2. analog
  3. 140184-113812

Turntable got absolutely crushed by CD

Long story short, i've just brought home a VPI classic 1 mounted with a Zu-Denon DL103 on JMW Memorial 10.5 with the appropriate heavier counterweight. Had everything dialed in..perfect azimuth, VTF, overhang, with only a slightly higher than perfect VTA. Levelling checked. All good. 

I did a comparison between the VPI and my Esoteric X03SE and it's not even close. The Esoteric completely crushes the VPI in all regards. The level of treble refinement, air, decay, soundstage depth and width, seperation, tonality, overall coherence is just a simply a league above from what I'm hearing from the VPI. The only area the VPI seems to be better at is bass weight, but not by much. 

I'm honestly quite dumbfounded here. I've always believed that analogue should be superior to digital. I know the Esoteric is a much pricier item but the VPI classic is supposed to be a very good turntable and shouldn't be a slouch either. At this point I feel like I should give up on analogue playback and invest further in digital. 

Has anyone had a similar experience comparing the best of digital to a very good analogue setup?

Equipment:
Esoteric X03SE 
VPI Classic, JMW Memorial 10.5, Zu-DL103
Accuphase C200L
Accuphase P600
AR 90 speakers

Test Record/CD:
Sarah McLachlan - Surfacing (Redbook vs MOV 180g reissue)



chadsort
Post removed 
biketech60
35 posts
 
Regarding vinyl records - They are all dirty until properly cleaned with a fine Record Cleaning Machine and only then can you tell the sound quality . Recently I've discovered the finest lubricant that also improves the ability of the stylus to get what's in the vinyl grooves and eliminates static build-up .
As others have pointed out , there are higher quality components in every category , including records themselves . CD's can sound marvelous and are more convenient . Play what you prefer .
mattmiller's avatar
mattmiller
1,180 posts
 
I dont care what edition Denon DL103 you are using, they are average at best (these were the goto cart for radio stations). Also, The tonearm is not the problem, put that Dynavector on it and you will hear a huge difference. I want to say that If you do not have a large vinyl collection already and you are trying to buy new records to amass a collection most of these "new" vinyls will be highly disappointing to listen to. Finally, If your system is good enough you should hear differences in all vinyl and cd's played bad or good. Thats the mark of a great stereo.
bac2vinyl
37 posts
 
VPI owner with a very nice tube pre from Decware, Vinyl on its best day will sound as good as my Marantz cd player. Learn to accept it...
mahler123
633 posts
 
I sold off my vinyl rig a couple of years ago.  I had gotten back into vinyl around the year 2000, out of nostalgia for shopping for lps, album covers, and also at that time there were several favorite albums of mine (my lp collection had been destroyed in a flood at dawn of the CD era) that had not yet been digitalized.  After 15 years , several upgrades of turntables, cartridges and pre amps, the fun had gone out of the hobby.  By then all my albums were available digitally, and in every case smoked the lps.  I am glad that vinyl is perceived as such a great media because I got a great deal when I sold my analog rig.
  I can only shake my head at the list of suggestions given here to try and improve analog front ends.  At least it keeps people busy...
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