I found an earlier thread by someone with a rega setup looking for a mono switch. I’m in the same boat. Is that still the preferred method and is the best switch the one made by a member here?
Have you owned any modern amps? Can't think of any recent amps that have a switch and it's rare on separate phono stages these days. I do have an old Rotel with mono switch and when in regular use it really didn't always make mono recordings sound better. Maybe if you have a lot of vintage mono LPs actually cut with a mono head a mono cartridge is a better bet.
I have. Rega P6 with the ania cart running thru a rega phono stage. I was considering a used P3 and ortofon mono cart, but not sure about that investment on a lesser table than I have. Would the records sound better on my stereo p6? Would they sound better on the p6 by introducing a mono switch?
What records? Old jazz or classical records from the 50's? Pop rock records from the 60's? Older 45's? Newer pressings in mono? Help us help you.
Jazz from the late 50s and early 60s, classic rock from the 60s and newer classic rock and jazz reissues (stones mono, AP jazz titles, doors VMP, etc)
Some phono preamps have phone switches, or you can get something like this - Stereo to Mono RCA Switch - HANDMADE IN THE USA by sweetfootpedals | Reverb
So... quite a bit. Honestly I would get a Y-adapter to see if that makes a big enough difference for you to pursue buying more gear to compliment these monos. I do have a switch on one of my preamps and find it does make things a little clearer on the old ones. Some claim otherwise, but they have never heard that particular system of mine.
You can start with an RCA y-cable to see if there's really a need. I made a little demo of different mono configurations. 1. is pretty obvious, combine two-to-one, and back to two, 2,3 short the channels together with the second Y branch and a mating connector, 4. piggyback RCAs, let you connect a cable (m-m adapter just a demo) between them to short channel together.
I recently purchased this switch and I'm very satisfied. I play a lot of mono records and recently "upgraded" to an amp that doesn't have a build in switch. Stereo to Mono RCA Switch - HANDMADE IN THE USA-RCA-2-2