Is it possible to find a decent (or even passable) mono cart for around $50-60?

[mhjmhjones]

I haven't been able to find anything on eBay/Amazon, etc. except for antiques that I probably wouldn't be able to find a stylus for those. Am i missing something? I don't want to spend upwards of $100 for the 10-15 mono records I own. Thank in advance.

 

[Poinzy]

Just wire a cheap stereo cartridge for mono.

 

[mhjmhjones]

Just wire a cheap stereo cartridge for mono.

Really? How do I do that? Would the sound be compromised? Googling it now!

 

[Poinzy]

There should be diagrams all over the place. The sound would be "compromised" in that you wouldn't have a stereo signal anymore.

 

[mhjmhjones]

There should be diagrams all over the place. The sound would be "compromised" in that you wouldn't have a stereo signal anymore.

Thank you for your input! Yes, I have found some how-tos. I guess by "compromised" I mean are the mechanics inside the cartridge basically the same for mono and stereo carts? Will I get better sound using a stereo cart wired for mono as opposed to just using a stereo cart wired normally?

 

[mhjmhjones]

Correct - no mono button. I'll give that thread a good read!

I guess your stereo doesn't have a mono button? There are a number of ways to do this and a few strategies.

Here's a thread with an excellent discussion on the topic:

http://audiokarma.org/forums/index....tereo-cartridge-to-mono.768631/#post-10507881

 

[Poinzy]

Thank you for your input! Yes, I have found some how-tos. I guess by "compromised" I mean are the mechanics inside the cartridge basically the same for mono and stereo carts? Will I get better sound using a stereo cart wired for mono as opposed to just using a stereo cart wired normally?

The "mono" cartridges that you see marketed in tone-y audio mags are basically stereo cartridges that have been slightly modified electrically for mono operation. There's nothing cutting-edge about their design or construction.

Wiring a stereo cartridge for mono cancels out noise the generated by vertical motion of the stylus.

 

[Bill Ashton]

Is there something wrong with using, say, an A/T 3600 or so as is? Shouldn't hurt anything right? And simple...

 

[bangsezmax]

There are some mono carts -- the Denon DL-102 as an example -- that don't transmit any vertical signal and thus (in theory) will reduce surface noise.

That said, I own a DL-102 and while it does appear to reduce surface noise, a big part of that is a roll-off on the top end. So it ends up being hard to say how much of a difference the lack of vertical signal makes.

If I needed to do a mono cartridge for vintage recordings with no mono switch, I'd get a Stanton 680/1 with a decent OEM stylus and strap it.

 

[Poinzy]

Well, I'll leave people to discuss the particulars. It's just that generating a mono signal from a turntable isn't a black art, and so doesn't require an expenditure of hundreds of dollars. You can get the job done just using parts from your supply drawer.
BTW, reduction of surface noise isn't "a theory". Noise is the only thing generated in the vertical plane on a mono record. Mono uses lateral motion of the stylus to generate the desired signal.

 

[Balifly]

FYI

Here is a recent model from Audio Technica - VM 610 monaural cartridge .
https://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-AUD-VM610MONO-LIST

http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/cartridges/c0da6dab7133122d/index.html
More than $60.00 though.

 

[bangsezmax]

Also, if using a true mono cartridge, with no horizontal compliance, you could destroy your "mono" effect records just as surely as you'd destroy your stereo discs.

FWIW, this style of cartridge is really, really old. Probably not anything the OP would need to worry about.

The DL-102 generates no signal from vertical motion, but it is vertically compliant.

 

[Ballylongford]

PM sent regarding a NIB Shure M78S
which is available

 

[mhjmhjones]

Needlestein it looks like you did a lot of homework back in May on this. I see that you discovered many ways to "strap" such as "bridging" and "summing" and connecting in series. What was your end result? Did you try all the listed methods? What solution did you end up going with?

 

[jrtrent]

I haven't been able to find anything on eBay/Amazon, etc. except for antiques that I probably wouldn't be able to find a stylus for those. Am i missing something? I don't want to spend upwards of $100 for the 10-15 mono records I own. Thank in advance.

I choose to listen to my many mono records with a stereo cartridge and system. After all, I bought many mono albums when all I had was a mono system with the promise on the record jacket that "played on a stereophonic machine, it gives even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity." I have found this to be true and am totally satisfied with the playback quality I'm getting, but it will be interesting to hear your impressions if you decide to wire a stereo cartridge for mono output.

 

[malden]

Just wire a cheap stereo cartridge for mono.

Or, if you really want to hear what those MONO records (assuming they are true mono) sounded like when they were pressed, you could set up a dedicated mono system.

For example

GE cartridge
Rek-O-Kut 120 tone-arm on an idler drive turntable
Heathkit mono integrated tube amp
Electrovoice 12TRXB full range driver in a Aristocrat enclosure

All of the above can be put together for less than $500.00 with a little patience.

I did just that a few years ago and have to say it was quite enjoyable.

Just a thought

 

[beat_truck]

PM sent regarding a NIB Shure M78S
which is available

The M78S is just another stereo cartridge strapped for mono. You can see the jumpers when looking at the back of the cartridge.

 

[bangsezmax]

The M78S is a 78 cartridge. NOT a cartridge for mono LPs. Let's not confuse things here.

 

[bangsezmax]

I have to say, this thread got me to pull out my GE VRII and play some very old discs.

Pretty cool sound on those puppies.

 

[mhjmhjones]

Nope. Won't hurt anything, but you might not be getting the most out of your mono experience. The thread I posted a link to is worth reading. When mono is being discussed, it's also important to identify what kind of mono records you have. True mono with the modulations on the groove floor, or "mono" effect, which is basically a "mono" record cut on a stereo lathe in which both signals are simply the same and cut diagonally just like a stereo record. If that's the kind of mono record you have, like I have, then strapping is also unnecessary. Just use your stereo cartridge as is and forget it. Also, if using a true mono cartridge, with no horizontal compliance, you could destroy your "mono" effect records just as surely as you'd destroy your stereo discs.

All my mono records are from the 50s/60s. I assume these are true mono as opposed to "mono effect"?