N.P.I. What is it?

I agree, and listen from a different location, further away, off center, don't let your mind seek any kind of imaging.

Yesterday, I was listening to Oscar Peterson, solo piano, sounded like the piano was in the room.

I have always preferred the mono presentation.

Particularly more convincing compared to stereo recordings that mix vocals on one channel and instruments on other. Prevalent on older releases, which the majority of my listening comprises of.

Listening to a mono recording with just one speaker just makes me wish the speaker was in the center of the room. I tried this years ago.

Other than not hearing certain recordings with particular L/R panning effects I could live without "stereo."

One major negative- having a single speaker in the middle of the room looks odd.

All Classical, Jazz and most Rock in mono would be ideal IMO.

Hearing a mono recording from 2 speakers compared to just one in the middle of the room produces a fuller, more realistic sound to my ears. It is also the "parlor trick" of making your speakers "disappear."

i think the preference of hearing mono from a single speaker and stereo speakers is much related to how acoustically dialed in your room and speakers are. and specific set-up differences. so the variability of results will reflect room differences.

in my case i have a 4-tower speaker system and need both bass towers to be working to get full frequency coherence. plus the room is really dialed in so my phantom image is epic. not all phantom images are created equal.

i have two arms with mono cartridges (Miyajima Infinity 1.0mil stylus and 0.7 mil stylus) and listen to a fair amount of mono vinyl and digital. love the mono, both early wide grooves and later stereo cutter head mono’s.

Due to my hearing loss, I have my two speakers just 3 feet apart. Not quite mono and not quite stereo. Let's call it Moneo.  😁

BTW what is NPI?

I would have agreed with the OP until yesterday. I recently re-setup my room and moves the speakers much farther apart. I listened Smokin at the half note by Wynton Kelly Trio featuring Wes Montgomery. I was transported to the Half Note with my Dad who was listening with me. I'd never experienced anything like it. Didn't have that tunnel of sound I used to experience when my speakers were only 7 feet apart. I would concur that some of it has to do with setup.

No phantom image…very interesting.

Have to say, Ive always thoroughly enjoyed original mono recordings through my system. Have yet to try the single speaker approach.

There are some fairly recent recordings out there made in a “live studio” setting with a single super-high quality Omni directional ribbon microphone that I also have yet to hear. They’re intended to bring back original studio approaches to modern resolution, and I think even straight to vinyl? Not sure…Pressing and copy might present an entirely “other” topic I wouldn’t want to enter, but a very cool technique.

Anyway, curious how that would present in either stereo or mono.

Great topic 👍🏼🙏🏼

What it npi again?

JD

+1 mikelavigne
I heard a mono track in his room and it was an extremely good recording, and playback was truly involving.

I will say however, that nothing prepared me for ML reel to reel playback - my goodness! Go look at his system page, seriously.

I agree that an epic phantom image is, well... Epic!

What more can be said about that? It is definitely room dependent.

For another "parlor trick" try this. Listen to a MONO recording on two channels with one of them being of opposite polarity. What happens to the phantom image then, and why? Can the information gleaned be used to help dial the room in? How?

For the best of parlor tricks listen to Cognac, "The Blues Is Alive And Well" Buddy Guy (2018). In stereo of course!

I Love the Blues!

Addendum:

One thing is certain, N.P.I expands your seating options. I agree with elliottbnewcombjr.  

I have changed my mind about preferring the speaker in the corner (R in this case). I like the freer sound of the other speaker.

Surely you analog buffs might have additional reasons for preferring one channel over another?

How do you know if you are an audiophile?

Do you close your curtains in the Spring because you think your system sounds better?

MONO amps make N.P.I. easier.

I am surprised that there have been no takers on the previous mention of polarity. I'm now listening to "Head Hop Rag" JSP 77196 (2015) and not only does polarity make a difference but I have a preference - unfortunately it's not the same for every track!

Speaking of mastering quality, Head Hop Rag and Delta Blues are FANTASTIC!

Head Rag Hop. Sorry.