I read a post somewhere that claimed, the CA protractor is flawed because the line of alignment to the arm pivots is incorrect ...""""
and the Ortofon protractor is not better that than the CA. It's obvious that if any one makes a comparison against any accurate protractor as MINT LP, Freikfert or the smartractor all these wins showing lower overall distortion levels: not big deal. As I said very clever to puts in his site taking advantage of our ignorance level on that regards.
""" I think this cart should be judged on its merits. You might have a hard time convincing Acoustical Systems cartridge owners that their ears are deceiving them. """
First I don't want to convince cartridge owners when any one likes what they like according their music/sound ignorance levels. In the other sideI like to use common sense and let me explain about that " cartridge merits ":
any flagship LOMC cartridge in the market was voiced for its " manufacturer " and this premise always is a fact.
Now, he voiced the Palladian according with his personal " bible " he used over the years to " evangelize " every kind of audiophiles ( as the ones in his bandwagon. ) and you can read in very precise way what is write in that " bible ":
FR 66 ( as a fact he came to Agon as a " covered " FR seller ), FR 7 cartridge line ( the same. ), SUT ( seller of Jensen transformers. ), tubes and somewhere in the time horns and Orsonic headshell.
All that is what he touted here and everywhere ( he prepared the " land " with time. Clever. ). All those products are knowed today to generate higher distortions that other kind of designs.
He is accustomed to that kind of sound quality inferior level. Please tell me how could be that that voiced by him cartridge can sounds totally different?, no way. Even his " boys " that owns that cartridge confirm it with his reviews and comments about.
His real merit is that he has audio items on sale under AS company where he is the owner.
Btw, did you know that he is knowed as the audio items " copy-cat "?:
I think his first product on sale was the headshell with the VTA/SRA mechanism that he presented as something " unique ": well that headshell has the Orsonic basic type " platform " but more " interesting " is that in reality is nothing unique on the VTA headshell mechanism.
The first true unique headshell with VTA/SRA mechanism was made it by the TT designers/manufacturer Dual ( this is a Dual's invent. ), very easy to use. This was many many years ago, you can see it here ( btw, before Dual cartridge AKG manufacturer invented the VTA/SRA mechanism direct in the cartridge body it its all time flagship model: AKG P100 LE. ):
https://www.google.com.mx/search?q=dual+vta+headshell&rlz=1C2LEND_enMX569MX569&biw=1600&...
the @bluewolf phono stage ( tubes/SUT. ) is a precise copy of an old French design.
One of his " boys " Eckart posted that he and Dietrich were in Eckart speakers design and manufacture of it. That design was and is a horns one and is a copy of a very well regarded UK propietary speaker designer/builder.
Many of us here can remember this because some one posted the Eckart speaker picture ( Eckart was so proud that he posted his speaker picture. ) and the picture of the UK original today design!!!!
Now, we can see how easy is to make money taking advantage of each one ignorance level and good faith.
No problem with that, it happens in audio and in almost any kind of business.
Regards and enjoy the music,
R.