Which
to keep? Mono or stereo?
July
11, 2022
Marc,
As
I go through my LPs, I'm wondering if it is worth keeping, for example, my Sony Miles
Davis Record Store Day mono LPs. I don't know that I will ever be able to have a second
'table for a dedicated mono cartridge. I know Michael Fremer rated the mono Kind of
Blue very highly, but, of course, I have the new Analogue Productions version and my
gold CD, both stereo of course. And now that Mobile Fidelity will do Sketches of Spain
as One Step in 33rpm, I'll get that.
Also,
I have many of the Analogue Productions Verve 45rpm sets, I think in mono. Now Analogue
Productions is doing them, I believe in stereo, such as the two Louis Armstrong/Ella
Fitzgerald in stereo at 33rpm. Is it worth having both stereo 33rpm and mono 45rpm or
would you choose one over the other?
Jeff
Levine
While
mono copies of jazz LPs are generally more valuable, that's a collector issue, not for
someone who just wants to hear the music. Kind of Blue in mono is not nearly as
engaging as it is in stereo, and the same is true for Sketches of Spain.
As
for the Verve titles, I would do a search on those at www.popsike.com. Some of them can bring good money --
multiples of their list price, in fact. At least you'll know what you're getting rid of
and what you can expect in return. In general, I will always choose the stereo title for
listening, even though I acknowledge that the mono version can sound wonderful with a mono
cartridge and may be more valuable. Again, it's collector versus musical value, and I will
choose musical value every time. -Marc Mickelson
Add
me
July
1, 2022
Marc,
Can
add me to your site's reader list? Thanks.
Allen
Broussard
You've
been added. To join TAB's reader e-mail list and find out about new articles
first, send e-mail to rl@theaudiobeat.com.
-Marc Mickelson
