Ok, so for a moving-magnet cartridge, the load resistor dampens the inductance of the coil. Lowering the resistance dampens the high-frequency resonance more, which means slightly reduced output and a slightly darker top end.
Some cartridges are more sensitive to this than others.
So what should it see? Ideally, you want the mono-summed cartridge to still see 47kΩ total.
To do that, just as with audio cables, you don’t hard-tie the channels together.
Instead you sum them through resistors:
L ----[10k]---+ +---- mono out → 47k phono input R ----[10k]---+
Most people don't do this, but if you want to do it right, that's how you do it.
-J.
On 2/14/2026 6:42 PM, Steve Swaine wrote:
Both the mono and stereo redheads are magnetic carts (as is the blackhead). Can you elaborate a bit more please what you mean by hard ties and proper? Thanks! -steve.
On Feb 14, 2026, at 3:34 PM, js cimmeri.com via Jukebox-list jukebox-list@lists.netlojix.com wrote:
Fill me in a little. Was the "redhead" a ceramic or magnetic cartridge?
And the cartridge you're using now, is it ceramic or magnetic?
Configuration :: Load seen by each coil Normal stereo :: 47kΩ Hard-tied mono :: 23.5kΩ Resistor summed ~47kΩ (proper)