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
dentdog's avatar
dentdog
300 posts
 
Moonglum, well said. On a good night, meaning a receptive mind coupled with good electricity, analog reproduction can be sublime. 
I'm looking forward to many more nights of being seduced. To me the best indicator of a pleasing audio experience is lack of listening fatigue.
There are variables of course, but ultimately there is a hard measurable. Given the freedom to do so the amount of time one listens without fatigue is a pretty good measure. Analogue takes me away for many hours on end. It's why I'm in the hobby.
I sometimes switch to redbook and immediately think, hey this sounds better, but the fatigue comes along much more quickly. Just my experience.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
5,112 posts
 
The 10.5 arm can do justice to all cartridges...That's not your problem.
noromance's avatar
noromance
1,780 posts
 
When it comes to appreciating the apogee of audio reproduction with a fine recording upon the turntable, and the denigration of that moment by those who have never experienced it, this quote comes to mind:
 "Every man takes the limits of their own field of vision for the limits of the world." –Schopenhauer.

towertone's avatar
towertone
33 posts
 

"Turntable got absolutely crushed by CD"

ok that sounds like an unusually heavy CD.


Try storing it somewhere else.....



tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
1,368 posts
 
chadsort, you've really got the vinyl folks wound up here.  You're lucky we're no longer burning people at the stake for heresy, but I'd lock my doors anyway.

There have been at least two generations of Esoteric players since your X03SE came out and the sound quality of each new generation has improved over the last.
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