BaerWald vs VPI setup protractors

I'm all for saving money.  As regards protractors, my ship has left the dock.  I already own and have paid for the UNItractor, the Feickert, an original all metal Dennesen (I keep it for its historical value), and a Turntable Basics (which I no longer use at all).  For those who have not already shot their wad, there is apparently a free program available on the internet wherein you can dial in the name of your tonearm and cartridge and then print out a free arc protractor template, provided your printer will make 1:1 copies.  Do a search on either VE or VA for the URL. Honestly, I do not feel that the mirror is so vital to the procedure, although the UNI is mirrored.  Certainly, not using a mirror does not make one ignorant or careless.  If your cantilever is out of line, you probably can compensate for the error by guesstimate.

@lewm 

I posted a link to the arc protractor software in my first post. It prints exactly 1:1 on most printers I've used. 

I started with the Turntable Basics then moved to Conrad arc printout.  An noticible improvement.  I then ordered my custom Mint Protractor from Yip and the precision it provided exceeded the carefully prepared paper templates. The result of the precision was audible.  Now a SmarTractor is my instrument of choice and my vinyl reproduction is in a league I did not know could be achieved by just being more precise with cartridge setup.  Free thin paper has many desirable assets but it is not precise enough to maximize what your system is capable of delivering IMHO.

In my experience, the Turntable Basic protractor is fatally flawed in that it does not permit the user to precisely locate and align the spindle with the pivot point of the tonearm. You've got to aim it by eye at the pivot, which is usually several inches beyond the edge of the protractor surface. Yes, it can be modified by the user to allow for closer approximation, but that's still a big problem with the original design. And to say it will "work" for any cartridge and tonearm is really to say it will approximately work, because there are minute differences for which it cannot account. Take a look at the UNItractor or the SMARTractor from Acoustic Sounds, and you will appreciate what those tiny tonearm to tonearm variables might be. Or even the Feickert. This is why Mint protractors are made one by one for each tonearm.

Sure, a SMARTractor costing $600 will make HTA a bit easier to set than the $20 turntablebasiscs device.  But if you simply mount the turntablebasics on a piece of card stock and extend the line to just about touch the base of your tonearm, you will have achieved what the SMARTractor does.  If you think these sort of devices (whose geometry is fundamentally the same) cannot be absolutely as accurate as an arc protractor made for a specific arm, you don't understand the geometry of these devices.

Audiophile insecurity and smart promotion drives many hobbyists to the most expensive devices when the simple one will do the job.

Hey, it's your money.  Spend it as you wish.  

I have had the VPI, Yip, Dr. Feickert, and Smartractor. I like the Smartractor the most for its accuracy, and quickness to setup a cartridge.