Need recommendation on mono cartridge please


Recently I acquired quite a bit of mono LPs, mostly operas, classical music and a few Beatles. I think it might be fun to try mono cartrige. It will go on my Classic 3. Locally, 2 that would be readily available are Lyra or Miyajima. I would say that Lyra Kleos mono or Miyajima Kansui mono would be my upper limit. However, I think Kansui's low compliance probably would not work with JWM 10.5. I could probably burrow Kansui stereo on JWM first to see if it might work but I tried other low compliance cartridges on JWM 10.5 and did not the result very much (Koetsu Rosewood and Onyx). I already have Lyra Atlas in my system so I think something different from Lyra would be more interesting. If anything, I prefer more full body, warmer side of neutral, more emphasis on tonal color than detail if that might be of any help. MM, MI or MC would be fine. If MC, I would be using it with SUT into Lamm LP2 MM input most likely.

Thanks for any suggestion.
suteetat

Showing 9 responses by suteetat

Lyra helikon is out of productions now and only Kleos and Titan has mono version. Miyajima supposedly just announced a new mono cartridge as well . Look like mono cartridge compliance is not as low as its stereo counterpart so may be it would work with my VPI better.
I am a bit confused now about mono LPs. I started looking through my collections and try to determine which is mono and I am having a bit of a problem. I understand that pretty much anything before 1958 will be mono. The problematic period is 1958-196? I understand that usually there should be a code or something on the LP/jacket stating mono or stereo.
I suppose listening to it, I should be able to tell but I think I am having some difficulties especially with piano recording. Does not seem very obvious sometimes.
Also somewhere I read that if it is a mono reissue after 1960's, ie recent reissue of Glen Gould Goldberg variation (1955 mono version), I should not use mono cartridge as it is now cut for stereo cartridge. Is that correct?
Reading about how mono cartridge may damage groove of stereo LP makes me a bit wary about trial and error using both my stereo and mono cartridge.

Thanks for your help.
Well, I don't yet have a car, only planning to get one and am trying to learn and get my license! May be this is not the right place to learn?
Thanks for the information. I started going through my collections and try to separate out mono recordings from the rest. However, I do have some recent reissues from Speaker Corners, Doxy that are mono recording and some even stated clearly so on the jacket. However, I assume that they are most likely cut on stereo rather than mono system, is that correct? So presumably, mono cartridge should not be used on these LPs!
Also. How about Seraphim, RCA Victrola and Odessey reissue of 78s and earlier mono recordings that were released in 1960s, does anyone have any experience with those LPs as far as using mono cartridge is concerned? I have quite a few of those in pretty good conditions and try not to ruin them!

Thanks for your help.
I emailed Testament asking about some of their mono reissue and asked my local dealer to ask Speaker Corners for me regarding their mono reissue and mono cartridge. Let see if they are willing to answer something.
I am interested in Miyajima Zero right now which has the same
conical stylus as its other mono cartridge (0.7mm conical). Googling stylus size, it looks like 0.7 size is common size for conical stylus. What I gather from one internet site is that for LP, conical tip radius is generally 0.7-1mm and 1mm is the standard size for mono records. I am not sure why Miyajima advises on its website about not using its mono cartridge on stereo LP as it may damage the groove. Anyhow, I also asked my local Miyajima dealer to check with Miyajima if its mono cartridge is good for all mono LPs including recent reissue just in case.
Thanks for all the information. For now, I settled for Miyajima Zero and should have it sometimes next month.
I would love to get Lyra Titan Mono but not sure if it justifies my current state of mono collections. However, it does have the appeal of not having to worry about mono or stereo cutting of mono recordings and such. Miyajima does warn about not using it's cartridge with stereo LP (so presumably mono LP with stereo track cutting). Not sure if it has anything to do with vertical axis stiffness like some older mono cartridge or other reasons. Since Miyajima did say that mono Beatles will sound great with its cartridge so it is probably not microgroove issue.
If I end up accumulating more mono LPs eventually Titan may make sense.
Robyatt, thanks for your information. I wonder if you ever try modern mono reissue from Speaker Corners or Testament with Miyajima? The whole issue of using stereo system to cut LP instead of mono left me a bit confused and I am not sure how signifiant that is. Reading review of a mono record made by Classic Record that made a big fuss about using mono system instead of stereo system only made the picture murkier. I am not quite clear about what you said regarding Peggy Lee's reissue? I have some 1960's LP that said on the jacket that it can be played on both stereo and mono system. I assume that it is just a regular mono LP.
Look like it will have to be trial and error on some LPs. Hopefully the LP won't be too easily destroyed with one brief playing! Also thanks for information regarding VPI armwand for Miyajima, will check that out.

Jonathan, love your Atlas cartridge. Now I only have a handful of mono recordings. I have not looked much into earlier mono recordings but recently acquired some that sounded excelent, even with stereo cartridge which prompt me to explore other mono recordings more. Once I have enough LPs, I will definitely revisit Lyra's option.

Now I wonder how neccessary it is to consider phono with non-RIAA curve? It never ends :(
I got Miyajima Zero recently and even with only about 20-30 hours of playtime so far, it has been impressive. Unfortunately I have no other mono cartridge to compare to since it is my first one. It certainly outperformed any stereo cartridges that I have playing mono LPs. I understand that Miyajima recommended using SUT with its cartridge. Unless you can reduce the gain one your Pass down to about 40 or 50 dB, SUT would not be a good idea. Currently I am using Dynavector SUP-200 with my Miyajima. Once I have about 100 hours on the cartridge, I will try other SUTs on hand for comparison. I don't have many pop/rock mono records beside QRP Bob Dylan's reissue, some mono Parlophone Beatles and am waiting for UK press of Most of the Animals to come in. A chunk of my mono LPs are operas with Thill, Callas, Bjoerling, Gigli, Furtwaengler, Walter etc. A bit of Julie London, Peggie Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday here and there.