Mono cartridge recommendation

I kept it simple, a Grado Mono Cartridge, Moving Iron, Elliptical Shape (not advanced) for current and older groove shapes.

2 specific Prestige Mono Options (MC+, ME+), and,

ANY wood bodied cartridge can be ordered Mono.

https://gradolabs.com/cartridges/prestige-series-specialty-cartridges/item/79-mono-phono

Strong 5mv signal; low 1.5 g Tracking Force, Replaceable Stylus.
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As I learned here, and then listening, and evaluating Mono LP’s for sale, it is definitely better to use a true mono cartridge. The improvement over playing a Mono LP with a Stereo Cartridge with your Preamp set to Mono mode varies from slight to a great deal.

1. it reacts to horizontal groove info only, noise is greatly reduced compared to playing a Stereo Cartridge via Preamp’s Mono Mode.

The reduction of noise can be dramatic. I’ve sold slightly scuffed Mono LP’s, informing buyers: Stereo Cartridge: the noise is the same level as the content, unacceptable; or, Mono Cartridge: noise is there but far below the content, remains enjoyable.

2. Improved frequency response makes a huge difference: Distinction (not imaging) of the few or many individual instruments from the other now improved distinct instruments makes you shake your head in wonder at how good recording techniques were. It has transformed a few Mono LP’s from a ’history lesson’ to an involving musical experience, definitely to be played again.

3. Listen thru one speaker.

No chance for any deviation L to R to cause even minor wandering of any frequency

It’s hard to shut off our habit of searching for Imaging if listening from normal centered position.

You can wander about the place, sit in different locations, enjoy the music from the porch ...
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All of the above to say: I thought the Grado Mono would be my ’starter’ mono cartridge. It sounds so good, makes such a difference, I cannot convince myself that a higher priced Mono Cartridge would yield better results.

I also highly recommend two tonearms, balanced, ready to switch Stereo to Mono, back to Stereo in a listening session with no interruption. How to switch needs to be solved. My Preamp has 2 MM phono inputs, easy, then I added a 3rd arm: I found a SUT with 3 switchable inputs (and PASS for MM to bypass it’s transformers) easiest. Thus MC Stereo/MM Mono/MM Stereo a simple input choice.

Changing headshells works, however, tracking, anti-skate need to be re-adjusted, and VTA if cartridge body height is different (you can of course use shims to pre-adjust their height).

I’ve repeated it, will once again: Thanks to everyone here who helped me with my complete TT overhaul: Plinth, Spinner, 3 Tonearms, Cartridges, SUT seen 8th photo here

https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/9511

The List: If you rule out * and **, and then

I advise ruling out Line Contact, it narrows the list.

Next: Spherical or Elliptical shape, I chose Elliptical for modern mono grooves and older mono grooves. You gotta choose.

Next: tracking force? replaceable stylus? signal strength?

IOW, limit your choices by functional decisions, then: any sound differences among those fewer choices?

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/

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.

always great relief to make a decision, looks like a winner, congrats

I found this by quickie search

http://www.edsstuff.org/docs/LYRAHELI.pdf

I listened to Miles Davis Sketches of Spain, last night.

Incredible Gil Evans arrangements, full Jazz Orchestra; Miles's incredibly varied tonality, timing breath/volume control, in front, with and behind the other musicians. 

Afterword, I read Nat Hentoff's album notes: every doggone word is true!

http://albumlinernotes.com/Sketches_Of_Spain.html

So, this thread, that experience, now I suspect I will get a alternate Mono cartridge with advanced stylus profile, perhaps Shibata for amazing modern mono recordings. Thanks OP and others for moving me in this direction.

That album actually sounds amazing played in Stereo Mode by a Stereo Cartridge. The album says 'Guaranteed High Fidelity', never actually says MONO, and small print at the bottom:

"IF you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity".

It spreads out like a Jazz Orchestra, without any of the weirdness or 'extra noise' a stereo cartridge can make playing older mono lps.