Turntable got absolutely crushed by CD

Here's the reality - In general and with today's latest DACs / spinners $ for $ digital beats vinyl rigs up to about $15 - $20K. The main reason is - you need many more components for vinyl - TT, cartridge, phono preamp, isolation platform not to mention the mat, record clamp /weight, cleaning machine, on, and on. For digital, you need a DAC and a decent music PC or a stand - alone CD / SACD player. Once over $20K it depends but vinyl starts to take over.   

A Denon cartridge? Why would you do that to your vinyl? You’re kidding me, right?

In legal circles, this is called a results based outcome. Sounds to me like you wanted the digital to win, and you put a piece $300 cartridge in there to make sure of it.

But I’m just a humble yet unreasonably and thoroughly opinionated know nothing with 51 years of audiophile experience behind me. What do I know?

Put a Koetsu or a Van den Hul in there. Even their entry level cartridges. Then write back to us. Please.

sbonamo, I disagree in your price point. More like around $15K. And if you are patient and shop around for used equipment in excellent condition, $7K.

3 comments already mostly mentioned by others 

DL-103 not in the CD player class
Surfacing MOV is one of the weaker sounding reissue 
Try one of the new Rhino reissue 

There are many cool things about vinyl.   A whole vibe that you simply can't get elsewhere.  But if we are talking purely about "sound" quality, the "average" consumer system for CD will crush any average consumer system for vinyl.  Vinyl is an archaic and noisy medium, requiring substantial roll-off in the lows and highs in order to get to the final medium (vinyl).   Why anyone would do that when the original digital source is available is beyond me (The "Surfacing" album mentioned is a digitally recorded source).   Listen to a classical record with a quiet flute part for example - and just the sound of the stylus dragging across a perfectly Mint vinyl record is too loud and audible against the flute itself.  I have around 8000 vinyl records, use a VPI Prime sitting on a HRS R3X isolation base with a Cadenza Bronze cartridge - a decent setup.   Side by side with the Esoteric K-07x there is no comparison 90% of the time.   Doesn't matter if the vinyl is MFSL, or Analogue Productions, etc.   I know I won't make any friends saying that, but do the comparisons yourself and see.   A high end CD or SACD player will simply crush a decent vinyl set up....  most of the time.  There are times this isn't the case  (original 60's or 70's vinyl with early 1A stampers or amazing engineering (Van Gelder, etc.).    But most of the vinyl today, including audiophile pressings (MFSL, Japan, AP, etc) are simply just EQ moves pushing highs and lows to make it sound better.    Do a true comparison, match the volume,  strip back those EQ moves, put the CD or SACD on, game over.    But there is no "vibe" just dropping a CD into a transport.   Bunch of us love getting together, shoot some pool, have a few beers, spinning vinyl, glazing over the gatefold artwork, chatting about this and that.  Another whole vibe to vinyl there that is very cool indeed.   But sound quality?  No.   As my one friends said:   If you want the best experience, put the record on.  Mute the vinyl output.   Now put the CD player on and listen to the CD while you watch the vinyl spin.   Best of both worlds.   : )

@unreceivedogma : If the DL103 sounds so bad why has it remained in production since 1962? While many cartridges (both mm and mc) have become extinct! The marketplace sorts out the winners from the losers! How about those old-fashioned Ortofon SPU's? Still in production after 60+ years and still loved by many! Let's see you design and market a better mc cartridge than the 103 for such a low price!