Needles & Grooves

I might be able to pass you a couple of samples of mono records with a stereo cart. I've never minded it but hard panning also doesn't aggravate me past wishing they hadn't.

You don't need a mono cart. Ain't no problems.

Yeah you don’t need a mono cart, a stereo one is fine, it’s ok in headphones too, you just get the exact same sound in both ears.

@Phaneronic that would be really nice (though i LOATH hard panning)

@Joe Mac but would it sound AS good as it could be?

I own a lot of mono records. I really like how all of them sound and I’ve only ever used a stereo cartridge. In terms of the music a mono cartridge will make no difference. Where the difference can come in is noise. A mono stylus on reads the one side of the groove that the music is on. A stereo reads both sides and can pick up noise on the unused side.

That said I don’t have that problem and good record care should alieviate it. I wouldn’t consider a separate mono cart unless I had removable headshells and a MUCH better system than I do.

Unless you’re playing records manufactured before like 1965, it’s cut as stereo-mono anyway (cut on a stereo lathe). You’ll be fine.