i got great results tracking mono records with a conical shape stereo cartridge VM95C and using the mono switch on the amp without going to the expense of a mono stylus, most surface noise and distortion was completely eliminated.
I really appreciate hearing your perspective from somebody who didn't really know why Emanuel cartridge works better. I understand it better coming from someone closer to my level of understanding. 🙂
I use a second turntable with a Linn Ittok arm and Linn K9 cartridge with the Audio Technica ATVM95C stylus to play my mono and older second hand stereo records. The thicker conical stylus is very good for surface noise and is enjoyable to listen to. I have found they also make a SP mono dedicated stylus in the VM95 range that is only about £48 so will be ordering one just as an experiment now that I have watched this video.
Hi Jim. Very nice video and an interesting topic. I have never experimented with a mono cartridge, so I have no experience with one. I have only used stereo cartridges. My record collection includes approximately 125 mono recordings. Fortunately, I've not experienced any mis-tracking, distortion or sibilance while using my lone stereo cartridge on all records (both mono and stereo). By the way, I use a Ortofon Cadenza Black.
I bought a Soundsmith Otello mono cartridge in 2013. I use it for mono records cut with a mono cutterhead (pre-1967). Sound quality is amazing - this cartridge punches in way above its price. Clean mono records are almost dead quiet. For modern mono reissues cut with a stereo cutterhead, I use stereo cartridges. I have not had any issues with extra sibilance when playing back mono records cut with a stereo cutterhead. The cartridges I use have the Gyger S and the Namiki Microridge styli.
Yeah my 2M Black I can probably count on one hand the number of stereo records I have heard sibilance on and I have listened to hundreds. My mono is definitely close to half of them. The suggestion by the engineer (that you and I know) is that it doesn’t matter if it’s been cut by a stereo or mono cutting head. Mono records still get cut the same way regardless.
Hey Jim, I've never used a mono cartridge but using my mono switch on my Sansui receiver it seems to work very well with no sibilance issues. I think that using either a microline or Shibata stylus really helps. The double Y patch cords also helps when I do needledrops.
I have a shibata stylus (2M black). I have virtually no issues with sibilance on stereo records just mainly on mono. The mono cart so far has helped a lot.
Great video ! Thank you ! The 2M Black cartridge has a very narrow stylus that might bounce around in the grooves of some older mono and 45 rpm records. A better choice for safely playing old 45s, styrene and mono records is the Nagaoka MP110 - I got mine from lp gear for about $150 usd. I have an Ortofon Mono SE cartridge on a separate turntable that I sometimes use for mono only playback. It’s good but sounds a bit thin relative to the Nagaoka. I have Audio Research amplifiers that can sound very detailed-maybe not a good match for the Mono Ortofon cartridge. Joe Collins has a good video on his site about the Nagaoka cartridge.
So far I have been very happy with the Mono SE. I also like it because I don’t have to change any settings on my phono pre amp when I switch between the 2M black and the Mono SE
Nagaoka makes a dedicated 1mil conic stylus that fits your cartridge and will give a more authentic mono sound with older mono records. It's called MP-10. Don't use it for stereo records or post-1969 mono reissues, though, as it can damage them.
@@jimmyolsenschannel6263 thanks but I am very happy with the dedicated solution I have as I would say that I have at least a 50/50 mix of old and new titles. It sounds great.
There has been an occasional person on the Audio Forums who have been less than pleased with how their Ortofon Black cartridge tracks, (on stereo records). I, using both moving coil & moving iron cartridges have experienced the same sibilance & mistracking playing mono records. If the stylus is coming up out of the groove, see if tracking at a half gram higher doesn't help. Also cartridges with primitive conical styluses are said by some to track mono records better. I have toyed around with the idea of buying a Denon 103 cartridge for my mono records, which uses a conical stylus. It is the cult item cartridge of all time. Having been in their cartridge line since the 1960's. I'm sure a specialty mono cartridge is the best way to go when playing mono lps.
There are different kinds of mono cartridges, and some are only to be used with older mono records. With these, they can sound great, but with modern mono records they are terrible in more ways than one.
