A, schmAy, whatever (and BTW, how come SP never tested a ZYX cart?) Here's a copy of an email I just sent my friend Tim:
I've not heard an Orpheus, but I love everything about my W,
and it does things all the things M. Fremer apparently forgot from his review of the W in June 2003 (which I have right here!)
As far as I can tell, he's a shameless dilettante like Jonathan Scull, (fraud alert!) and knows nothing about setting up a product for proper evaluation. My scientific background demands that rigorous experimental procedures be followed before any kind of critical listening can take place -- and that requires a lot more than just throwing a new out-of-the box cartridge into a $100K TT/TA.
I'm glad for the reviews and comments by the people on Audiogon. Even when somewhat biased towards a person's pet product, at least they come from real-world experience over a period of time. And if one has a question, the authors are quick and candid in their response. And it's free!
People like Fremer and Scull, are prose writers whose theme happens to be audio. They have no training in physics, acoustics, electrical engineering, or any of the other disciplines required to produce or evaluate audio equipment. They could just as easily (and unproductively) be writing about cars, or model trains. Who cares. . . . . . .
