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
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.
terry9
931 posts
 
Cakyol, that’s not the way science works. When you make an assertion, you have to back it up. "Common sense" doesn’t cut it.

When you try to change someone’s mind, you should be ready to change your own. To do otherwise is, to my mind, dishonest.
stevenswall's avatar
stevenswall
5 posts
 
Glad you've found what it took me years to. For some it can take a lifetime or more.
sejodiren's avatar
sejodiren
74 posts
 
Haha.....crazy statement based on listening to one artist.  I can give you the old dude.opinion that's not technical.  I have plenty of LP's that sound incredible....particularly some Jazz stuff from the 60's and 70's.  And some LP's that sound just horrid.  The same goes for my CD's from the 80's on.  Been buying recorded music since about 1968.  Don't quit one format over the other......they can both be equally great....and equally crappy.  Just use your ears.....
daveyf's avatar
daveyf
1,174 posts
 
I think these days, great digital can come close to the very best analog. Close, but not at quite the same level. Having heard what I consider to be the best digital, the MSB Select 2DAC with power supplies, and compared it to an excellent vinyl set up, the vinyl still has it beat. Except in one area....ease of use and access to multiple titles via a server.
Vinyl needs to be set up with exactitude and care, plus it needs ongoing maintenance...the software needs to be treated with kid gloves and the hardware needs to be isolated ( a good suspension helps here) along with a very great attention to synergy. Get it all right, ie, resolving cartridge, arm with correct compliance and a simpatico with the table...and a table that has exacting speed control and ultra low noise...and analog will make digital sound exactly that...digital...to my ears. Get it wrong, and the result will be as in the OP.
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