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Mono Cartridge Recommendations

I am looking for a true mono cartridge, as I am adding a second tonearm (Musical Life Conductor SE 10") to my Technics SP10ii table. My phono preamp is an Einstein Turntables Choice - so I am looking for a MC cartridge.  Considerations include:

  • whether the cartridge was truly designed for mono (cantilever only moves laterally, typically uses just a single coil) 
  • compliance (many mono cartridges have low compliance, which can chew up grooves of modern mono records (although I'll mostly be listening to older records)
  • stylus shape/size - I could use some guidance here....
My price range is $1-2k.  Currently under consideration is the VAS Nova Mono (has two coils in balanced configuration, output ~ 0.8 mv), and the Miyajima Labs series (all have compliance around 8, which is kind of low).  Can people who have experience in this area provide some recommendations with supporting information (why).  Thanks very much, Peter
peter_s

Showing 1 response by pryso

pryso
1,902 posts
 
peter, the answers to many of your questions will depend on the specific monos you listen to.

I’ve read that no mono cutter heads have been available/in use since around 1990. So all of the newer mono reissues were made with a stereo cutter head. For that reason many find any good quality stereo cartridge switched to mono in the preamp or phono stage is all that is needed.

For the earlier true mono recordings a wider stylus tip may perform best for those produced before the stereo era (’57-’58). Monos produced after that up until the end of production (around 1970?) work best with the 0.7 mil styli.

The question of a true mono cartridge VS strapped has been ask many times but I’ve never seen a definitive list.
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