There is a Full Moon out tonight. It is called the Fish Moon. It looks bigger than usual. The Moon's distance from Earth averages a quarter of a million miles away. The word Mono and Moon use the exact same letters. In fact, Auto Correct changes mono to moon sometimes. There is a great Jazz/Rock Fusion group called Full Moon. Check out their music on free UA-cam. The big moon is causing glare in seeing the peak period of the Persied meteor shower, and it only comes once a year. Common old moon ruining something that doesn't happen that often. When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, its not "always" Amore. Amateur astronomers are every bit as pissed as analog diehards who now realize they own a huge collection of $125 digital lps from Mofi.
For my mono cut records I use a mono cartridge. For the others „mono“ records I use a stereo cartridge. But for both I switch on my mono button on my PhonoPreAmp. Technically ,the new (from the 70s) mono records are on stereo cutting head , that is right and a fact. But you can use a mono cartridge for the new mono records. You will not destroy the records when using mono cartridges
I have a dedicated mono tonearm and it was the best investment last years, the difference is amazing. I have old Jazz/Classic records and even the modern monos, like Japanese reissues, sound much much better.
First, what is a "mono tonearm"? Second, don't EVER play modern mono records with original mono cartridges/styli that have a 1mil or more needle. The sound will be strangely sharp, and the needle can ruin your vinyl.
@@mymixture965 Not if you want the authentic mono sound from pre-1970 records cut with a mono cutting head. These cutting heads cut grooves of 1mil width, and hence they sound best when played back with a 1mil conic needle (lively, with a strong presence). It doesn't have to be a mono cartridge but can also be a stereo cartridge with a 1mil mono stylus, such as a Shure M55E or M44 with an N44-1 stylus, an Ortofon OM cartridge with a D 25 M stylus or a Nagaoka MP110 cartridge with an MP-1.0 stylus. Be careful, though, because if you go wrong you can end up damaging parts of your record collection. In fact, a lot of the comments on this page are simply misleading and potentially harmful to go by, Others are harmless but still misleading since they will not give you the results you are seeking.
@@jimmyolsenschannel6263 You are right again, but I use the modern mono cartridge for all monos and the old ones are more quiet because the thinner stylus digs a little deeper. A little extra benefit. I would love to have two separate tone arms, one for the new and one for the old but that is not possible for me. The best would be if you have a complete mono system, player/amp/speaker....damed I need a second room, lets ask my wife :-)
@@mymixture965 If you like what you have, it's usually best to not start messing with it. Having said that, I too was quite pleased with playing old mono records with a line contact stylus, but then I remembered that I had an old Shure N44-1 mono stylus lying around. I stuck it on an M55E cartridge, enhanced the VTF to 2.25g, and the results I'm now getting are astonishing. A huge, strong, powerful sound and wonderful timing and speed. No need to go mono on the preamp (in fact, I use a small home studio mixer instead), because there is no IGD etc., and I actually like the slight spreading of the mono sound you get by staying in stereo mode. I suppose it compensates for my modern active speakers that don't have that ability to "fill the room" you can get with old speakers intended for mono.
Not sure what type of problem you had with sibilance. I have plenty Mono records old a new and I dont have sibilance issues unless the groove is worn which you cant fix. I use a Mono switchbox for some noisier records, that should work about as well as a Mono cart. No need to get a whole separate cartridge.
As mentioned in the video not all carts have the issue mine has. I am very happy with my cart on stereo records. Also based on what the engineer said you will still most likely have a less accurate playback of mono records on stereo carts. I plan on doing an AB comparison once the mono cart breaks in.
The sound quality is similar as it is a similar cartridge to the 2M black. What it does improve in addition to the sibilance is the amount of clicks and pops. There are far fewer.
