Mint Tractor

Well Doug, I'd love to visit. However with regard to Berlioz Requiem, the passages in question are certain loud choral Soprano lines in the opening "Requiem." It sounds like oversaturation to me, but I'll keep my mind open, always works in the end! I've settled on Davis' Classic version which came out on SACD--I like the Westminster acoustic. I've also discovered that the better the system, (even my humble equipment), we end up with a paradox: the more ruthless or heavenly the results, sometime in the same recording!

"Play those problematic LP's or tapes in some systems passionately and uncompromisingly built over many years to minimize distortions while maximizing dynamics - in most cases you'll be happily surprised."
Well said Doug.
Minimising distortions throughout the 'playback' chain whilst ensuring 'reserves' of amplification power is, I believe, the key.

I would like to mention, I have a Wally Tractor Universal and what I love about it is that it works for 3 out of 4 of my tonearms. It handles the Phantom, Breuer and 10.5 inch Schroeder. The Phantom jig is never perfect and the Wally tractor allows me to get it spot on. As for the differences, having never seen a Mint. The Wally is the exact thickness of a 150 gm or so LP. Also it is made out of plastic so it won't break. And it has the arcs and the lines all set for parallax so I am able to sight the stylus point perfectly without feeling I am looking at the wrong angle. Lastly it contains both Baerwald & Lofgren arcs for each arc. Truly a pleasure to use.

On a brief note, I had my Schroeder setup perfectly even before I received the Wally just using the simple 66 null point protractor made out of paper included w. the Schroeder. But the Schroeder pivot point is fairly easy to sight due to the nylon thread being the pivot.

Dgad: the only thing I would humbly report is: the 10x magnifying glass revealed that my stylus could be more than a mm off the line, even though with my naked vision, it seems to be sitting on the line.

Hello... I know this thread has been neglected for some months, but I found it and read with great interest and pleasure its remarks and follow-through on the Mint Tractor and Yip's related products.

Your insights and experience have helped me decided to buy one. The experience I had doing this with Yip yesterday and today was nothing short of remarkable and a real pleasure. He is an extraordinary gentleman and is very willing to assist in every way.

I am very much looking forward to using the Best Tractor (as well as his Mint cleaning fluid and tools) in the next week or so after they arrive. I'll give the thread a report.

Meanwhile, if you have any followups or further thoughts since April, count me as interested!

:) listening,

Ed