Deutsch

Mono or stereo? How to tell – and what collectors should know

In short: Until the late sixties, many albums came out in two versions, mono and stereo. You can tell them apart by the catalogue number, the label and often the cover. Which version is “better” depends on the album. For some records of the fifties and sixties the mono mix is considered the one musicians and producers spent the most time on.

From our stock

Blue Note

Columbia

→ Collecting Blue Note · How to read the runout · How to spot a first pressing

How to tell mono from stereo

1. By the catalogue number. Many record companies used separate numbers for mono and stereo: - Blue Note: BLP for mono, BST usually with an 8 in front of the number for stereo (BLP 4047 / BST 84291). - Columbia (USA): CL for mono, CS for stereo. - Parlophone and Apple in the UK (both pressed by EMI): PMC for mono, PCS for stereo.

2. By the label. Stereo editions usually show the word clearly, at Blue Note “Stereo Long Playing”, at Columbia “360 Sound Stereo”. Mono labels don’t have it; at Blue Note they say “Microgroove”.

Blue Note mono label BLP 1544
Mono: Blue Note BLP 1544.
Blue Note stereo label BST 84291
Stereo: Blue Note BST 84291 with “33⅓ Stereo Long Playing”.
Columbia label CS 9150 with “360 Sound Stereo”
Stereo: Columbia CS 9150 with “360 Sound Stereo”.

3. By the cover. Many stereo editions have a stereo note on the front or back. Some backs even list both numbers – then the label shows which version is really in the sleeve.

Back cover with “Stereo CS 9150” and “CL 2350”
Miles Davis, “E.S.P.”: the back lists “Stereo CS 9150” and the mono number “CL 2350”.

4. By the runout. The matrix number also gives the version away: on these UK LPs, XEX stands for mono and YEX for stereo, at Columbia XLP for mono and XSM for stereo. More in our guide How to read the runout.

Why collectors look for mono

In the fifties and early sixties most people listened in mono. For some albums the mono mix was therefore made first, and the stereo version followed more quickly. Stereo took over at the end of the sixties: in the UK, the Beatles’ “White Album” still came out in mono in 1968, and around 1968/69 stereo largely replaced the mono version for new pop and rock records there. Mono editions from this late period are therefore often rarer.

Apple label PMC 7068 of the UK mono edition
Mono: the UK edition of the “White Album” (PMC 7068, matrix XEX 711).

The Beatles in the shop · Miles Davis “E.S.P.” in the shop

Can I play mono records?

Yes. Mono LPs from this period can be played with any current turntable and stereo cartridge. Some collectors use a dedicated mono cartridge for their mono records, but you don’t have to.

→ How to spot a first pressing · Grading explained · Collecting Blue Note

FAQ

How can I tell whether a record is mono or stereo? By the catalogue number (for example BLP or BST at Blue Note, CL or CS at Columbia), the label and often the cover. If in doubt, what’s on the record’s label counts.

Is stereo better than mono? Not automatically. For some albums of the fifties and sixties the mono mix is considered the more careful one.

Can I play mono records on my turntable? Yes, with any current stereo cartridge.

What does the 8 mean at Blue Note? It typically marks the stereo edition, for example BST 84291.