[Guy 13]

Hi all.
Mono vs Stereo ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npvsGRonfcM

I find this interesting, according to the video and author
look like over all the stereo version is a little better ???

Guy 13

[sfox7076]

I disagree.  I like the mono much better than the stereo. 

[James Romeyn]

I disagree.  I like the mono much better than the stereo.

DSA Dynamic Sounds Assoc. played Beatles mono at 2014 RMAF, most or all tube gear, $2k mono cart, TAD CRM1 speakers.  Probably the best reproduced sound I ever heard.  Reminds me of direct mic feed Tower of Power at Sausalito Record Plant.  I can not list enough superlatives, absolutely mind boggling performance, dynamics like I never heard before, etc, etc...also indeed would not say flat like you might suspect is mono.  It was more like raising the dead with George and John in the room playing and singing for us.  Honestly never heard anything so realistic ever, and I've heard IRS III set up well in dedicated listening room with DAT source.  It's worth it to fly as far as needed to hear this demo again, or one like it.  I was shocked at the performance level, and believe me, was not expecting it to be that good.

David Sckolnick of DSA said this latest (released Sept 2014) The Beatles In Mono was cut with a stereo head, believe it or not a mono cutting head performs better, and they plan future release cut with a mono head, "mono on mono.". 

[gnuyork]

My friend bought one of the new Beatles Mono records and we gave it a quick listen on his stereo rig. I thought it sounded great. Maybe it would be better with a mono cart, but the stereo cart sounded fantastic.

[rollo]

  Mono should be as advertised mono. The sellers should specify on the cover that it was cut with a stereo. I was going to make the plunge now after hearing what James knows I'm waiting for he true mono to appear. Yes I use a mono cart on one TT and a stereo on another. Huge results.

charles

[gnuyork]

[

...I'm waiting for he true mono to appear.

I think you'll be waiting for a long time.

Edit: never mind -  I didn't see there was a planned release on a mono cutting device.

[Davey]

I've been out of the LP loop for too long. 

A (true) mono cartridge has the motor structure orientated so vertical stylus movement will not generate any voltage??

These Beatles pressings are cut completely symmetrically so that (other than warp) no vertical movement of the stylus would happen?

Dave.

[rollo]

Patience is a virtue. Maybe it is time to inquire with the makers to find out the deal. I wonder how many other mono reissues are cut with a stereo cutter.
charles

[pconley2]

interesting article in Sound and Vision as a side bar to their story about the mono Beatles albums, which is also interesting but not as definitive as Mikey Fremer's reviews of the records.  But the sidebar goes into the difference between real mono and mono (bridged) and a mono switch on the pre-amp.

It doesn't answer all the questions, but it seems the best way to hear the new Beatles albums is with an actual mono cartridge (which I don't have) but I will say that being a life long Beatles fan, these are by far the best that I have ever heard them--stereo cartridge and all

http://www.soundandvision.com/content/get-back-mono-drive-my-cartridge

[neobop]

More of the same in Sound and Vision.

Here's a good buy on a mono HOMC - 1.1mV, VTF 2g
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002ERE2Q/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687542&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000WM4S3G&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1HMMEBG0P1FGE4SCC341

I think this is a leftover.  Not sure if it's true mono.
http://www.lpgear.com/product/OROMD25M.html

Here's the specs for the AT:
http://www.lpgear.com/product/ATMONO3LP.html

The DL102 is a popular choice with 2 long pins so you can double up the connectors.
http://www.lpgear.com/product/DENONDL102.html

neo

[James Romeyn]

Was Cpt. Kirk listening to mono on his tube rig in the latest Star Trek movie? 

[googlymoogly]

David Skolnick (sp?) of DSA told me himself that Beatles mono was cut with a stereo head, and believe it or not they plan future release cut with a mono head, which shall be even higher performance.

They're planning to recut the Beatles' Mono vinyl releases again, this time with a mono cutting head? 

[James Romeyn]

They're planning to recut the Beatles' Mono vinyl releases again, this time with a mono cutting head? 

David Skolnick of DSA (Dynamic Sounds Associates) told me yes. 

That was the best reproduced sound demo I ever heard. 

[bladesmith]

Beatles original mono recordings, just awesome.

Can't believe some people haven't heard them. 

[James Romeyn]

I was amazed at many things, one of the most amazing things picturing the Beatles, their clothes, expressions, body movements, especially George playing his arch top hollow body (Gretsch IIRC).  John never sounded so alive and real.  Really, it was like the two of them were raised from the grave.  Strange, weird, ethereal...I was totally moved by that demo and just walked in not knowing what to expect.

I kept crossing paths with Skolnick in the elevators during setup and later too.  He's very nice, a great guy, friendly.  I noticed he had a cheshire cat grin, and was very confident.

Found out why when I heard the demo.

You're crazy if you miss this mono demo if you have opportunity to hear it.     

[neobop]

David Skolnick (sp?) of DSA told me himself that Beatles mono was cut with a stereo head, and believe it or not they plan future release cut with a mono head, which shall be even higher performance.   

Future release?  Do you know what that means exactly?  Future release of other titles originally mixed in mono or re-release of these titles?

For those contemplating a mono cartridge, most are rather low compliance heavy trackers and will work best on med/heavy arms.  Look at the recommended VTF range to get an idea.  Also, most have spherical stylus, around .7mil for modern grooves and larger for vintage pressings. 

Ortofon has some expensive mono carts (MC) tipped with diamonds with advanced shapes.  I haven't used these, but I assume you'll get more detail.
Grado makes a couple of high compliance mono carts that seem just like their regular Prestige line. 
http://www.lpgear.com/product/GRADMCPLUS.html

http://www.lpgear.com/product/GRADMEPLUS.html

If you're looking for the "best" -
http://www.needledoctor.com/Ortofon-Cadenza-Mono-Phono-Cartridge

http://www.miyajima-lab.com/e-mono.html

http://www.time-step.com/distribution/Miyajima.html?gclid=CJOf--fX0cECFSgV7AodGT8AaQ

Also EMT and Ortofon SPU.

neo

[googlymoogly]

David Skolnick of DSA (Dynamic Sounds Associates) told me yes. 

That was the best reproduced sound demo I ever heard.

I wouldn't have thought current sales would prompt them to get the tapes back out and recut just to use a mono cutter head.  While a cool idea, I'm not sure that recutting with a mono head would make a radical difference from the current reissues, which used a stereo cutter head and a mono tape machine.

[rollo]

I wouldn't have thought current sales would prompt them to get the tapes back out and recut just to use a mono cutter head.  While a cool idea, I'm not sure that recutting with a mono head would make a radical difference from the current reissues, which used a stereo cutter head and a mono tape machine.

   That my friend is the $64,000 question. Wonder what Acousic Sounds is doing with their mono reissues.


charles

[bladesmith]

The Beatles original Mono cuts where different. I can't put it into words.

(But, it really is different than listening to a song in mono, that was earlier created in stereo. if you know what I mean. And they aren't like listening to your audio equipment in mono, by simply changing the stereo/mono button to the mono position. If you understand that... )

Just a completely different sound, they may have been recorded mono, in the studio, but they have a very different uniqueness to them. I wouldn't call them simply "mono recordings" and blow them off as substandard quality. Because they are much better than that.

[vortrex]

http://www.stereophile.com/content/rmaf-2014-meet-beatles