Unrelated question… what do you use for a phono preamp and do you recommend it? Thinking about stepping up to something that will play well with low output MC cartridges
Old time collectors who bought mono copy lp's and then when stereo came out bought the stereo lp often were disappointed. There was more spread to the sound to be sure, but the stereo versions lacked the kick and dynamics of the mono pressing. Believe it or not, there are people today who prefer the sound of mono lp's. There is separation of instruments with mono if your system is spatially competent. I had mono copies of RCA LM 2400 and LM 2449. The Living Stereo copies were rare enough that I didn't know if I'd ever find them. When I did finally find LSC 2400 Ballet Music From Them Opera & the even rarer LSC 2449 Gounod Faust/ Bizet Carmen lp, it didn't take too long at all to hear that they were compressed and lacked some of the kick and dynamics of the original mono lp's. Especially LSC 2400. However, played with a stereo cartridge, the stereo versions were quieter and tracked better. Every Sunday night, there used to be a prime time movie shown on TV. They called it The Million Dollar Movie. I think it was on ABC. The Sunday night institution called The Ed Sullivan Show, I believe was off the air by then. They wouldn't show just any movie. They'd pick real good ones and many that had never been on TV before. When we play an lp, the records spins 33 1/3 times per minute. If you played lp's all day long each day for a month continuously, allowing 8 hours sleep time per day, and a little time to flip sides and cue each album up and maybe clean the stylus, it would take approximately 4 weeks of continuously playing records each waking moment before you'd get to that magical number. Yes... we're talking ONE MILLION spins of the LP records!
Basically, there are two different kinds of mono records: Old originals from the times when mono was king, and subsequent reissues of mono records. The old ones (roughly pre 1969) are cut with mono cutting heads and play best (more lively and punchy sound) with 1mil conic styli on either a mono cartridge or a stereo cartridge. The cheapest way to achieve this is to buy an Ortofon OM cartridge and equip it with a D 25 M styli. NEVER use this on a modern mono reissue vinyl record; it sounds bad and can ruin the record. Instead, use a modern stereo cartridge/stylus or, if you like, a modern mono cartridge/stylus.
i got great results tracking mono records with a conical shape stereo cartridge VM95C and using the mono switch on the amp without going to the expense of a mono stylus, most surface noise and distortion was completely eliminated.
I really appreciate hearing your perspective from somebody who didn't really know why Emanuel cartridge works better. I understand it better coming from someone closer to my level of understanding. 🙂
I use a second turntable with a Linn Ittok arm and Linn K9 cartridge with the Audio Technica ATVM95C stylus to play my mono and older second hand stereo records. The thicker conical stylus is very good for surface noise and is enjoyable to listen to. I have found they also make a SP mono dedicated stylus in the VM95 range that is only about £48 so will be ordering one just as an experiment now that I have watched this video.
Hi Jim. Very nice video and an interesting topic. I have never experimented with a mono cartridge, so I have no experience with one. I have only used stereo cartridges. My record collection includes approximately 125 mono recordings. Fortunately, I've not experienced any mis-tracking, distortion or sibilance while using my lone stereo cartridge on all records (both mono and stereo). By the way, I use a Ortofon Cadenza Black.
I bought a Soundsmith Otello mono cartridge in 2013. I use it for mono records cut with a mono cutterhead (pre-1967). Sound quality is amazing - this cartridge punches in way above its price. Clean mono records are almost dead quiet. For modern mono reissues cut with a stereo cutterhead, I use stereo cartridges. I have not had any issues with extra sibilance when playing back mono records cut with a stereo cutterhead. The cartridges I use have the Gyger S and the Namiki Microridge styli.
Yeah my 2M Black I can probably count on one hand the number of stereo records I have heard sibilance on and I have listened to hundreds. My mono is definitely close to half of them. The suggestion by the engineer (that you and I know) is that it doesn’t matter if it’s been cut by a stereo or mono cutting head. Mono records still get cut the same way regardless.
Hey Jim, I've never used a mono cartridge but using my mono switch on my Sansui receiver it seems to work very well with no sibilance issues. I think that using either a microline or Shibata stylus really helps. The double Y patch cords also helps when I do needledrops.
I have a shibata stylus (2M black). I have virtually no issues with sibilance on stereo records just mainly on mono. The mono cart so far has helped a lot.
Great video ! Thank you !
The 2M Black cartridge has a very narrow stylus that might bounce around in the grooves of some older mono and 45 rpm records.
A better choice for safely playing old 45s, styrene and mono records is the Nagaoka MP110 - I got mine from lp gear for about $150 usd.
