How do you handle stereo plus mono TTs / arms / carts ?

[JCOConnell]

When I wanted to start using a mono cartridge, I decided to go for a second TT and modified my combined linestage/phonostage to accept the extra mono input. Most people wont want to go that route. So how do you do it? Buy a second phonostage and feed its output into another one of your linestage inputs? Maybe your phonostage has inputs for more that one cartridge and has a selector switch there? Maybe you just use one TT and arm and just change armwands for mono? What's your method?

[Analog21]

Now that I'm really into mono, I thought about getting a second turntable just for it. I decided though, primarily because of space issues, that a two arm table is the way to go, which led me to a VPI Avenger. I currently own a Zesto phono stage, and has two rca inputs, one for MM and another for MC. Being both my carts will be mostly like be MC, all I have to do is take out the rca's on the stereo tonearm and plug into to mono tonearm on the same turntable, which is pretty easy. If I had a phono stage that had 2 MCs inputs, I'd buy an extra phono cable and would never have to do anything really at all. Typically the phono stages that have 2 MC inputs are pretty pricey though. I think the Esoteric does it, and I know the Manley Steelhead does it too (I'm sure there are others). I didn't want to deal taking tonearms off and adjust cart weights each time.

[JCOConnell]

Now that I'm really into mono, I thought about getting a second turntable just for it. I decided though, primarily because of space issues, that a two arm table is the way to go, which led me to a VPI Avenger. I currently own a Zesto phono stage, and has two rca inputs, one for MM and another for MC. Being both my carts will be mostly like be MC, all I have to do is take out the rca's on the stereo tonearm and plug into to mono tonearm on the same turntable, which is pretty easy. If I had a phono stage that had 2 MCs inputs, I'd buy an extra phono cable and would never have to do anything really at all. Typically the phono stages that have 2 MC inputs are pretty pricey though. I think the Esoteric does it, and I know the Manley Steelhead does it too (I'm sure there are others). I didn't want to deal taking tonearms off and adjust cart weights each time.

If you get tired of plugging cables, you could always insert a SUT between the second MC mono? cart and the MM input and then just select on the phono stage which cart you want to hear.

[Analog21]

I'll will have to look into that. I'm in the process of getting the Avenger turntable, so we'll see how this goes. I've been really into mono albums lately.

[JCOConnell]

I just went thru a big stack of mono classical LPs myself this week. They can be fun, and a mono cart certainly improves the sonics, much lower noise and greater dynamic range.

[david k]

There are various ways of doing it JC starting with tts with multi arm capability or using an arm with bayonet mount that you can easily swap between same brand or cartridges or cartridges set up in the headshell so you don't have to change overhang on the arm. Or as you did a dedicated mono tt.

All Phonostages come at least with 2 inputs, mm & mc. You can get a high output mono or mm one and use the mm input directly or buy a SUT for your second cartridge. All valid and worth the effort and expense when you have a decent no. of mono recordings.

david

When I wanted to start using a mono cartridge, I decided to go for a second TT and modified my combined linestage/phonostage to accept the extra mono input. Most people wont want to go that route. So how do you do it? Buy a second phonostage and feed its output into another one of your linestage inputs? Maybe your phonostage has inputs for more that one cartridge and has a selector switch there? Maybe you just use one TT and arm and just change armwands for mono? What's your method?

[JCOConnell]

There are various ways of doing it JC starting with tts with multi arm capability or using an arm with bayonet mount that you can easily swap between same brand or cartridges or cartridges set up in the headshell so you don't have to change overhang on the arm. Or as you did a dedicated mono tt.

All Phonostages come at least with 2 inputs, mm & mc. You can get a high output mono or mm one and use the mm input directly or buy a SUT for your second cartridge. All valid and worth the effort and expense when you have a decent no. of mono recordings.

david

I forgot about arms with the bayoneting headshells, yes, that would work as long as the two carts had the same mass so you didn't need to futz around with the VTF when switching carts.

[Steve Lefkowicz]

If you are using the VPI arms on your Avenger, why not just go with one, but get two arm tubes? Isn't that a big selling point of the VPI arm, that you can quickly and easily swap arm tubes? I was at someone's house a while back that must have five or six VPI arms tubes all set up to swap.

[Tunes]

I do the stereo mono thing using an AMG viella with twin armboard. Very happy to have a dedicated mono cart (miyajima zero).

[Rust]

Simple enough, I have four turntables.