Shark, read up on mono vs. stereo vinyl. Since you seem to be into this now, you may find the groove technologies interesting.

To really do mono vinyl correct, you must have a mono cartridge. A true mono LP only has "undulations" or "information" on the horizontal, or "Y" axis of the record groove wall (the sides of the groove). A stereo LP has undulations and information on the sides and also "mountainous" peaks and valleys at the bottom of the groove as well--thus giving a "second" channel of audio.

There are some neat photos taken with a microscope of the grooves of both mono and stereo LPs and you can easily see what is going on--search google.

A mono cartridge, playing a true mono LP, through a Pre-amp that has a mono switch (plays one mono signal through both L&R), can sound fantastic.

That is why you will sometimes see very high end turntables that have 2 tonearms (or even 3)...one tonearm has a mono cartridge and the other has a stereo cartridge. This is more popular amongst the hard core jazz guys that seek out original Blue Note recordings that were all done in mono when they were originally released in the '50's. there was also a good bit of classical done in mono as well in the '50's and early '60's.

1 Jump to Post ...

Report Post Jump to Post

Posted by The Spleen

Member since Dec 2010

38865 posts

Posted on 10/16/14 at 8:11 am to Marco Esquandolas

Good info.

Not being a huge audiophile I've always wondered what the difference in mono and stereo was. I have several LPs I got when my grandfather died that say they are mono, mostly big band Benny Goodman stuff. Never could tell a difference in sound, but I'm on a pretty basic setup with a low grade cart. Though my receiver does have a Mono setting. Only thing I notice when I flip it over to Mono is the bass is more enhanced.

Unfortunately he was extremely racist and had no rad jazz albums.