I have an Ortofon Mono SE cartridge on a separate turntable that I sometimes use for mono only playback. It’s good but sounds a bit thin relative to the Nagaoka.
I have Audio Research amplifiers that can sound very detailed-maybe not a good match for the Mono Ortofon cartridge.
Joe Collins has a good video on his site about the Nagaoka cartridge.
So far I have been very happy with the Mono SE. I also like it because I don’t have to change any settings on my phono pre amp when I switch between the 2M black and the Mono SE
Nagaoka makes a dedicated 1mil conic stylus that fits your cartridge and will give a more authentic mono sound with older mono records. It's called MP-10. Don't use it for stereo records or post-1969 mono reissues, though, as it can damage them.
@@jimmyolsenschannel6263 thanks but I am very happy with the dedicated solution I have as I would say that I have at least a 50/50 mix of old and new titles. It sounds great.
There has been an occasional person on the Audio Forums who have been less than pleased with how their Ortofon Black cartridge tracks, (on stereo records). I, using both moving coil & moving iron cartridges have experienced the same sibilance & mistracking playing mono records. If the stylus is coming up out of the groove, see if tracking at a half gram higher doesn't help. Also cartridges with primitive conical styluses are said by some to track mono records better. I have toyed around with the idea of buying a Denon 103 cartridge for my mono records, which uses a conical stylus. It is the cult item cartridge of all time. Having been in their cartridge line since the 1960's. I'm sure a specialty mono cartridge is the best way to go when playing mono lps.
There are different kinds of mono cartridges, and some are only to be used with older mono records. With these, they can sound great, but with modern mono records they are terrible in more ways than one.
There is a Full Moon out tonight. It is called the Fish Moon. It looks bigger than usual. The Moon's distance from Earth averages a quarter of a million miles away. The word Mono and Moon use the exact same letters. In fact, Auto Correct changes mono to moon sometimes. There is a great Jazz/Rock Fusion group called Full Moon. Check out their music on free UA-cam. The big moon is causing glare in seeing the peak period of the Persied meteor shower, and it only comes once a year. Common old moon ruining something that doesn't happen that often. When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, its not "always" Amore. Amateur astronomers are every bit as pissed as analog diehards who now realize they own a huge collection of $125 digital lps from Mofi.
For my mono cut records I use a mono cartridge. For the others „mono“ records I use a stereo cartridge. But for both I switch on my mono button on my PhonoPreAmp. Technically ,the new (from the 70s) mono records are on stereo cutting head , that is right and a fact. But you can use a mono cartridge for the new mono records. You will not destroy the records when using mono cartridges
At $90 you're surprised that the sound quality is s$%t? Now where did I leave that extendable 90ft barge pole
I have a dedicated mono tonearm and it was the best investment last years, the difference is amazing. I have old Jazz/Classic records and even the modern monos, like Japanese reissues, sound much much better.
First, what is a "mono tonearm"? Second, don't EVER play modern mono records with original mono cartridges/styli that have a 1mil or more needle. The sound will be strangely sharp, and the needle can ruin your vinyl.
@@jimmyolsenschannel6263 Right, you need a modern mono cartridge.
@@mymixture965 Not if you want the authentic mono sound from pre-1970 records cut with a mono cutting head. These cutting heads cut grooves of 1mil width, and hence they sound best when played back with a 1mil conic needle (lively, with a strong presence). It doesn't have to be a mono cartridge but can also be a stereo cartridge with a 1mil mono stylus, such as a Shure M55E or M44 with an N44-1 stylus, an Ortofon OM cartridge with a D 25 M stylus or a Nagaoka MP110 cartridge with an MP-1.0 stylus. Be careful, though, because if you go wrong you can end up damaging parts of your record collection. In fact, a lot of the comments on this page are simply misleading and potentially harmful to go by, Others are harmless but still misleading since they will not give you the results you are seeking.
