DBP-10 Protractor Instructions......

Dear Actureus: Btw, the only date/value you have to know is the effective length on your tonearm, is this parameter the only one you have to deal with it is this value the one that you introduce in the Calculator Input and this Calculator not only gives: stylus overhang, offset angle, pivot to spindle distance and null points but a diagram/graphic where you can see how/which , with that algorithm , trackin error and tracking distortion you have over the playing LP surface.

I give you all the other parameters only to explain how all those different algorithms work but you only need to deal with the tonearm effective lenght.

Anyway, an option.

regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Raul,

When you used words like "dishonest" and "deceive" to describe Yip you exceeded the bounds of politeness and dishonored him. You may disagree on technical grounds, but that does not justify personal insults.

Hundreds of satisfied customers, including me, will attest that Yip has been honest and open in everything he says, does and sells.

A public insult deserves a public apology. An honorable man would admit his error and offer one, without conditions.

Very disappointed,
Doug

I emailed Yip about the issues brought up by Raul and he sent this reply with his permission to post his response.

Again, all can read and decide for themselves.

"may I quote:
"that's right and that " specifically " tonearm made protractor can/must be used with any other tonearm that has the same effective length than the JMW-9!!!!!!!"
end of quote

I do put up a warning on the Best Tractor to make sure new entrants would not use a wrong tractor for a wrong tonearm which can have tragic outcome.

But I believe 99% of my users know what is meant by Effective Length/Mounting Distance. And if they do not then they will email me and ask and I will give correct answers.

This is a limit on arc protractors and I think I have emphasized this enough on my webpage.

may I quote:
"But that IMHO dishonest Mint people let you think that if you have two same effective length pivot tonearms from different manufacturer/designs you need two " specifically made " protractors!!!!!!: these dishonest Mint people are only decieve/cheat/fool you ( and making a fraud ) because your very low knowledge about geometry tonearm/cartridge different algorithm calculations."
end of quote

Wow ! My answer to this is very simple: there are some users who order more than one Tractor at one single order and I am very sure that I have never asked people to buy 2 identical Tractors in terms of geometry but for a different brand or model of tonearms. In retrospect I have many users who order a 2nd Tractor when they upgraded to another brand. Now for these cases I do not check what is their first order tonearm brand/model. There is a very slim chance [my guess is 0.1% of my Tractor sales] users may have ordered an identical Tractor if they have not done their homework.

In order to safeguard this I will give all my users the quote on MD/EL employed in the preparation of Best Tractors with immediate effect. One should take negative comments positively!

The above accusation assumes people who buy from me are ignorant and naive. Yes I have many new entrant users but my guess is over 85% of my users are very well experienced in analogue playing and they really know what they want.

The above is my open remark, feel very free to quote and I stand by it."

Thanks to Hhh for taking his valuable time to call me at my request and discuss in detail the simplicity in which the DPB-10 Protractor works.
After following his recommendations the sound of my cartridge was greatly improved, evidently I had it all wrong.
I went back and re-read the June article in Stereophile, what a bunch of mumbo jumbo. Takes all the fun out of our hobby.
Thanks again Hhh.

I have read Raul's posts for the past three years or more, exchanged personal messages with him, and had the pleasure of meeting him in person when he visited my city. I believe he has been one of the most valued posters on Audiogon in sharing his information and experiences.

However, I must agree with Dougdeacon that Raul overstepped the bounds of decency with his accusations against Yip and the Mint protractor.

I have never used a Mint protractor but people I respect love using it and the sonic results. Yip could advertise his protractors (one example) as "made specifically for 223 mm spindle to pivot arms" or as "made specifically for VPI JMW 9 arms". Either statement would be true, but which is most consumer friendly? Everyone should know the make and model of their arm but I'll guess not everyone knows the effective length.

Another point, one can find free protractors on the internet just as Raul suggests. But I can't believe they are as easy to use (therefore potentially not as accurate) as one with thinly etched markings on a reflective surface. Many people are willing to pay for convenience. The Mint would only be dishonest if it did not produce an accurate set up for its chosen alignment.