conical’) stylus. Their mono cartridge for 78’s is a standard spherical stylus.
I will say this, my mono LP’s sound much better using my Ortofon 2m Mono vs. my stereo Soundsmith Zephyr, Grado Red (with 8mz stylus), or Goldring 1042. It just sounds more full and ‘complete’. It just sounds ‘right’. So, for my ears, there is a significant difference and improvement in mono playback using a dedicated mono cart designed just for that purpose. I’m fortunate to have an arm with a removable headshell(s), so it makes swapping pretty easy.
I have an Ortofon 2M Mono cartridge I use when playing my mono recordings. Most of my mono LP’s were released from the mid-50’s into the 60’s. The 2M Mono has a nude spherical (‘conical’) stylus. Their mono cartridge for 78’s is a standard spherical stylus.
I will say this, my mono LP’s sound much better using my Ortofon 2m Mono vs. my stereo Soundsmith Zephyr, Grado Red (with 8mz stylus), or Goldring 1042. It just sounds more full and ‘complete’. It just sounds ‘right’. So, for my ears, there is a significant difference and improvement in mono playback using a dedicated mono cart designed just for that purpose. I’m fortunate to have an arm with a removable headshell(s), so it makes swapping pretty easy.