@@jimmyolsenschannel6263 You are right again, but I use the modern mono cartridge for all monos and the old ones are more quiet because the thinner stylus digs a little deeper. A little extra benefit. I would love to have two separate tone arms, one for the new and one for the old but that is not possible for me. The best would be if you have a complete mono system, player/amp/speaker....damed I need a second room, lets ask my wife :-)
@@mymixture965 If you like what you have, it's usually best to not start messing with it. Having said that, I too was quite pleased with playing old mono records with a line contact stylus, but then I remembered that I had an old Shure N44-1 mono stylus lying around. I stuck it on an M55E cartridge, enhanced the VTF to 2.25g, and the results I'm now getting are astonishing. A huge, strong, powerful sound and wonderful timing and speed. No need to go mono on the preamp (in fact, I use a small home studio mixer instead), because there is no IGD etc., and I actually like the slight spreading of the mono sound you get by staying in stereo mode. I suppose it compensates for my modern active speakers that don't have that ability to "fill the room" you can get with old speakers intended for mono.
Yes, for a Mono LP you need a Mono cartridge for the complete sound in the groove.
Do you follow the color coded wiring as it states on the head-shell when you connect the wires. Green to green, red to red etc. ?
I have all my cartridges setup professionally.
Not sure what type of problem you had with sibilance. I have plenty Mono records old a new and I dont have sibilance issues unless the groove is worn which you cant fix.
I use a Mono switchbox for some noisier records, that should work about as well as a Mono cart. No need to get a whole separate cartridge.
As mentioned in the video not all carts have the issue mine has. I am very happy with my cart on stereo records. Also based on what the engineer said you will still most likely have a less accurate playback of mono records on stereo carts. I plan on doing an AB comparison once the mono cart breaks in.
For weird panned albums, just switch to mono 😅 is cheaper than chasing mono lp's
Besides the sibilence, is the ortofon 2m mono worth the $425? Can you notice an improvement in sound?
The sound quality is similar as it is a similar cartridge to the 2M black. What it does improve in addition to the sibilance is the amount of clicks and pops. There are far fewer.
Unrelated question… what do you use for a phono preamp and do you recommend it? Thinking about stepping up to something that will play well with low output MC cartridges
@@slistone1940 I use a Musical fidelity MXVINYL and I like it a lot.
Old time collectors who bought mono copy lp's and then when stereo came out bought the stereo lp often were disappointed. There was more spread to the sound to be sure, but the stereo versions lacked the kick and dynamics of the mono pressing. Believe it or not, there are people today who prefer the sound of mono lp's. There is separation of instruments with mono if your system is spatially competent. I had mono copies of RCA LM 2400 and LM 2449. The Living Stereo copies were rare enough that I didn't know if I'd ever find them. When I did finally find LSC 2400 Ballet Music From Them Opera & the even rarer LSC 2449 Gounod Faust/ Bizet Carmen lp, it didn't take too long at all to hear that they were compressed and lacked some of the kick and dynamics of the original mono lp's. Especially LSC 2400. However, played with a stereo cartridge, the stereo versions were quieter and tracked better.
Every Sunday night, there used to be a prime time movie shown on TV. They called it The Million Dollar Movie. I think it was on ABC. The Sunday night institution called The Ed Sullivan Show, I believe was off the air by then. They wouldn't show just any movie. They'd pick real good ones and many that had never been on TV before. When we play an lp, the records spins 33 1/3 times per minute. If you played lp's all day long each day for a month continuously, allowing 8 hours sleep time per day, and a little time to flip sides and cue each album up and maybe clean the stylus, it would take approximately 4 weeks of continuously playing records each waking moment before you'd get to that magical number. Yes... we're talking ONE MILLION spins of the LP records!
Basically, there are two different kinds of mono records: Old originals from the times when mono was king, and subsequent reissues of mono records. The old ones (roughly pre 1969) are cut with mono cutting heads and play best (more lively and punchy sound) with 1mil conic styli on either a mono cartridge or a stereo cartridge. The cheapest way to achieve this is to buy an Ortofon OM cartridge and equip it with a D 25 M styli. NEVER use this on a modern mono reissue vinyl record; it sounds bad and can ruin the record. Instead, use a modern stereo cartridge/stylus or, if you like, a modern mono cartridge/stylus.