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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
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
And in four pages we have the same end result folks have been saying for a long time.                            
Clearly there are folks firmly in one camp or the other, and some who like both.                       
I also like both.                               
As fro the op... and that Denon cartridge. Yes it is true the cart is OK, but inferior to the table, and will not bring out the best in the TT. HOWEVER the cart is probably a sonic match to the op's phono preamp situation. So I say to the op get a better phono preamp (stand alone) first. And then when the cart you have has a thousand hours, buy one suited to the level of quality of the turntable.
dynaquest4's avatar
dynaquest4
368 posts
 
The OP said:

"At this point I feel like I should give up on analogue playback and invest further in digital."   
Smart move, I did that 27 years ago in 1991.  Analog is not better musically...but it is an interesting experience for those who still can get by the limitations and are entranced by the visual experience.
jonasandezekiel
88 posts
 
@Inna...So you're calling people that listen to digital music instead of analog....stupid??? 
mschott's avatar
mschott
21 posts
 
It really is all about the source material and the cartridge when it comes to vinyl. I have a digital front end playing FLAC files from my computer through JRiver then through an Oppo Sonica DAC through Jolida tube separates then to Paradigm Studio 100 V5 speakers. I find digital to sound clean, clear and deep but ultimately sterile. My analog system is a VPI Scout 2 with the 9" arm and a Dynavector 10x5 MC cartridge. The phono section is a Vincent PHO 7. Not high end but nice. The 10x5 compliments the VPI very well. I like to listen to a lot of 1960's produced albums like Doc Severinsen, Miles Davis, Johnny Hartman, etc. And also more recent audiophile recordings from MoFi and Analogue Productions. The latter can get pricey but the sound is great. I recommend you make sure your cartridge is professionally set up and that the impedance matches your phono stage. Then listen to quality analog recordings. There is a depth to the sound and realism that I have yet to hear digitally although I have no experience with high end digital set ups.
chrisoshea
116 posts
 
Would agree with some others....The cartridge is a fun, rock-n-rollin party cartridge, NOT refined. Great CD player...MOV pressing of a so-so pop recording is hardly a fair fight. Try several UK / German / Pre-1970s US pressings and the VPI should be enjoyable if not "better"....Do you have a collection of LPs from several eras and countries? Any Music Matters/Analogue Productions etc. modern pressings that may help?
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