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 7 responses by uberwaltz

Excellent stuff Elliot.
Mirrors my experience and possibly surpasses it.
Enjoy!
You are a funny guy Mijo.
Hey maybe take a look at my system some time......
And read my posts where I clearly state I bought a 78 stylus to play , well that's right you guessed it 78,s!
My concern on playing mono records of older origin, so pre 1960,s would not be sound quality or anything along those lines but possible damage to the stylus of any of the carts I tried it with.
I do NOT consider a cheaper mono only cart like the 2m mono or grado me+ to be a huge expense or hassle.

My 2m is now mounted on a headshell and it is minutes work to swap it out on my Garrard and rebalance it and be playing with no worries.

Exactly the scenario I envisaged right from the start and it has worked out to perfection for my needs.
Ah forgot, Mijo knows more than Ortofon and Grado et al.

Thanks for the informative post!
Lewm
I was considering a Japan market Denon dl102 as a cheapish mono cartridge, plenty on ebay right now.
This is a 2 pin cartridge so a y adapter would be needed I assume.

Or if went with the also Japan market AT-MONO3/LP this has the usual 4 pins so must be bridged for mono internal in the cartridge. In this instance nothing else would be needed.

Ye it causes the head to spin!
What would be the result of using a real Mono cartridge with a stereo phono pre?
In other words no mono switch on the phono.