Mono cartridge recommendation

I know.

OP, others considering mono lps:

You may be concentrating on a recent 1960’s virgin beatles (name your favoritre) i.e. ’modern mono’ lp, and the best tonality for that. I don’t think I will ever go there.

I’m concentrating on OLD mono recordings, up to and into the 60’s, mostly Jazz, when the greats made their reputations, new styles developed. Used decent shape lps, of various groove types.

I’m no expert, but chakster is right, certain mono lp’s grooves are different than others, and certain styli shapes are correct for those grooves. Get serious? Get several mono cartridges.

starting, I suggest elliptical as you know. I suggest a good (i.e. not expensive) true mono cartridge to start, listen for a while, learn some. You, like myself and my friends who never heard mono played true mono will be amazed, then move up.

noise reduction is a big part of enjoying mono lps. I learned here, decided to follow advice, and found correct: a true mono cartridge played thru a single speaker sounds best. Best noise reduction. Best distinction of individual instruments (not imaging, distinction). Best lack of any inadvertent frequency wandering. Best method of breaking our trained habit seeking imaging.

IMO it is best to leave your speakers where they are, use the one that sounds best, and listen off center, anywhere in the room, in the adjacent porch. Right back to stereo: mix Oscar Peterson Mono and Stereo in one listening session with ease. In my case, my left speaker works best for my entire room and adjacent porch. Playing thru 2 speakers opens the door to stray frequency wandering, which appears to be imaging, but is erratic, and distracting to the mono sound

Any vertical information, dirt in the groove, very slight scuffs, a speck of warpage, will be picked up by a stereo cartridge, even if the cartridge pins are bridged into mono, and that noise will be reproduced in both channels if played via the preamp in stereo or mono mode which, with both speakers is dual mono with double the noise.

I accidently scuffed a rare mono lp I sold. The noise from the scuff, played stereo cartridge via preamp mono was the same volume level as the content, unpleasant. Played mono, the noise was sharply reduced, still an enjoyable experience. I informed the buyer, he wanted that lp, got himself a mono cartridge while the lp was in transit, confirmed the same results on his system.

This album went from a noisy history lesson I would never play again to a very enjoyable experience I enjoy every time I play it.

https://www.discogs.com/Various-Guide-To-Jazz/master/460471

Look at the lineup, holy smokes! Recordings, earliest made in 1926 then into the 30’s, 40’s. We shake our head at how good the recording techniques were way back then.

Some Mono LP’s, a mono cartridge only makes a minor improvement, but for all of these (in current play) and so many others downstairs on the shelves, my mono grado elliptical/single speaker makes a huge difference.

https://www.discogs.com/Various-Chicago-South-Side-Jazz-Vol-1/release/5104002

https://www.discogs.com/Lil-Hardin-Armstrong-And-Her-Orchestra-Chicago-The-Living-Legends/master/666...

https://www.discogs.com/The-Benny-Carter-Quartet-Swingin-The-20s/master/688439

https://www.discogs.com/Louis-Armstrong-Volume-IV-Louis-Armstrong-And-Earl-Hines/release/12765167

https://www.discogs.com/Peggy-Lee-Pass-Me-By/master/293429
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I just found this, I'll read it later

https://www.yoursoundmatters.com/do-you-need-a-mono-cartridge-to-play-mono-records/

I recently purchased a lightly used Miyajima Zero 1 mil. It is fantastic! A much bigger difference than I thought vs. using a Koetsu with the amps mono switch on. The only problem is now I want more early mono LP's- $$$

Thanks for the replies.

I don’t own any mono reissues. I have various classical, jazz and early rock monos. I do want to stick to my <$1k budget for now until I decide on a final tonearm for the new table. I will probably be looking to purchase a new arm early next year.

Now I’m looking at a few specific cartridges.

Hana SL MC Mono Shibata stylus. I don’t know if this is a true mono cart or just a strapped stereo. I’m researching it, but does anybody know more?

Ortofon MC Quintet Mono Nude Elliptical stylus. I’m pretty sure this is a true mono cartridge.

Ortofon 2M Mono (several stylus profiles). I’m also pretty sure this is a true mono cartridge. I would be leaning towards the microline version, but replaceable stylus assemblies would allow for both spherical and microline.

AT33MONO Conical < 1mil stylus. This is defiantly true mono.

If anyone has any specific experience with these, I’d like to hear from you. I am looking for a cart that tends towards neutral if possible.

Thanks again.

Maybe I'm wrong,  I would like to hear from people who use advanced styli playing old jazz mono lps from the 40's, 50's.

Are these just for pristine condition monos from the 60's?

My instinct: a modern advanced stylus: shibata, sas, microline, .... is not advisable, because they are designed for modern groove widths, they go WAY down in the grooves, old or new, so much more opportunity to add noise to the 'easy to extract' mono info.