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Playing mono records properly without breaking the bank - a phono pre-amp question.

Hi there.. I can use some suggestions for playing mono records properly.I'm about to put together my vinyl system and trying to figure out how to best play mono records without having to either buy a separate TT, have a turntable with two tone arms or have a switchable head-shell, all of which are not an option at the moment.  Someday, I think having two tone arms will be the way, but now I need the most economical way to have a nice experience.
I will have at a minimum, a nice stereo stylus/cartridge, but I'm wondering if I should be focusing my phono-preamp search to those with a dedicated mono switch?  I have a Hegel integrated and there's no mono option. 
Are there  simple ways (contraptions)  other than a phono-preamp with a mono switch, to achieve high quality mono playback with a stereo stylus? My search for the right phono preamp would be much easier if I knew I didn't need to make sure it had mono.

Appreciate any suggestion or direction - would love to hear your person experience playing mono on a generally "stereo" rig.

hrabieh

Showing 2 responses by folkfreak

folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak
1,349 posts
 
@lubachl regarding your experience comparing playback on your existing stereo MC with a cheaper mono cart. I suspect a lot of what you are hearing is the differences in carts. 

In my setup I have a pretty expensive stereo cart (AS Palladian) and an much cheaper mono (Miyajima Zero). Arguably the Palladian is more detailed, more accurate etc but the Zero has an ineffable sense of wholeness and soul that really brings out the best in mono (especially on the wood armed Durand Talea I mount it on). 

Suffice it to say listening to Martzy on the Palladian is a bit of an exercise in analysis whereas with the Zero one relaxes in pleasure. I do have to say that going mono can be spendy once you start getting a taste for ERC pressings (never mind the originals) and the like.

All in all I’d recommend you keep up your search for the mono cartridge that sings for you!
folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak
1,349 posts
 
Setting aside whether or not there is a technical advantage to a true mono cartridge over a stereo one the real point here is that if you are going to the trouble of creating a second dedicated mono setup then this is a real chance to choose the flavour of cartridge that best fits with mono recordings. Maybe you prefer the sound of 50s mono played back through a cutting edge MC -- if so great. But for me listening to the Chordettes through my Zero despite it's ridiculous tracking force (3.5g) and far from svelte body has a magic, a fullness, tone and amazing sense of depth that somehow is missing on my far more expensive stereo rig.

And yes the same recording owned in both mono and stereo mixes is often preferable in the mono. Generally 50s and early 60s cutting setups delivered better frequency range (more HF) in mono than stereo (per my conversations on this topic with Tim de Paravicini) so that may be part of the reason. Anyway there's so much to offer and find in mono -- a mono switch is absolutely a good place to start (and helpful for hum cancelling even if you get a mono cart -- that's another topic) but don't give up on the dedicated mono search too soon.
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