jwrosenthal
Super Member
So I put together a mono set-up to play my expansive collection of mono classical and jazz LP's that were collecting dust since they didn't have the imaging and punch of my stereo Lp's on my Thorens/Mcintosh system. The mono system consists of a Fisher 500c (playing 2 channels as I use it for stereo FM), Dual 1019 with an Ortofon OM-10 (which was my rejected cart from my Thorens stereo set-up as I hated the sound of the Ortofon-too crisp and analytical) and Polk monoitor 7's (original ones with the Peerless tweeters).
I installed the D25m stylus on my Om-10 as it is a dedicated, interchangeable MONO stylus, and began to realize the differences that a dedicated mono cart makes when playing mono recordings:reduced, almost non existent surface noise, no screech or static in the highs, full-lush sound and detailed imaging (even with mono). I was playing a variety of mid-50's-early 60's jazz tonight and put a copy of Sarah Vaughan's "Favorites" on when I realized by looking at the album cover that it was a "stereo" recording that was designed for monaural systems as well. I switched the selector on the Fisher to "stereo phono" planning to switch out the stylus next, but to my amazement, the sound was incredible!! The sound was detailed and dynamic, the soundstage and imaging was amazing, the bass deep and lush, the highs not anything like the om-10 stylus as it was clean and crisp but warm and sweet.....from a mono cart!!
I'm leary of trying this cart with other stereo albums as I'm tracking it with 4 grams of VTF as Ortofon suggests, but since the stylus is so much bigger than a stereo cart, it may not damage my stereo albums...anyone know?
James R.
Currently spinning "Music for Torching with Billie Holiday" Verve records, Hi-Fi..MONO baby!!
I installed the D25m stylus on my Om-10 as it is a dedicated, interchangeable MONO stylus, and began to realize the differences that a dedicated mono cart makes when playing mono recordings:reduced, almost non existent surface noise, no screech or static in the highs, full-lush sound and detailed imaging (even with mono). I was playing a variety of mid-50's-early 60's jazz tonight and put a copy of Sarah Vaughan's "Favorites" on when I realized by looking at the album cover that it was a "stereo" recording that was designed for monaural systems as well. I switched the selector on the Fisher to "stereo phono" planning to switch out the stylus next, but to my amazement, the sound was incredible!! The sound was detailed and dynamic, the soundstage and imaging was amazing, the bass deep and lush, the highs not anything like the om-10 stylus as it was clean and crisp but warm and sweet.....from a mono cart!!
I'm leary of trying this cart with other stereo albums as I'm tracking it with 4 grams of VTF as Ortofon suggests, but since the stylus is so much bigger than a stereo cart, it may not damage my stereo albums...anyone know?
James R.
Currently spinning "Music for Torching with Billie Holiday" Verve records, Hi-Fi..MONO baby!!