I would like to pose some notions that I have formed from different sources (or perhaps they are misconceptions?) and then ask some questions of this esteemed group.
1) Mono records made prior to 1967-68 were made using a mono cutting head and benefit greatly from being played back with a mono cartridge.
2) Mono records made AFTER 1967-68 were made using a stereo cutting head and do not benefit at all from being played back with a mono cartridge. That in many cases just playing them back with a stereo cartridge is good enough. However, if they are a little bit noisy doing that you need only to engage a mono button (if you have one) or by summing the channels with a double Y connection scheme.
2a) Is there some way to know if a mono record that was made in the transition period of 1967-68 used a mono cutting head or a stereo cutting head?
3) Depending on the mono cartridge, you might even do damage to a "modern cut" mono record (cut with a stereo cutting head) by playing it back with a mono cartridge.
4) I have a Miyajima Zero mono cartridge. If #3 is true, is that cartridge one of the ones that could cause damage?
5) If the Miyajima Zero IS a candidate for damaging a modern cut mono, are there other mono cartridges that DON'T pose this danger?
6) If #2 is true and the best way to listen to a modern cut mono is with a stereo cartridge with the channels summed using a double Y connection scheme, should the double Y connection go into the phono stage, line stage or it doesn't matter?
7) My phono stage has 3 inputs. If the answer to #6 is either a) going into the phono stage or b) it doesn't matter, then can I connect the double Y's to the 3rd input and run a ground wire from the stereo ground lug on input 1 to the ground lug for Input 3? That way if I play a mono record made before 1967-68 I can use the mono cart. If I play a mono record made after 1967-68 I can swap the phono cables (coming from the tonearm) from Input 1 to the double Y connection on Input 3.
Whew! This all makes my head hurt. Thanks for any help you can offer.
1) Mono records made prior to 1967-68 were made using a mono cutting head and benefit greatly from being played back with a mono cartridge.
2) Mono records made AFTER 1967-68 were made using a stereo cutting head and do not benefit at all from being played back with a mono cartridge. That in many cases just playing them back with a stereo cartridge is good enough. However, if they are a little bit noisy doing that you need only to engage a mono button (if you have one) or by summing the channels with a double Y connection scheme.
2a) Is there some way to know if a mono record that was made in the transition period of 1967-68 used a mono cutting head or a stereo cutting head?
3) Depending on the mono cartridge, you might even do damage to a "modern cut" mono record (cut with a stereo cutting head) by playing it back with a mono cartridge.
4) I have a Miyajima Zero mono cartridge. If #3 is true, is that cartridge one of the ones that could cause damage?
5) If the Miyajima Zero IS a candidate for damaging a modern cut mono, are there other mono cartridges that DON'T pose this danger?
6) If #2 is true and the best way to listen to a modern cut mono is with a stereo cartridge with the channels summed using a double Y connection scheme, should the double Y connection go into the phono stage, line stage or it doesn't matter?
7) My phono stage has 3 inputs. If the answer to #6 is either a) going into the phono stage or b) it doesn't matter, then can I connect the double Y's to the 3rd input and run a ground wire from the stereo ground lug on input 1 to the ground lug for Input 3? That way if I play a mono record made before 1967-68 I can use the mono cart. If I play a mono record made after 1967-68 I can swap the phono cables (coming from the tonearm) from Input 1 to the double Y connection on Input 3.
Whew! This all makes my head hurt. Thanks for any help you can offer.