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

This thread has become a dog's breakfast of conflicting and/or redundant suggestions.  (I just wanted the chance to use the "dog's breakfast" metaphor.)  Anyway, get something with a mono switch to start with, and then decide for yourself if you like listening to mono LPs in mono mode, or not.  I predict you will prefer it.  By the way, a mono mode selector switch is typically in the linestage or high level circuitry, so stand alone phono stages will not usually have such a switch, but there are exceptions to every rule.


Uber, On the perfectionist level, you ask a good question.  The result of using a mono cartridge into a stereo LP begs a few more such questions.  For all intents and purposes, if the mono cartridge provides 4 pins, 2 each for a left and right channel, then the result should be similar to using a mono switch.  For a 2-pinout mono cartridge, you'd have to make an effort to deliver signal to both channels of a stereo input, like a Y-adapter.  If you use a Y-adapter, then each channel of the phono stage looks back at the output Z of the cartridge in parallel with the output Z of the other channel.  That could have a small effect on tonal balance. I'm getting a headache thinking about this.

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!

I have no experience with the Denon but have owned both the AT-MONO3/LP and the AT 33 Mono. 

While the AT-MONO 3 is a real bargain, it is a bit quirky in terms of its output at 1.2 mV, also with relatively high internal impedance. 

The AT 33 Mono, for not much more money (and only a couple of bucks more than the Denon) is an unbelievably good cartridge and not just for the money. 

It is admittedly a better match with my phono stage than the lesser 3/LP but the AT 33 Mono is really a great cartridge. 

Personally, I feel that a Mono cartridge is the way to go if you can, having experimented a bit with strapping stereo cartridges. 

I like my AT 33 Mono (on an inferior tonearm but on the same table and using the same phono stage with gain adjusted for output) much better playing both vintage and reissue Mono than playing them with my retipped stereo Accuphase AC2. 

Uber, The 2-pin Denon is no problem, if you are content with driving only one of the two stereo channels, without a Y-adapter.  If you used a Y-adapter (so as to be able to drive two channels in mono), there are possible issues with impedance, but the question is equipment-specific.  You could try it.  I'd go with the AT33MONO, if it were my choice.
The mono switch solution allows you (or anyone) to compare the very same stereo cartridge used in either stereo or mono mode on the very same mono LP.  That way, there is no issue with the inherent quality of the cartridge, as opposed to the situation where you compare stereo cartridge A to mono cartridge B.  There you are doing more than just comparing stereo to mono; you obviously have the confounding factor of the SQ differences between one cartridge vs another.  But this must be at least the third time I've pointed this out.  So I'm done.

I don't know if this has been covered already but the best way I found to play mono without a mono cartridge or mono switch is to add a double Y-adapter to the tape loop on your preamp if it has one. Simply press tape when playing mono LPs.