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
jonasandezekiel
88 posts
 
I think the utter pain-in-the-ass requirements of vinyl set-up, maintenance, cost, along with finding source material that is worthy, is EXACTLY why I stayed away from it, and exactly why I'm enjoying this thread.

No offense guys, but I'm feeling more than a bit vindicated after putting up with all the vinyl snobs and hipsters that sneered at my unabashedly digital rig while they bragged about their analog one.

And laugh out loud kudos to Whoopycat.


glupson
1,794 posts
 
"The marketplace sorts out the winners from the losers!"

And the award goes to.....iPhone with AirPods.


(I know, Samsung sells more, but iPhone is the standard)

glupson
1,794 posts
 
"Avoid new pressings made from digital files!"
That is where the problem starts these days. How to find out what was really done?
Ag insider logo xs@2x
cleeds
2,065 posts
 
snowdog212
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) ...
That's mistaken. It sounds like you're confused about the RIAA curve, which does "roll off" the LF while boosting the HF, only to be restored by the inverse curve in the phono preamp.
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.
That sounds like something is seriously wrong with either your phono cartridge, your setup, or both.
glupson
1,794 posts
 
I am afraid that after snowdog212's post, there is not much to be added in this debate.
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